ELEVEN members of Hereford's Combat Academy, led by coaches Dave Coles and Simon Small, travelled to Nantyglo South Wales to successfully compete in the National Jujutsu Kumite Council's Welsh Open championships.

The current national champion in the under-30 kilo category, Olly Bohn stormed his way to another gold medal with a variety of striking and grappling techniques.

Competing in his first area event, Jack Stanton gave an excellent display of fighting skills on the way to the gold medal in the under 45kg category.

Another fighter in his first area event was Andy Smith. Despite being held down for three points early in his first fight, Smith fought back, scoring with a variety of striking techniques, to take the silver medal in the under-40kg category.

A bronze medallist in last year's British Championships, Luciano Cellozi competed in the boys' -35kg category and, after winning some tough fights, secured the silver medal.

In the boys' under-45 kilo category, Dan Hayes faced Falcons Ju Jutsu purple belt Ethan Moss. After a very close fight it ended in a draw, and an extension of time was added when Moss was beaten by one point.

Emma Baker, fighting in the girls' open division, secured a silver medal after being beaten in a close final.

Becky Hayes (red belt) and Kate Bishop (orange belt) competed in the under-45 category and both faced black belts in their first fight. Becky defeated the much higher graded opponent to progress to the final. Kate lost by a single point in the semi final and so faced another black belt in the fight off for the bronze medal, which she duly won.

British Open bronze medallist Bram Roberts managed several good wins en route to the final of the men's -86kg division where he lost by one point to nil to Falcons fighter Carl Edmunds.

Greg Matthews collected a hard-earned silver in the under 95 kg category.

Kate Bishop took gold with a narrow points win over team-mate Becky Hayes in the grappling competition.