Greg Matthews, Dave Cooter, Bram Roberts, Pat Baker,
Emma Baker, Dan Hayes, Kate Bishop, Becky Hayes,
Olly Bohn, Sam Brown.
Fighters from Herefords Combat Academy travelled to Worcester for the National Ju Jutsu Kumite Council Midlands Championships.
The squad comprising of six seniors and six juniors competed for the medals in one of the fastest growing sporting formats, Ju Jutsu Kumite. Ju Jutsu is a semi contact sport which comprises of kicking, punching, throws, grappling, and submission techniques including arm and leg locks and strangles for seniors.
18 year old Greg Matthews took the gold medal in the mens under 95 kg category. Greg showed skill with a wide variety of techniques both standing up and on the ground to defeat his 4 opponents on the way to the championship title. Dave Cooter collected the silver medal in the mens open weight category, narrowly losing in the final after the fight had gone the distance.
Greg sweeps to mount
Reigning National champion, Kate Bishop competed in the girls under 40kg category and defeated several opponents with a variety of techniques on her way to the gold medal Becky Hayes collected a hard earned Silver medal in the under 35kg category. After defeating much higher graded opposition in her early fights, Becky narrowly lost to a brown belt in the final.
Kate dominates on the ground. Becky scores with a kick
Olly Bohn and Sam Brown (26kg), competed in their first area event. Sam was unlucky to be drawn against a bule belt in his first fight, but put up an excellent fight losing only 1 - 0. On the other side of the draw Olly beat yellow and orange belts on his way to the final where he faced the same blue belt that had beat his club-mate. Olly dominated his opponent throughout the fight scoring with striking and grappling techniques to secure another gold medal for the Academy, an amazing achievement for a white belt in his first area event.
Olly on his way to the gold medal
Emma Baker fought in the girls 50kgs section, and excelled by beating some more experienced fighters and secured herself a well earned Silver medal.
Emma attempts a hip throw
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