Martial arts sisters fight for health 'lifeline'

Lili-Rose (left) and Annarose are representing Team Wales at the martial arts world championships in Germany

Two sisters with neurological conditions including autism and dyslexia hope international martial arts success will help "change the narrative".

Annarose, 14, who has dyslexia and other complex needs, and Lili-Rose, nine, who is autistic, are representing Team Wales at the International Combat Organisation (ICO) World Championships in Germany.

“The martial arts have been a lifeline for the girls, and for the family – it’s given them so much confidence,” said their mother, Debra Davies, from near Swansea.

Annarose are competing in five events, and Lili-Rose in six - a mixture of kickboxing and karate - in Frankfurt this weekend.

Annarose was the first to take up martial arts several years ago when she was struggling with a lack of confidence at school.

“She was falling further and further behind her peers, and it really affected her mental health,” said Ms Davies, who now home-schools both her daughters because she felt the “mainstream education system wasn’t fully meeting their needs”.

Annarose quickly embraced martial arts.

“It increased her self-belief," said her mother.

"With martial arts, it’s a great way to keep physically fit, but it’s also great for their mental well-being.”

Ms Davies said that, because of Lili-Rose’s autism, she was unsure if she would be able to cope with the noise and crowds, but they slowly introduced her to the environment over many years.

This included ensuring she had ear defenders, and having someone available to take her for walks outside, if things became too loud.

“She started last year and she’s been phenomenal since she started,” said Ms Davies. Lili-Rose has since won dozens of events, including becoming Welsh champion.

“They’re in a safe environment and when they take an interest in something they really thrive,” she said, adding that their neurodiversity “almost acts like a superpower for them”.

“They hyperfocus. They go into this state of intense concentration when they go into a fight,” she said.

The sisters are members of the Welsh Pythons martial arts club, and their coach Alex Williams said they both have a good chance of becoming world champions.

Annarose (left) and Lili-Rose are coached by Alex Williams at the Welsh Pythons martial arts club

He described Lili-Rose, who took up martial arts only last year, as having the “heart of a lion”.

“She’s very, very talented and could go a long way,” he said.

Both girls said the martial arts helped them to channel their energy into something constructive, and that they wanted to “change the narrative” about their neurological conditions.

“Before, I found it difficult to socialise, but now it has really helped me with that because of my confidence,” Annarose said, while Lili-Rose said the sport makes her feel “happy” and “proud of myself”.

The sisters have received some sponsorship from a local company, Ms Davies said, but they have also set up a GoFundMe fundraising page because of the “financial burden associated with competing at this level”.

This would cover things such as training and protective equipment, travel and accommodation as well as entrance fees for competitions.

“We want to be able to send them to competitions in the future because unless you attend these competitions you won’t be prepared, and you definitely won’t qualify,” she said.

Because Ms Davies home-schools her daughters, the family relies on their father’s income from two jobs.

“With the cost of mortgages going up, times are difficult, especially if you want to see your children succeed in sports that are not funded,” she said.

Both girls are confident of success in this weekend’s tournament, and said it would “mean the world” to them to become world champions.

Their mother is also confident.

“Put it this way, I’m already thinking about where I need to make a bit of room for some extra medals,” she said.