A martial arts club recently returned from a samurai summer camp.

The Macclesfield Dojo took students and instructors for a week of martial arts training at Barnswood Scout Camp in Rushton Spencer.

While at the camp, the group took on assault courses, learned survival skills and martial arts, flew down a zip wire and enjoyed some abseiling and climbing.

The camp, which has run for three years, was attended by more than 60 adults and kids.

Macclesfield Dojo students in a shelter in the woods
Macclesfield Dojo students in a shelter in the woods
 

Grant Cooke, 24, the club’s instructor, is skilled in 12 different martial arts and has studied the discipline in China.

He said: “At The Dojo we always try to go the extra mile, for us martial arts are about so much more than punching and kicking.

“We teach martial arts but we also like to include a social element.

“A lot of the kids hadn’t been camping before, so it was nice to get them roughing it a bit.

“Everyone had a great time, a lot of people have already signed up for next year.”

This year they also had a special guest, a real-life ninja, who appeared and disappeared throughout the week. On the last day, the campers went on a ninja hunt with flour bombs and origami ninja stars.

Grant said: “I told the kids that one of my friends from china was coming to appear every now and then.

“The hunt was brilliant, the kids searched for three hours but eventually got him.

“Unfortunately, he got away but we found him 30 feet up a tree.