A TETBURY schoolboy has kicked his way to success at a taekwon-do championships.

Fifteen-year-old Finn Gazzard, the reigning British champion in 14 to 17 year old category, fought his way to a gold medal at the Battle of the Bridge Welsh junior championships in Gwent.

That medal is now proudly displayed at his Nailsworth home alongside the three British youth championship golds he has captured in the past two years.

Finn, a red belt, trains at Nailsworth’s Mystic-Eagle Taekwon-Do Club and competes in the under-17 (70kg+) division, where he usually faces opponents who are older and heavier.

He only took up the sport just over two years ago after watching a Karate Kid movie, but has now set his sights on reaching black belt status in the next 12 months.

Taekwon-Do originated in Korea and is one of the oldest forms of martial arts, reaching back over 2 000 years. It involves kicks, punches, blocks and dodges with bare hands and feet but, as Finn explains, there’s more to this ancient art than battering an opponent.

He said: “I used to have a short fuse, but Taekwon-Do has taught me self-control. It brings inner peace and has certainly helped me improve my self-esteem and mental strength.”