From an early age, Zakary Gayton displayed an extraordinary aptitude for picking up new activities quickly, a characteristic that catapulted him to excellence in trampolining at a tender age. However, a growth spurt and the challenges of trampolining’s core-based demands led to a mental block and a loss of confidence. Amid these struggles, Zakary’s life took a transformative turn when he discovered Proaction Martial Arts at the age of 11.
Life changing events
At the age of nine, Zakary was a national trampoline champion, having secured the British Trampoline title. However, a growth spurt affected his performance, leading to a loss of confidence and self-doubt. He encountered a difficult phase where his trampolining coaches placed immense pressure on him, which severely affected his mental health.
“Because his bounce was off. He struggled. Lost his confidence. Then COVID hit. We went through all of this and when he returned to training, a combination of increased pressure from the coaches to be back at ‘pre-covid’ levels as well as his lack of confidence meant that Zakary felt like he was constantly underperforming. This resulted in a severe breakdown of relationship with his coaches.
“What transpired after he left trampolining was that whenever he was competing, if he didn’t get gold, the coaches would question his place in the competitive squad lead him to believe that he would be ‘dropped’ at any point and that he had to do better. “It obviously breaks my heart now as a parent, but we didn’t know any of this was going on and he was 9 at this point when all this was happening, the pressure they were putting on him unbeknown to us.” Said Cheryl Gayton, Zakary’s mother.
Owing to the negative impact that the sport was having on Zakary’s mental heath, his parents made the decision to stop trampolining. But recognising the need for Zakary to stay physically active, they enrolled him in Taekwon Do lessons at Proaction Martial Arts, a decision that would prove to be a life-changing choice. Proaction came highly recommended via family friends and the Google reviews.
Zakary’s Experience with Proaction
Zakary quickly became committed to his training, attending sessions three times a week at the Proaction Academy in Northampton. He found immense satisfaction in the pad drills, which allowed him to develop his skills and build self-confidence.
Since joining Proaction, Zakary has achieved remarkable milestones. He was awarded “Student of the Year” at the Proaction Student of the Year awards; earned a double grading, a rare achievement, and even reached the podium in several national competitions.
His friends and family have witnessed significant changes in him, primarily increased confidence and leadership skills. Proaction’s training empowered Zakary not only physically but also mentally.
“When he started at Proaction, the instructor identified that he’d be great at competitions, because he picks up sports very, very quickly. And he has done some fantastic competitions. But there is all this bagging that has gone with it. I spoke at length with Mr Nicholson about Zakary’s mental state at competitions and he really understood where I was coming from. We felt very supported from the start.”
His friends and family have witnessed significant changes in him, primarily increased confidence and leadership skills. Proaction’s training empowered Zakary not only physically but also mentally.
“When he started at Proaction, the instructor identified that he’d be great at competitions, because he picks up sports very, very quickly. And he has done some fantastic competitions. But there is all this bagging that has gone with it. I spoke at length with Mr Nicholson about Zakary’s mental state at competitions and he really understood where I was coming from. We felt very supported from the start.”
The Proaction Difference
Proaction Martial Arts offered Zakary a supportive and nurturing environment that was fundamentally different from his latter experiences in trampolining. Unlike his previous coaches, Proaction instructors demonstrated empathy and a deep understanding of his needs. This has fuelled Cheryl’s passion for Proaction as a student led sporting facility.
“The way the instructors, every single instructor, has helped Zakary build his confidence back up again and to believe in himself is incredible.”
“The instructors at Proaction have listened. Not just to me but to him. They’ve seen areas where he’s struggling, supported him and nurtured him. He’s had a couple of competitions where’s he has been overwhelmed and struggled with his emotions owing to huge waiting periods when he’s then started to over think it. But the way that every single instructor has helped him, coached him, believed in him, and talked him through situations, is fantastic.
“It’s not just experienced instructors like Miss Timms, Mr Nicholson, or Mr Tony Hill. But Junior Leaders like Finley Brown, he has been phenomenal with Zakary, someone as young as Finley to have the maturity to help another member has just blown me away. “
“You see it [support and nurturing] with everyone. Every single child in each class is treated as an individual. How they have the time and the capacity to be able to ensure that every single child comes out of that class feeling like they’re on top of the world I think is a very, very unique skill set to have.”
This is what sets Proaction apart – its commitment to treating each child as an individual, focusing on their unique strengths and challenges. This personalised approach has been crucial in helping Zakary regain his self-belief and rebuild his shattered shelf-confidence.
The Club’s flexibility in adapting and accommodating to a child’s specific needs makes it a standout choice for parents seeking a nurturing and inclusive environment for their children.
The Junior Leader Program
Zakary’s experience with Proaction’s Junior Leader program has been particularly enriching. He enjoys the modules, takes pride in contributing to the program, and even has the opportunity to earn money. His enthusiasm for helping others achieve their goals and witnessing their progress is a testament to the program’s success in instilling a sense of achievement and responsibility in young individuals.
Through his involvement with the Junior Leader program, Zakary has gained valuable skills, learned to set, and achieve goals, and established a strong sense of responsibility. His determination to progress to higher levels in the program reflects the positive impact of Proaction Martial Arts on his life.