Two local kickboxers gain successes at Gloucester (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Two local kickboxers gain successes at Gloucester

GLOUCESTER Leisure Centre was the venue for a national open martial arts tournament in June where members of Cirencester's WUMA Kickboxing Club were successful in picking up another set of hard-earned trophies.

Third-dan blackbelt and club instructor Terry Saxton stepped on to the mats first in the advanced semi-contact section.

In his first tournament for quite some time and with a vociferous crowd right behind him, Saxton didn't take long to display his uniquely flamboyant style.

After battling through several worthy blackbelt opponents, he eventually emerged in second place in the final fight.

Brown-belt student Chris Smith was next to compete as, not content with contesting just one category, he had signed up for three different sections.

First up, he fought well to take third place in the semi-contact section. After this initial success, he was fully warmed up for the physically exhausting light-continuous section.

After battling hard against several opponents, he reached the final bout to take a well deserved second place.

Finally, it was time for Smith to test his ground skills in a brand new category - strike and grapple.

Much of a totally different style of fighting takes place on the floor with the winner forcing his opponent to submit with a series of locks and chokes.

Though at first the Cirencester man was a little apprehensive, he soon got into the swing of it as he wrestled for all his worth throughout two rounds.

Despite his lack of experience in this style of fighting, he did extremely well to take yet another second place.

So no first place wins at this tournament for the Cirencester combatants, but even with regular champion Tim Saxton not competing at this event, the pair still claimed three second places and one third between them.

Anyone interested in joining the club and trying their hand at this exciting sport, check out www.cirenkickboxing.co.uk for more information and details on how to claim a free trial lesson.