Uni Can Feel Like a Long Way From Home. Find Your People at NGMA

6 days ago

3 min read

Starting university is exciting. New city, new people, new freedom, and suddenly nobody is reminding you to buy toilet roll or eat something that didn’t come from a beige freezer bag.

But once Freshers’ Week is over, uni can sometimes feel a bit lonely. Making proper friends isn’t always as easy as everyone makes it look, especially if you’re living away from home for the first time.

That’s where NGMA comes in.

We’re a martial arts gym in Woolston, Southampton, but for many of our members, it becomes much more than somewhere to train. It’s where they find their people, build a routine and start feeling properly at home in the city.

A ready made community

Walking into a new gym can feel intimidating. We understand that, but at NGMA, nobody expects you to arrive looking like a UFC fighter.

You don’t need experience. You don’t need to be super fit. You definitely don’t need to own a pair of tiny fight shorts.

You’ll meet beginners, experienced fighters, coaches, students and local members. Everyone trains together, learns together and generally takes the mickey out of each other once they’ve become friends.

Our culture is simple: no politics, no cliques and no ego.

Come as you are. We’ll help with the rest.

A home away from home

When you move to Southampton for university, it can take time to find somewhere you genuinely belong.

At NGMA, you’ll quickly start recognising faces. Someone will notice when you haven’t trained. Your coaches will know your name. Your training partners will celebrate when you finally nail the technique you’ve been getting wrong for three weeks.

Before long, you’re not just going to a class. You’re part of the gym.

There are socials, competitions, fight shows and plenty of opportunities to get involved, but there’s no pressure to become a fighter. You can train because you love competing, because you want to get fit, or because it’s Wednesday and your housemates have somehow made the kitchen uninhabitable again.

Better than another boring gym session

Traditional gyms work for some people. For others, spending 45 minutes avoiding eye contact while waiting for a bench gets old fairly quickly.

Martial arts gives you something to learn every time you train. You’ll improve your fitness, confidence and strength without endlessly checking how many minutes are left.

At NGMA, you can train in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, MMA, boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, wrestling and strength and conditioning.

You might arrive planning to train once or twice a week and accidentally discover the thing that takes over your entire personality. It happens.

Switch your brain off for an hour

Deadlines, exams, money, placements and group projects with that one person who contributes absolutely nothing. Student life can be stressful.

Training gives your brain a break.

When you’re learning how to escape from underneath another human being, it’s surprisingly difficult to worry about your dissertation at the same time.

You’ll leave tired, clearer headed and usually in a much better mood.

Southampton student membership for £65

Students from the University of Southampton and Southampton Solent University can train at NGMA for £65 per month, reduced from our usual £95 MMA membership price.

We’re based in Woolston and are easy to reach by train, bus, bike or scooter.

Bring your student ID, choose a class and come and meet us. Starting is the hardest part. Once you’ve walked through the door, you won’t be doing it alone.

You came to Southampton for university. You might end up staying for the people you meet here. Message us to get started