The Combat Academy and Hereford Contact Karate Club hosted their recent Ju Jutsu Kumite Championships at the Richmond Club, Hereford.
The competition was run under the rules system of the National Ju Jutsu Kumite Council, with points being awarded for strikes, throw and takedowns, hold downs and for senior fighters submission techniques such as arm-locks and chokes.
The boys under 35kg category had four competitors with all fighting each other on a league basis. Christian Evans of the Welsh Falcons team produced an outstanding performance, scoring with a number of head kicks and securing 3 wins to take the gold medal. Ben Davies of Droitwich showed good grappling skills on the way to the silver medal with Olly Bohn of The Combat Academy taking the bronze medal.
Combat Academy fighter Andy Smith secured two good wins en-route to the gold medal in the boys under 40kg category, with Curtis Pugh of Falcons taking the silver and Jake Morris of the Combat Academy putting in a very good performance in his first ever competition to take the bronze medal.
Five Combat Academy fighters battled it out in the boys open weight category. Richard Baker defeated all four of his club mates to secure the gold medal. Nathan Edwards had a hard battle for the silver medal and Jack Stanton took the bronze.
In the boys and girls open category Becky Hayes produced an outstanding performance defeating all four opponents without conceding a single point to take the gold medal. Christian Evans of Falcons finished in second place to collect his second medal of the day, with Mary McLeod of The Combat Academy & Hereford Judo Club taking the bronze.
In the mens under 80kg category Combat Academy fighter Neil Preedy defeated four opponents to take the gold medal. Falcons Carl Edmunds took the silver and Nick Preece of the Combat Academy bronze
In the over 80kg category John Downes defeated Andy Bayton of Falcons and his club mates Greg Matthews and Bram Roberts to take the gold medal, with Greg taking silver and Bram the bronze.
In addition to the Ju-Jutsu Kumite, the event also hosted a submission-grappling event. Competitors fought one 5 minute round with victory only being possible by making the opponent submit. In the under 85kg category Falcons Carl Edmunds and Combat Academies Neil Preedy faced each other again, with Carl taking revenge for his earlier defeat in the kumite event. Two further wins gave Carl the gold medal with Neil taking the silver and Bram Roberts taking his second bronze on the day.
In the over 85kg category Greg Matthews produced an outstanding performance to take the gold medal, with Josh Mitchell and John Downes, who were competing in their first ever event, taking the silver and bronze respectively.
The next event to be hosted in Hereford, is a Karate competition on July 17. Members of any local clubs are welcome to participate and should contact Simon Small 07710775416 or Dave Coles 07770 768625 for details.
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