Bram Roberts, Dave Cooter, Simon Small, Dave Coles, Pat Baker,
Emma Baker, Dan Hayes & Kate Bishop.
One week after their gold medal success in Northern Ireland, The HCKC and The Combat Academy with an eight person squad, headed off a little nearer to home this time, to Worcester for the National Ju Jutsu Kumite Midland Championships.
The squad comprising of five seniors and three juniors competed for the medals in one of the fastest growing sporting formats, Ju Jutsu Kumite. Ju Jutsu is a semi contact sport martial art which comprises of kicking and punching techniques of Karate / Taekwondo, the throwing and takedown techniques of judo, along with ground grappling, and submission techniques of arm / leg locks and strangles for seniors.
The HCKC and TCA coaches were still on form from the previous week, with Dave Coles making light work of his opponents on his way to the final in the mens 95kgs section. In the final Dave ahead on points finished his opponent with the most spectacular throw of the day, earning him the Gold medal. Simon Small competing in the Mens open weight, also worked his way to the final and earned himself the Gold medal with an 8 0 victory and held on to the title he won last year.
Patrick Baker took the third gold medal in the veterans section, a title which coach Dave Coles earned last year, but this year stepped aside to make room for his student. Patrick showed skill in a wide variety of techniques both standing up and on the ground, along with a huge impressive throw pleasing the crowd and his instructors.
Patrick's daughter Emma Baker, competing in her first Ju Jutsu competition at regional level fought in the girls 50kgs section, and excelled by beating some more experienced fighters and secured herself a well earned Silver medal.
Also competing for the clubs were Kate Bishop (also her first competition), Daniel Hayes ( who secured his first win at regional level), Dave Cooter and Bram Roberts.
