A vicar blessed a cage-fighting cage and soft mats at the official opening of a new martial arts club.
Vicar Reverend Clive Gardner, from St Mark's church in Wimbledon, performed a ceremony at the new Stronger Fitness and Martial Arts club in Wimbledon at the weekend.
The Mayor of Merton, Councillor Agatha Akyigyina, pictured above with Rico Romero, lifted a few kettle bells and up to 100 visitors tried out their moves as part of the event on Saturday.
The club describes itself as an elite training facility offering world class fitness to children and adults, and will host classes in different languages.
Ready for Action: The Stronger Fitness team
The studio in Lyon Road on the Lombard Road industrial estate, has been kitted out with new equipment including punch bags, a cage fighting cage and changing facilities.
Rico Romero, who has set up the club, said: "The vicar was the highlight of the day.
"A lot of people wondered what was going on but it was important for me.
"He blessed the cage, the mats and said some prayers."
There was music, champagne and strawberries at the launch event for the business which is now open.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here