KFM

MORE than 30 students from the KFM Kidderminster and KFM Droitwich martial arts academies completed the graduation to their next belt level.

White, yellow and orange belts were awarded to the children and adults who completed their exam, which tested their ability to use their kicks, punches, knees and elbows along with their defensive, movement and ground fighting skills.

The grading was the culmination of four months of continuous assessment, backed up by badge programmes and sticker charts for the younger students.

It was the second graduation day for the academies which opened last autumn and instructor James Boyle couldn't have been happier with the standard of the students.

He said: "It always amazes me to see the level of the guys, and after a relatively short period of training for many of them. I'll see a student moving around with good defence and using kicks, punches, knees and elbows effectively, and then you remember that they've only been training for six months and that they're a five year old!

"It's unbelievable how much some of them have grown since they first joined the academy, and that definitely goes for the adults too.

"In the Keysi Fighting Method grades are certainly not awarded for attendance alone," stressed Boyle. "The students who graduated did so through their own hard work and merit. And for this reason I'm extremely proud of every one of them!"