Royal Navy anti-gang and knife crime initiative visits Portsmouth with Thai boxing showcase

Volunteer sailors and Royal Marines brought the Combat Sports Initiative (CSI) to the home of the Royal Navy. Fighters from all three services showcased Thai boxing to young people.

The aim was to showcase the military’s commitment to youth development, and attracted elite-level civilian coaches to the event. The Royal Navy’s flagship knife crime prevention and youth engagement programme has reached its third year after originally starting in the north of England.

The programme uses sports, fitness and combative activities to channel the energy and time of young people towards something positive. Building on the success in The North, the team behind it plan to introduce their simple but effective workout/training sessions to Scotland and London.

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Marine and navy instructors teach not just fighting sports, but also the importance of discipline, order, strong personal values and respect in young peoples’ lives. Five sessions were held in Northern England in 2025. They’ve also further expanded with the Combat Sister Project, designed to engage young girls and women.

The Royal Navy said hundreds of people have expressing interest and actively participating. Organiser Warrant Officer 2 Dennis Harrison believes CSI has become “a national force for positive change” since the first session in Stockton-on-Tees two years ago.

“The initiative has also delivered tangible safeguarding outcomes,” he said. “CSI has identified and supported its first young person at risk of gang involvement, working closely with schools, local councils and the West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Unit to secure gym access and travel funding.”