Martial marvels make an art of getting grades

Ben Fullick with the successful students

Four have obtained their first-degree black belts and one has just passed his second degree black belt.

Morgan Muncey, who is 15, passed his second degree while Isaac Howe, 16, Jacob Howe, 16, Sean McDonald, 13, and Billy Bicknall, 11, all passed their first degree.

Bicknall also achieved a gold medal for the extreme kicking combo in the national championships.

Muncey achieved his junior certified instructor training in March.

All the instructors, assistants, parents and everyone at Youth and Community Centre, Westloats Lane, where they train are proud of everything the youngsters have achieved and how much confidence they have gained, not only in class but in their everyday lives.

Matt Fiddes Martial Arts is a worldwide organisation, with schools in Australia, Italy, Germany, Holland and South Africa to name a few.

Ben Fullick, senior instructor for the Bognor group, is the franchise owner for Surrey and Sussex who also runs schools in Chichester, Felpham, Littlehampton, Worthing, Hove and locations in Surrey.

A new school is planned in Durrington in the new year.

At Bognor, the group teach self-defence, anti-bullying, martial arts and life skills. They have classes for three to six-year-olds (Mighty Matts), seven to 12-year-olds (juniors) and adult and family groups (seven years and above with a parent or guardian).

The martial arts taught are tae kwon do, karate and kick boxing – an all-round self-defence package.

The Bognor centre is run by Carol Fullick, mother of Ben, and has in the past funded classes through a charity called Bognor CAN.

This year, a lack of financial help means organisers have had to ask parents to pay to keep classes going.

If anyone is interested in classes in their area, they can go to a free trial lesson. Call 07960 487647 or 0800 612 7385, email [email protected] or look up Matt Fiddes West Sussex on Facebook.

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