The Bermuda Sanshou Association will be holding its first “Sanda Pandas” classes for children aged 5 to 12 at Lotus on Victoria Street.

Sentwali Woolridge, the Pan American Wushu champion and World Sanda Cup silver medal-winner, will coach the classes to be held on Tuesday and Thursday from 4.30pm to 5.30pm.

Garon Wilkinson, the BSA president, described Woolridge as an excellent instructor who would be striking a balance between “fun and discipline”.

“Sentwali has been a member of the BSA since 2006 and has won a number of international titles to solidify him as one of the top martial arts competitors in Bermuda’s history.

“The Bermuda Government Achievement Award winner and BSA team captain possesses a wealth of knowledge and skill and is an excellent instructor, who strikes a balance between discipline and fun in his classes.”

Wilkinson said the BSA had been looking at starting a junior programme for some time as part of a “succession plan’ to ensure the island keeps producing high-level competitors.

“The BSA has been wanting to start a junior programme for a while, however, we were always short on resources with many coaches also doubling as athletes,” Wilkinson said.

“Many of our athletes have taken on more of a coaching role, which has increased our resources.

“We have a number of young, talented athletes coming behind our national athletes but we have been thinking about a succession plan for a while.”

Sanshou, also known as sanda, is the full-contact element of wushu and includes punches, kicks and takedowns.

The BSA has competed in every biennial World Wushu Championships since 2007, winning its first medal in 2011 competition in Turkey when Jermal Woolridge, the cousin of Sentwali Woolridge, claimed bronze.

Woolridge then went one better at the 2013 championships in Malaysia, winning the silver medal.

Jermal Woolridge, Sentwali Woolridge and Reyel Bowen are all gold medal-winners at the Pan American Wushu Championships.

The BSA picked up an Appreciation Award at this month’s Bermuda Government Sports Awards at the Fairmont Southampton.

The Sanda Pandas first term runs from April 5 to June 30, costing $120 per term or $50 per month. For more details e-mail wushubermuda@gmail.com or call 747-8495.