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Martial arts school scoops 39 medals at world championships

Monday, 25 November 2024 07:28

Local athletes from X Martial Arts School secured 39 medals at the world championships.

A local martial arts school is celebrating success at a world championship event after its athletes brought home 39 medals.

X Martial Arts School, which has a club in Harrogate, saw 29 of its athletes qualify to represent England at the Kickboxing Commission championships (WKC).

The event was held in Albufeira in Portugal between 26th October and 1st November.

And the youngsters, who were competing in Sport Karate, scooped 13 gold, 15 silver and 11 bronze medals.

In Sport Karate, each strike is scored by three judges and success comes through timing and speed.

X Martial Arts School was founded in 2013 by Luke Burks, who was just 20-years-old at the time.

It now has over 1,000 members.

Reflecting on the world championships, Luke said:

“This was the biggest team we’ve ever taken, previously our largest contingent of athletes at a world champs was 14.

“We normally do pretty well, but this year was definitely our best.

“The medals are the reward for that extra effort, the extra dedication and also a reward for the instructors.”

He added:

“There was quite a new team to blood in a few years ago, they’ve become more experienced and a bit more developed now and not so fresh on the competition scene.

“There were a couple of the team who were new to international competition and really rose to the occasion.”

Alongside Harrogate, there are X Martial Arts Schools in Acomb, Malton, Leeds, Ossett and Sheffield.

Qualification for next year’s WKC World Championships in Niagara begins in March.

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