A new dedicated martial arts centre has opened in the heart of Nottingham specialising in practical self defence techniques drawn from a variety of different styles.Aimed at both adults and children, Elite Martial Arts is a conceptually based system which incorporates Gracie Jiu Jitsu, a style adapted from Judo as well as more traditional forms of martial arts such as Wing Chun, Kickboxing, Yoga and Tai Chi.Based in the High Pavement Business Centre in Nottingham's historic Lace Market district, this new centre offers the the latest in self defence systems for anyone interested in increasing fitness or adopting a...

A family of five from Hampshire have all become black belt martial artists at the same time, it has been reported.The Hexter-Andrews family took up martial arts at a club in Camberley in September 2006 and since then have developed at the same level, the Daily Express reports.Mother Sam Hexter-Andrews, 40, said: I feel so proud of myself for what I have achieved so far. But most of all, I am proud of my sons. They are growing into confident young men. Two or three times a week the boys are able to expel their excess energy and frustrations...

Some 120 martial arts pupils have taken part in an inter-club tournament in Oxfordshire.The Oxford Times reports that the biannual clash, hosted by Banbury Shukokai Karate, involved fighters aged five and upwards with a view to encouraging the development of discipline and fitness.Instructor and club founder Gareth Rees told the newspaper: With children as young as five, adult men and ladies all competing, the standard of karate was excellent, with students showing good control and discipline. The session at the Chasewell Community Centre spanned six hours and included fighters from Ratley martial arts club.Banbury Shukokai Karate practises at various...

A national martial arts champion is knuckling down to some hard training with an international competition in her sights, it has been reported.University of East London (UEL) student Amy Thomason is part of the England karate squad and the Great Britain University Team for UEL, but hopes to bag a gold medal at the fourth European Universities' Karate Championship in Spain this July, the Newham Recorder reports.The enthusiast took up karate at the age of seven, quickly showing discipline and integrity that have gone on to form a match-winning combination.Ms Thomason told the newspaper: I'm training hard and finishing...

A West Midlands karate club has won a host of medals at a national competition, it has been reported.Blackheath Shukokai Karate brought home 17 medals in all major disciplines from the recent SKF National Karate Championships, Halesowen News states.A grand total of nine golds, five silvers and three bronzes were achieved by the team's young and old fighters with one final comprising two competitors from the club.Jenny Loftus took double gold in the ladies' black belt kata and kumite, while Peter Jelf won silver in the 13-14-year-old kumite and black belt kata categories.Blackheath Shukokai Karate is run by expert instructor...

Police in London are running a judo course for individuals who have been bullied or mugged.According to the Hackney Gazette, the ten-week course at Lower Clapton's Kings Hall leisure centre in East London is geared towards boosting youngsters' confidence, discipline and self defence skills.Police sergeant and judo black belt Andy Newman has organised the class in conjunction with the British Judo Association and the NHS. Being a victim of crime can affect a person's quality of life. This course is helping them grow in self-confidence so they don't emit signals of fear in the street and become repeat victims of...

Some 24 students from a Cambridgeshire martial arts club have risen in rank after a recent grading session.The fighters from Bushido Warrior Karate School in Fenland were put through their paces by a panel made up of instructors including chief sensei Martin Hunnable from the Fenland Jujitsu School, the Fenland Citizen reports.In total, 22 martial artists reached their 9th kyu orange belt gradings, among them B Cumbridge, M Day-Coombes, T Day-Coombes and S Day-Coombes, while G Vaidilaite and A Meckauskas attained 10th kyu red belt.Bushido Warrior Karate School is headed by instructor Richard Smyth and was launched last year.Lessons take...

Japanese golfer Shingo Katayama has taken up martial arts in order to improve his swing, it has been reported.The US Master fourth is exploring new avenues for exercise and development of discipline in a bid to boost his winning chances.Speaking at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan, Katayama commented: I won't be getting much bigger physically, so I've been studying Japanese martial arts to see how they can help me improve. I've been looking at things like Aikido and even Noh Theatre to see how I can incorporate them into my golf swing, the competitor added.In other...

Martial artists from West Yorkshire will visit a club in Belgium as part of a twinning exchange.Some ten fighters from Kirkburton Karate Club will travel to Europe to round off the club's 21st birthday celebrations, the Huddersfield Daily Examiner reports.The link was forged when Kirkburton chief instructor and founder sensei Colin Hanson took coaching sessions at the Herzele club back in 1992.Since then, Herzele teacher sensei Guy Van Den Eynde has visited Yorkshire to take a lesson there.In related news, a martial arts team from the north-east successfully broke a world record on a TV show on Sunday (May 17th).The...

A Norfolk judo team has won 14 medals at a recent competition.Marham Judo Club competed in Epping on Sunday (March 15th), raking in four golds, two silvers and eight bronzes, the Watton and Swaffham Times reports.Gold winners included Adora Storton, Cailean McCallum, Chris Parrott and Sophie Buller, all of whom could represent the East at the 2009 British Judo Junior Nationals.Marham Judo was established in 2007 and under the supervision of head coach Paul Nicholson teaches students of all ages, its website states.Meanwhile, two of the club's fighters were recognised at the Eastern Area Award Ceremony on Saturday (March 14th).Jenna-Jaye...

Northumbria University jitsu club has won four gold medals at a national competition.Fighting at the TJF Randori Nationals at the Telford centre, Bryce Doherty, Alex Macaulay and Kayleigh Jackson all took first place in their respective disciplines, the Evening Chronicle reports.Speaking to the publication, club instructor David Chalton praised unofficial teacher David Ashdown for his devotion to the team: Our success goes hand in hand with his commitment and dedication to the provision of a first-class training environment. The students took part in nage waza, a floor-based technique resembling judo, and ne waza, a form that depends on the...

A north-east karate star has been ranked first in his category at an international tournament.Liam Conroy, 14, saw gold at the AMA International at Ponds Forge in Sheffield after winning various competitions earlier in the year, the Sunderland Echo reports.Speaking to the publication, Liam said: It was fantastic to get the gold. I'm just keeping my head down and getting on with my training – and hopefully more wins will follow. The youngster is a member of Ishinryu Karate Club, based in Wensleydale Avenue, Penshaw.Instructor Eddie Gillespie praised the student for his discipline and commitment, predicting that the fighter...

Students from a Midlands martial arts school have won kickboxing titles at a recent competition.Tara Billingham, 15, brought home the girls' semi-contact WAKO British trophy, just one accolade among many she has already achieved, Halesowen News reports.Elijah Everall, 10, also won the boys' 37 kg light-contact title, his first major win.Both fighters practise at the Martial Arts and Boxing Centre in Crawley five times a week, providing them with out-of-school fun and fitness.The club is located on Broadwyn trading estate and is open full-time, the publication states.In related news, an eight-year-old from Peterborough has become the youngest black belt at...

An eight-year-old from Cambridgeshire has become one of the youngest martial artists to bag a black belt in karate at a regional club.Jasmine Hannah has honed her self defence skills to a tee, now displaying rapid reactions, swift movements and outstanding agility, the Peterborough Evening Telegraph reports.Talking to the publication, Jasmine said: I started karate when I was four. I really love karate, being able to learn new moves and the respect and discipline that come with the sport. She added that she now teaches younger children at Hicks Karate in Peterborough, a club that caters for all ages...

An 89-year-old from Essex has become the oldest person in the UK to hold a black belt in ju jitsu.Basildon resident John Fleming has been aiming for the achievement since starting the martial art in 1962.On his self defence success, Mr Fleming commented: I've been accosted in town. People see a little man with grey hair and put their hands on me, but I knew what to do, enough to see them off. The war veteran and grandfather-of-four added that ju jitsu is his passion, despite sometimes being held back by stiff limbs.He first started practising self defence while...

An eight-year-old from Hertfordshire has won two medals at a regional judo competition.Young enthusiast Archie Denton brought home a 42 kilo gold and a 50 kilo bronze medal, according to the Welwyn and Hatfield Times.The competitor's father, Barry Denton, told the publication: I am very proud of him to have achieved what he has in such a short space of time. It was a brilliant achievement and a superb day all round. Archie is a student at Cheshunt's V and E Judo Club, which offers judo courses for combatants aged five and upwards, Hertfordshire Direct states.He is also a...

A Scottish martial arts club is attempting to raise funds to take some of its most promising young students to a major international competition.Ashgill-based Elite Freestyle Kickboxing and Karate International won medals at the World Karate Association (WKA) Scottish Championships recently, securing 11 places at the WKA World Championships in Spain at the end of the year, the Hamilton Advertiser states.The club is planning various fundraising events to support the cost of travel and accommodation, including a casino night and a ladies' spiritualist event.Hayden McFadden, father of two gifted fighters, told the publication: These days, when we hear so...

A York website has detailed the range of martial arts clubs available to students in the city.Student site Nouse.co.uk reports that the university offers sessions in karate, tae kwon do, kendo, judo, tai chi, ju jitsu and capoeira for affordable prices.Karate enthusiasts meet in the sports centre on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays to practice the disciplines of kihon, kata and kumite, paying just £2 per lesson for the privilege.Meanwhile, those interested in ju jitsu convene every Monday, Thursday and Saturday to hone their techniques and build up their fitness.Another up-and-coming art is capoeira, which combines martial arts moves with musical...

One of Japan's most famed karate experts has hosted a martial arts course at a York school.Acclaimed Japanese instructor Yoshinobu Ohta ran a session for members of three of the city's karate clubs, the York Press reports.Fighters from the Kenshinkan Karate Club, University of York Karate Club and York Karate Academy were invited to Canon Lee School for a masterclass in the art, led by the sixth dan black belt sensei himself.Ohta trained at Tokyo's world-famous Takushoku University Karate Club but now lives in England, the publication notes.Meanwhile, a Norfolk club has announced the launch of an anti-bully scheme.According to...

A Somerset tae kwon do club has brought eight medals home from a recent regional clash.Bridgwater's TAGB club took nine students to the South-West Championship in Torbay last week, winning three golds, two silvers and three bronzes, the Bridgwater Mercury reports.Among the winners were Adam Brown (men's black belt middleweight sparring), Louis May (boys' blue belt heavyweight and tag team sparring) and Lydie Duheaume (ladies' yellow belt heavyweight).The event was held at Torbay leisure centre and attracted 350 participants of all age groups, the newspaper states.Bridgwater hit the news 18 months ago when three of its students achieved black belt...