Walsall's golden girl Emily leads medal haul

Arms, fighting in the open weight black belt and patterns division, claimed an overall gold at the North Midlands Championships.

Gian Singh, recently promoted to a second dan black belt, also smashed his way into the championship finals in the same division but had to settle for silver.

Instructors from the Walsall training school also shone at the British Championships. Chief instructor Jason Rowley took on current the world champion in a display of continuous sparring in the men's heavyweight black belt division, finishing in third place and winning bronze.

Rowley's sister, Arms, claimed a further two bronze in the British ladies' black belt heavyweight point stop division and ladies' tag team sparring division.

Rowley, a fourth dan black belt, has previously won British, English, Scottish, Welsh and the European titles.

He is also a former winner of the prestigious Taekwondo Association Great Britain (TAGB) Black Belt of the year award for an outstanding performance in his grading.

Rowley started teaching aged 19 and took over at Walsall EMA two years later along with his older sister.

Arms said: "The year 2015 was exceptional for the club, instructors and its students.

"Walsall EMA has a full calendar of events leading into 2016 and the build up to the world championships in the summer."

The club ended the year with a grading in Bristol, which saw Tim Sheward promoted to first degree black belt.

Elliott Martin and Gian Singh also rose to second degree black belt in front of the Taekwondo Association of Great Britain committee, which consisted of four eighth degree masters and one grand-master.

Walsall EMA's last colour belt grading saw 18 of its students successfully promoted with higher grades by eighth degree master, Paul Donnelly. The club also named Eleanor Causier 2015 Tiger of the Year and Mayah Anwar Student of the Year.

Walsall are recruiting students in judo, kickboxing and taekwondo. Classes are also being held in Ladies FabFITness or Tigers classes.

For further information call 079711 96676 or email emily@walsallelitemartialarts.co.uk.