The excitement was palpable on Friday evening as a group of about 30 kids hopped off buses, racing each other to the large shed which houses Katherine's Blue Eagle Muay Thai club.
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The session starts immediately and before long the first-time students from Kalano, Rockhole and Katherine East have learnt how to hold their hands and move their bodies - the basics of Muay Thai.
The young people are the first to be part of a new after hours youth engagement program, a joint effort between Blue Eagle Muay Thai club and the NT Government to keep young people off the streets and out of trouble.
Running the program, Muay Thai expert and owner of the gym, David Flood says he is hoping the free training will instill self-confidence, self-esteem and respect.
"There is no thug mentality in Muay Thai," Mr Flood said.
"It takes respect and discipline and it builds self-confidence.
"I am hoping these values will be passed on to these participants just like all other participants who walk into our gym."
The program idea has been brewing with the instructor for a while now after seeing a gap in what was offered for youth after dark.
"We are giving kids something different to do other than the big three sports, Rugby League, Rugby Union and AFL," Mr Flood said.
He said it will also provide youth who would normally be out on the street or potentially unable to go home, access to a safe and fun space.
"Angela (David Flood's wife) and I have thought about this for a long time and what made it so special was to see so many smiles on those young faces, happy and laughing together.
"All the years I have taught Muay Thai, I have done it for the love of it. Everyone deserves a chance to participate in sport and learn how to defend themselves.
"Instead of walking the streets at night they can come down and participate in the sport under supervision."
Natasha Bronghur and Bridgette Coulthard attended the first Katherine After Hours Muay Thai Youth Engagement session with their nephews and sons.
The pair travelled on the bus along with some of the youth from Rockhole and said they hadn't seen anticipation levels quite so high.
"They were excited and shouting and so happy to jump on the bus," Ms Bronghur said.
"They have football and soccer but nothing like Muay Thai."
The 39-year-old said the program was helping to get the young people out of the house and "doing different activities instead of playing Play Station and being bored".
"They are always so happy when they are running around and being physical," Ms Bronghur said.
"I hope they learn this in a good way and lean new skills and what is right and wrong.
"Especially the little boys and girls who fight sometimes - they might change their ways and hopefully this teaches them it is only okay to fight when they are [at Muay Thai]."
The $12,000 NT Government initiative is funded through the Regional Youth Services Program which provides flexible funding for community driven initiatives to trial after-hours youth focused activities.
The program runs every Friday and Saturday night between 7pm and 9pm.
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