Helping to fight crime by teaching self-defence
Fellowship Through Fitness, led by martial artists Roscoe and Sharon Stephen, teaches practical self-defence to vulnerable communities, promoting confidence, awareness, and personal safety through faith and movement.
Roscoe and Sharon Stephen are not just martial artists; they are community leaders dedicated to equipping people with essential self-defence skills. As graded practitioners of Korean kickboxing and Krav Maga, with additional training in Muay Thai, the couple has made it their mission to help vulnerable communities across Gauteng protect themselves against bullying, petty crime, domestic violence, gender-based violence (GBV), and human trafficking.
Read more: Douglasdale SAPS and CPF kick start 2025 crime awareness campaigns
Sharon, a competitive bodybuilder, began her community work by offering free bootcamp sessions in Windsor East. As she engaged with people facing real-life dangers, she saw the urgent need for structured self-defence training. She partnered with Roscoe, and together they formalised their skills, earning black belts in Korean kickboxing, and receiving Krav Maga teaching licenses from the International Krav Maga Federation (IKMF). Their journey led them to found Fellowship Through Fitness, an initiative designed to strengthen communities through movement, safety training, and faith.
The core aim of Fellowship Through Fitness is to build safer, more connected communities by integrating self-defence with health, faith, and early childhood development. The initiative offers accessible anti-bullying and self-defence training for children and adults, ensuring that participants can learn regardless of their physical condition or fitness level.
Beyond just teaching techniques, Roscoe and Sharon instill confidence in their students, helping them develop situational awareness and practical skills to react effectively in dangerous situations.
Faith plays a central role in their approach. The Stephen’s see their work as more than just a service; it is a calling. Each session often begins with a prayer or moment of reflection, reinforcing values like discipline, respect, perseverance, and humility. Their philosophy prioritises de-escalation over aggression, ensuring that students not only learn to defend themselves but also to navigate conflicts with wisdom and self-control.
Operating in one of South Africa’s most dangerous cities, the Stephen’s face the challenge of raising awareness about the importance of self-defence. Many people only realise its value when it is too late. Through workshops and community events, they strive to shift this mindset, demonstrating that dedicating even an hour a week to self-defence can significantly boost personal safety and confidence.
One powerful success story is that of a teenage girl who had been a frequent target of bullying. After attending several sessions, she developed newfound confidence, and the bullying stopped. Such transformations underscore the deep impact of their work, not just physically but emotionally and psychologically too.
Also read: Gauteng police release second quarter 2024 stats for crime in the areas
The response to Fellowship Through Fitness has been overwhelmingly positive, with increasing attendance at their self-defence classes, especially among young adults. Looking ahead, Roscoe and Sharon envision expanding their initiative into a national movement, establishing multiple community hubs that offer fitness and self-defence classes, youth mentorship programmes, and trauma recovery support.
They also aim to collaborate with schools, churches, and NGOs to extend their reach and ensure that more people, especially those in underserved communities, gain access to self-defence education.
Fellowship Through Fitness is a Section 18A non-profit organisation (NPO), meaning financial donations are eligible for SARS rebate certificates. Supporters can get involved in several ways:
• Attend a class or event – Join their training sessions by reaching out via email.
• Partner with them – Organisations focused on community wellness can collaborate to expand impact.
• Sponsor a student – Many vulnerable individuals cannot afford self-defence classes. Sponsorships give them access to life-saving training.
• Spread the word – Following, sharing, and supporting them on social media helps build stronger, safer communities.
For more details, or to book a session, contact Sharon at Sharon@fellowshipfitness.co.za.
Through faith, fitness, and self-defence, Fellowship Through Fitness is not just teaching people how to fight; they are empowering them to live with confidence, resilience, and strength.
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