Getting to Know...Skyy Crouch of Pollet’s Martial Arts

Hi Skyy! Thanks for talking to us about Pollet’s Martial Arts. Pollet’s is a true family studio, so can we start by asking you to introduce yourself and Danny and tell us a little about your roles and who else makes up the Pollet’s team?

My husband Danny is the Head Instructor of our Newcastle locations (Adamstown, Medowie, Valentine and Edgeworth). His Karate title is “Shihan”, given to him by our Pollet’s Karate Master Hanshi Ian Pollet & Okinawan Grand Master Kiichi Nakamoto. I manage the administration, marketing and school program liaison. Our Instructors who complete the Pollet’s team are Sensei Layton, Sensei Jess, and Sempai Masha.

What exactly are martial arts, and what classes do you offer at Pollet’s? How many different types of martial arts do you teach at Pollet’s – and what are the differences?

Martial arts are a system of combat styles used for self-defence. At Pollet’s, we offer six martial arts disciplines, including Karate, Muay Thai kickboxing, Boxing, Okinawan Kobudo (Tradition Weapons), Kempo Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). To see how our disciplines vary, we encourage everyone to take advantage of our free trial and enjoy unlimited disciplines under all our membership options to find the best fit for both enjoyment and achieving your goals.

For those of us who have never experienced a martial arts class before – what could we expect during a lesson? What ages and skill levels do classes cover?

We offer everyone a free trial to try unlimited disciplines of interest. We have a specialised Little Tigers class for 2.5 – 6-year-olds. Ages 7 right through to adults of all ages have Karate, Muay Thai, Boxing, Kobudo, Kempo Jiu-Jitsu and MMA. We have no fitness level or experience level requirements. You will very quickly feel part of the Pollet’s community in our friendly, supportive, nonintimidating atmosphere. Our classes cover skill levels from absolute beginner through to competitive athlete.

How do you think martial arts benefits participants? What do the Pollet’s team do differently to help students achieve their goals?

They include improvements in confidence, cardiovascular health, muscle mass/tone, agility and flexibility. Students feel empowered, have improved discipline, judgment and reflexes - assisting to both avoid confrontation and protect themselves when absolutely necessary. Pollet’s is one of the few Dojos in Australia that can offer you internationally recognised and reputable grades. We encourage families to train and grow together. Families only pay for two students, and everyone else in the family trains for free!

You work closely with youth experiencing mental health challenges. What types of mental health issues can be helped with martial arts training, and how can your programs benefit people experiencing these issues?

1 in 5 Australians (AIFC) experience a mental or behavioural condition. Psychology studies have proven that martial arts students benefit immensely from the structure, focus, discipline, and physical outlet it involves, with student’s showing improved self-concept, self-esteem and emotional regulation. Pollet’s can help students of all ages with anxiety, stress, depression, ADHD, ADD, Asperger’s, Autism, PTSD, OCD, and ODD develop improved concentration, confidence, and composure. Pollet’s has decades of experience providing resilience and empowerment programs to people of all ages, genders and education levels.

Who else makes up the Crouch family (and does everyone practice martial arts)? What else do you, Danny and the kids enjoy doing outside the studio?

Danny and I have three daughters and two sons. Four out of five are currently practising martial arts. Other activities enjoyed are horse-riding, acrobatics, football and creative writing. We enjoy fishing, especially on our cousin (and Pollet's Sensei) Paul’s fabulous boat. We love holidaying, day trips, exploring new areas/attractions and brunch on the beach. We love taking Leo, our Belgian Shepherd, out to exercise and socialise. We also own a kiosk at Stockland Green Hills where we have Gold Buyers Newcastle and Hunter, providing the service of purchasing scrap metals from the public and Cocoa Fleur, which sells gourmet coverture chocolate products and hampers.