COURT Fields Karate Academy, Wellington, and Bishop Fox’s Karate Academy, Taunton, joined Tiverton,Willand, Cullompton, Exmouth and Barnstaple karate clubs at Tiverton High School.

Both karate academies took part in their spring grading examinations at Sensei Andy Purrington’s Tiverton Shotokan Karate Dojo.

And they were trained and assessed by 9th Dan chief British instructor and chairman Sensei Andy Sherry of the Karate Union of Great Britain (KUGB).

The grading students were invited to attend the session after three months or more of regular training and were given one and a half hours of intense training study of the grading requirements, followed by the examination.

The students successfully gained full passes in all the three disciplines covered in the grading, including the defending and attacking combinations of blocks, kicks and punches, set sequences of blocking and attacking moves known as Kata, and their pair work with a partner, known as Kumite, or sparring.

Sensei Sherry commented on their strong performance and excellent attitude and Court Fields and Bishop Fox’s class instructor Andy Purrington said: “These students have done extremely well and deserve their new grades.”

The students are now looking forward to receiving their new colour belts and certificates of achievement.

Anyone with any interest in karate or the school classes should phone 07970 969632 or visit www.devonandsomersetkarate.

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