Two Worcester fighters enjoyed a strong showing at the 2024 International Taekwon-do Federation Union (IFTU) European Taekwon-do Championships.
Hannah Blake, age 21, and Luke Holland-Bowyer, age 27, hailing from Worcester and Droitwich, represented England at the tournament.
The championship was held in Hertfordshire Sports Village between Friday, October 25 and Sunday, October 27.
The fighters competed in a number of different disciplines with fourteen European nations pitted against one another.
Hannah Blake was named the European Champion in patterns (1st Dan).
This event sees competitors perform a sequence of predetermined combat moves, simulating real combat situations.
Blake was also named Vice European Champion both in sparring (60-65 kg) and in the special technique competition.
Luke Holland-Bowyer also became a European Champion, triumphing in the sparring category (60-65kg). Holland-Bowyer also achieved a Bronze medal in the Patterns competition (1st Dan).
Alongside their individual successes, both fighters also medalled multiple times in the team competition. Hannah Blake won five European team medals (one gold, one silver, two bronzes), while Luke Holland-Bowyer also proved successful winning four team competitions (two golds and two silvers).
Both fighters are instructors at VERVE Stourport, a group teaching family-focused martial arts lessons for students between the ages of five and 66, aiming to help with fitness, confidence and self-esteem as well as teaching self-defence.
Two students from VERVE Stourport joined the instructors on the final day of the championships on October 27, medalling in their own right.
Tom Addenbrooke-Gould, age 33, was named as Vice European Champion, winning silver in the patterns competition. While, James Griffiths, age 35, won the European title in sparring, finishing in first place.
Hannah Blake said: "It was super cool that we were there representing the England squad and then for our students to be able to come along as compete as well.
"Representing our country at a European Championship level was a really nice experience for all of us."
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