World Championships in Greece 2009

Hi there,

My name is Rita Ogden and I run a kickboxing club Blackdragon Blitzers along with my son Matt who teaches Little Dragons. We are located in the Yate area and the club has been established since 1998. Matt and myself have been training for 20 years, both being 4th dan black belts in kickboxing, 2nd dan in wado ryu karate and I am a 1st dan black in the samurai sword, zeet ken do.

We have just returned from Greece where the WUMA world championships took place. My 4 students representing GB managed to bring home an amazing 16 trophies between them. Two of them becoming World Champion, Molly Hershaw age 13 and Georgia Gardiner age 10. Myself, my son Matt and Georgia Gardiner my grandaughter were all chosen for the GB team. Unusual if not a first to have three generations in the GB team. I had the position of senior coach and medic for the tournament. Georgia won her title in japanese kata, molly won her title in creative forms choreographed to music. Matt, molly and Georgia also won silver in the team weapons kata choreographed to music. Julian Lingard won silver in the full contact. Matt won 3 silvers and 3 bronzes in points fighting, kata and weapons.

Most people think of kickboxing as just fighting, but there are many more disciplines such as, kata, self defence, creative forms to music. Something for everyone. I am attaching photos and if you decide to print an article about us I would also like it in the Observer. Back row from left to right, Matt Ogden, Rita Ogden, Julian Lingard, Front row, Georgia Gardiner , Molly Hershaw Please telephone or email me if you need any more details,

Kind Regards
Rita