At North Staffordshire Kickboxing, we’re always listening to our students and parents — and making changes that keep training safe, fun, and forward-moving. That’s why our Friday Cobra Sparring class has had an exciting upgrade and is now the Cobra Skills Lab!
The Skills Lab still has all the things Cobras loved about sparring, but with a new focus:
- Sharpening timing, defence & movement
- Building confidence, discipline & respect
- Learning safe partner drills with no heavy contact
- Developing teamwork, focus & perseverance
The change also brings us in line with national recommendations from Sport England, which encourage limiting head contact for under-10s and keeping safety as the top priority.
Instead of free sparring, Cobras will now work on Dutch drills — controlled partner exercises where techniques are aimed at gloves (guard) rather than pads or heads. This keeps things age-appropriate while still teaching the core skills needed for both grading and competition down the line.
For Cobras aged 8+ who want to move into full sparring and competition prep, our Fight Team sessions are available. This means every Cobra now has a clear pathway — from fun, safe learning in Skills Lab to testing their abilities as they grow and progress.
We’re excited for this new chapter and can’t wait to see our Cobras thrive in the Skills Lab!