Four members of a Berkshire martial arts club have become world champions after representing England at an international competition in Austria.
Blaze Martial Arts, which has schools in Ascot, Windsor, Bracknell and Wokingham, sent six fighters to the WMAC World Championships.
Ollie, Simon, Orlando, Josh, Jake and Derek all represented England at the event.
Ollie won gold in the Elite category, while Simon claimed gold and silver in Elite competition.
Orlando won gold in the Open category and also took two silver medals, one in Elite and one in Open.
Josh also became an Open world champion after winning gold, as well as securing further medal success in the Elite competition.
The results meant four of the six Blaze fighters returned from Austria as world champions, according to the club.
Jake also reached the quarter-finals after winning his opening Round of 16 contest, while Derek competed for England and Blaze at world championship level.
The results have particular significance for Blaze founder and chief instructor Justyn Billingham.
In a 2003 interview with Martial Arts Illustrated, Billingham was asked about his ambition. He answered: “To Train a World Champion.”
Twenty-three years later, four of his fighters have achieved world champion status.
Billingham said: “I genuinely can’t put into words how proud I am of them all.
“In 2003 I was asked what my ambition was and I wrote, ‘To Train a World Champion.’ Twenty-three years later, I’ve now got four.”
He said the achievement was about more than the four gold medals, pointing to all six fighters representing their country.
“Not many people ever get the opportunity to say they’ve represented England at a World Championship,” he said.
“Win, lose or draw, every one of them has done themselves, their families, Blaze Martial Arts and England proud.”
Blaze Martial Arts has been operating for more than two decades and offers classes for children and adults aged four and above.
Billingham said the success demonstrated how competitors could progress from their first martial arts lesson to competing internationally.
“Four World Champions sounds incredible – and it is – but every one of them started as a beginner,” he said.
“Whether somebody walks into Blaze aged four just wanting to build their confidence, or joins later with ambitions of competing for England, everybody starts with their first lesson.”
