Stunt kids learn the ropes

Kieren Nair, 13 (in black top), tries out his wrestling moves on Addison Stewart, 9. Photo / Brett Phibbs

While other children are playing video games or going the movies, one group of young Aucklanders are spending their school holidays learning to be professional stunt wrestlers.

Using a padded crash mat and inner-sprung floor, they learn how to do wrestling moves, have photoshoots and practise in-ring promotions to mimic the American World Wrestling Entertainment league.

Run by Auckland company Maniacs United Professional Wrestling, the inaugural Professional Wrestling School Holiday Programme caters for children aged under 16.

Founder Stacey Stewart, who has 20 years' experience in wrestling, said the $30 a day or $130 a week programme was fitness and safety focused, but incorporated real wrestling moves as seen in the WWE.

"We do push-ups, sit-ups, burpees, then we have stretching and then teach them how to do falls and rolls before we get them into the ring to do bigger flips and things."

Although the moves the children practised might look violent, she said they were choreographed so no one actually got hurt.

"It's more fitness focused and stunt league rather than heavy league stuff because some people think it is not something children should be doing.

"You might be a bit sore from landing on the mat, but there are no injuries."

Mrs Stewart said the activity, held at Mania gym in Sandringham, also focused on entertainment and taught children how to do promotional videos and photos modelled on their favourite WWE characters.

"A lot of it is the kind of look and how you project yourself, especially if you are looking for a long-term career. It teaches them confidence and public speaking."

There were five participants aged between 9 and 13 when the Herald visited yesterday.

Avondale 13-year-old Kieren Nair said his mother, Gina, stumbled across the programme online while looking for local wrestling-related activities for him and his 11-year-old sister,Isabel.

"I have always been a fan of wrestling so I wanted to try it out," he said. "I like the moves and they way that they do it, just the way they do everything and all the characters and the stories."

Isabel said she liked the WWE characters the Bella Twins and liked copying their move the Bella Buster.

"You hold the person on the head and then drop them down," she said.

Mrs Stewart co-owns the wrestling business with Melissa Jones. Together they train and promote athletes for wrestling events, with the hopes of their talent being picked up by WWE.