Self-defence classes for seniors, parents and children are to be taught at a new martial arts academy next month.

Bobby Smith hopes to officially re-open the Academy of Martial Arts in King Street following the devastating fire which tore through Joell's Alley last year.

The blaze, which swept through three buildings last July, not only destroyed his academy but also his prized martial arts library, his awards, photos and certificates.

Mr. Smith's school was one of 11 businesses affected by the fire, which is thought to have started due to an electrical fault.

Now Mr. Smith has applied for Planning permission for 'change of use', to turn a former florist's and bike shop premises at 39 King Street into the 708 sq ft training centre.

Mr. Smith will offer a variety of martial arts and self-defence classes for all ages, and that includes seniors.

For the elderly, self-defence does not have to involve extreme physical exertion but revolves around simple methods, such as the use of a walking stick.

"Some of the youth in the community have been preying on seniors so I'm going to launch a seniors' programme, showing them how to be safe and how to use everyday items for self-defence.

"Even a walking cane or a flashlight can be very effective in self-defence," said Mr. Smith.

Another class, 'Child and family safety' trains parents and children in how to keep their family unit safe — involving not just self-defence, but home security and safety on the Internet.

"It teaches parents and children how to be safe and how to protect one another," said Mr. Smith.

There will also be classes for women, and for the more extreme — courses in commando krav maga, the technique used by Israeli Special Forces.

Mr. Smith, 53, who has a six degree black belt in karate, started teaching martial arts in Bermuda in 1980 and was based in Joell's Alley for four years before last year's fire.

"My students stayed with me because I taught at a local gym in the meantime, at Dellwood School's gymnasium. I am very grateful to the school for their help.

"It's taken me just over a year to find another place," said Mr. Smith.

The instructor achieved his six degree black belt in karate in 2004 in Okinawa, Japan, karate's birthplace.

In Bermuda, he teaches the martial art in three separate age-groups: three to six-year-olds; six to14-year-olds; and adults.

Mr. Smith, of Somerset, is the only licensed instructor in krav maga and mata yoshu kobudo on the Island.

He was certified in level four of commando krav maga by its founder, who trains Israel's Special Forces.

"It was the most gruelling thing I've ever done in my life," said Mr. Smith. "It's unlike traditional martial arts as it doesn't have all the formalities.

"It deals with self-defence and a lot of weapons, such as grappling on the ground with punches and kicks. The training is unique as it involves surprise attacks and adrenaline stress training."

Mata yoshi is a style of kobudo — the Okinawa weapon system, and it requires no previous martial arts experience. It uses three basic weapons — the bo, a six foot staff, plus the sai and tonsa.

Mr. Smith is also running classes in iaido, a Japanese sword technique, which he describes as "a very graceful, elegant art", and PCS — Practical Control Systems.

PCS focuses on restraint and control, as used in personal defence, and Mr. Smith's pupils include members of the Regiment Police, security guards and bouncers.

For more information on classes at the Academy of Martial Arts, telephone 292 5715.