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29 August 2017 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | ||
Barnsley world champions face battle for funding BARNSLEY, UK – A local martial arts club which produced two young World Champions in 2016 faces a battle to raise money to fund a trip to defend its world titles later this year. Modern Martial Arts, which is based in Athersley near Barnsley, is currently £3,000 short of the £6,000 it needs to send seven competitors to this year's World Karate & Kickboxing Council World Championships, to be held in Portugal from 26th-31st October this year. The money, which needs to be raised before a September 21st deadline, will fund travel, accommodation, entry fees and uniforms for the seven competitors only, with club officials, parents and relatives all funding their own trips. There is a donations page at www.gofundme.com/3fo8ego. "For a small local club like ours to produce two world champions for is a source of huge pride for everyone involved" said Sarah Moss, Chief Instructor at MMA. "We have a great chance of bringing more world titles back to Barnsley in 2017 as seven of our students have been selected to represent Team England at this year's WKC World Championships by becoming National Champions in their disciplines, which we think is another amazing achievement." Caitlan Williamson and Lilian Baxter, both now aged 11, became World Champions in the Novice Sections for Traditional Kata at the 2016 WKC World Championships. This October they will once again represent Team England, this time in the Girls Under-13 Hard Style Kata event. The girls have also qualified for the first time in Team Kata, where pairs of students replicate combat by performing a pattern of movements in exact synchronisation. In addition to Caitlin and Lilian four more of the seven Team England representatives from MMA are also under 18, including Ben Corden (aged 11), Elisia Winrow (12), Erin Gleadall (12) and Erin Longfield (12). The seventh finalist, local teacher Christine Johnson, is 58 years old and has her own remarkable story, having only started training in November 2015. She will compete in Hard Style Kata in the Veterans Category in Portugal, after winning Gold in the English National Championships in January 2017. The club has been hard at work fundraising all year, running auctions, Fight Nights, Fun Days and many other initiatives including a Non-Uniform Day at Ryhill Junior, Infant & Nursery School . Generous donations have also been received from local sponsors such as Barrett Homes and Ryhill Parish Council, with valuable funding also received from South Yorkshire Sport. MMA parent and fundraiser Helen Longfield said: "This is an amateur sport and has to be self-funded. It's a lot of money for a small group to find, and there are so many other worthy causes looking to raise money these days, but people have been simply brilliant so far. We just need a bit of extra help as we strive to win more medals for England and for Barnsley!" Just under 100 families and their children currently attend classes at MMA, although membership is growing rapidly as news of the club's international success spreads. "Whether you train for kickboxing, karate or kobudo, martial arts is great for your confidence, your self-esteem and your health" said Moss. "You don't need to be a competitive person at all, and inspirational people like Christine Johnson prove that it really is something for all ages." See www.modernmartialarts.co.uk or contact MMA on 07463 238356. Ends. |
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Media Contact: | Andy Hiseman, Magic Hour Media +44 (0)1226 781000 / +44 (0)7795 360112 / andy@hiseman.com |
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Contact MMA: | Modern Martial Arts Academy of Excellence, Units 14-15 Woodmoor Court, Longfields Road, Athersley, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S71 3HT +44 (0)845 2576957 /www.modernmartialarts.co.uk |
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CLICK ON PHOTO FOR HIGH RES VERSION Barnsley's world champion at MMA: Christine Johnson. PHOTO CREDIT: Andy Hiseman. |
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CLICK ON PHOTO FOR HIGH RES VERSION Barnsley MMA world champions Caitlan Williamson (left) and Lilian Baxter (right). PHOTO CREDIT: Andy Hiseman. |
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CLICK ON PHOTO FOR HIGH RES VERSION Barnsley MMA world champions Caitlan Williamson (left) and Lilian Baxter (right). PHOTO CREDIT: Andy Hiseman. |
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ABOUT MODERN MARTIAL ARTS IN BARNSLEY | ||
We are Modern Martial Arts. We are a training facility located in Barnsley, South Yorkshire and we teach martial arts to anyone from the age of 3 years. We have specialised classes according to age group and we pride ourselves in our welcoming, friendly, family orientated atmosphere. We have classes for everyone from our bespoke Little Champions program for 3 – 7 years, to classes in Karate and Kickboxing for all ages. We separate juniors from adults and we even offer Ladies only classes. Our classes are enjoyable and informative and are designed to increase your cardiovascular fitness, muscular endurance and overall body strength and tone. On top of that, we have our numerous seminars and workshops, which target current issues and supply knowledge of martial history in general. With all this in place, we really are a well-rounded martial arts school, with our students’ best interests at heart. Our instructors regularly train in Okinawa and Tokyo, Japan with some of the highest master ranks in the world, increasing their knowledge and skills for your benefit and bringing home new ideas and techniques, all of which are derived from ancient martial knowledge and indoctrinated in the science of the arts. |
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