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2:30pm Thursday 24th December 2009
HEREFORD'S Combat Academy have four British Champions and one silver medallist after their seven-strong team took part in the British Open Ju-Jutsu Kumite championships.
Ju-Jutsu Kumite is a relatively new martial art that combines the punching and kicking of Karate, with the throwing techniques from Judo and the grappling skills of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Olympic Wrestling.
A seasoned Judo competitor, Jodie Newell was competing in her first British Open.
Using her Judo skills Jodie managed several good wins on her way to the under 50 kg Championship title. A huge throw in the final was described by the event referee as the best technique he had seen all day.
Training Ju Jutsu and Karate up to six times a week, Tyler Davies is one of the Combat Academy's most dedicated students and this commitment showed as he stormed his way to the Gold medal and British title in the boys' under- 50 kg category.
A two-time British Champion, Lisa Jones was looking to make it three in a row in the girls under 35 kg category.
Lisa was in a class of her own as she stormed her way to the gold medal without having a single point scored against her.
A two-time British Open Bronze medallist, Ben Oliver was looking to add some gold to his medal collection in the boys'
under 35kg category.
He put in an outstanding performance, defeating five opponents on his way to the gold medal and his first British Open title.
The 2006 and 2008 Silver medallist Sarah Jones was looking for that elusive gold medal in the girls under-45 kg category.
Sarah had several good wins en-route to the final where, after the initial exchanges, the fighters were evenly matched.
Sarah was then caught with a throw giving her opponent a narrow lead and leaving Sarah with another hard-earned Silver medal.
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