Fighters from Herefords Combat Academy travelled to Worcester for the National Ju Jutsu Kumite Council Midlands Championships. The squad comprising of six seniors and five 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.
Olly Bohn was looking to retain the title he lifted at the event last year in the under 26kg category. With 16 competitors in the bracket Olly certainly had his work cut out defeating four opponents en-route to the gold medal.
Although only a white belt Jack Stanton beat several higher graded opponents to progress to the final of the white-green belt under 50kg category. Jack was leading the fight 1-0 but with seconds remaining Jack was thrown for three points and so had to settle for a hard earned silver medal.
The 2004 National Champion in the under 35kg category, Becky Hayes faced her first outing at under 40kg. Becky dominated her opponents, scoring with a variety of striking and grappling techniques. A huge 5-point throw in the final secured the gold medal.
A karate black belt Dan Hayes has excellent striking skills, but has been working hard recently to improve his grappling game. The hard work certainly paid off as Dan showed some very sound throwing and ground-fighting skills en-route to the final of the under 50kg blue-black belt category. In the final Dan faced a Ju Jutsu black belt and in a very close fought battle emerged the victor by 3 points to 2, to secure the gold medal.
Richard Baker took his first gold medal in an area event in the under 50kg. Richard used a good variety of striking and grappling techniques to defeat his opponents.
Sixteen year old Emma Baker was making her senior debut in the women’s category.
In her first fight Emma faced semi-pro cage fighter Angela Boyce. Despite putting in a brave performance the experience and power of her opponent was too much for Emma to handle. Putting this loss behind her Emma defeated her next three opponents to secure a hard earned silver medal.
A tactical error in the semi-final cost Neil Preedy a place in the final of the under 78kg ju jutsu kumite category. Neil beat his opponent in the fight off for the bronze medal. In the submission fighting Neil went one better collecting a silver medal after a close fought final against a former international standard judo player.
Bram Roberts made light work of his three opponents to collect the gold medal in the men’s under 86kg ju jutsu kumite event. Bram also collected a bronze medal in the submission fighting event.
Dan Buckley put in an outstanding performance in the men’s under 85kg submission fighting event. After a couple of good wins Dan faced former pro cage fighter Leighton Hill in the final and after a hard fought battle Dan had to settle for the silver medal.
Taking part in his first area event, Lewis Green competed in the intermediates category and showed good skills in all the fighting ranges to secure a hard earned bronze medal.
Academy instructor Dave Coles made light work of his opponents en-rout to the gold medal in the under 95kg submission fighting event.
