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Panthers Martial Arts Academy gives Yeovil a reason to celebrate two new World Champions

Last weekend saw Yeovil become home to two new world champions thanks to the success enjoyed by young Yeovil based Melissa Rogers, aged 8 and a half and Yeovil's Adam Ridout, aged 23. The occasion was the World Martial Arts Championships in Manchester at Wright Robinson College. Both champions are pupils at Yeovil based Panthers Martial Arts Academy.

Melissa Rogers took on her biggest challenge yet to defeat multiple Martial Arts Champion, 9 year old Emilia Tischer from Germany. Her second round saw her claim the WFMC (World Fightsport and Martial Arts) Under 12 Female under 30kg Light Contact World Championship with a unanimous judge's decision. She was applauded for her sportsmanship following the fight when she hugged her opponent and held her hand up in respect.

23 year old Adam Ridout fought German opponent Roman Clausnitzer. Sensei Kire Antoski, owner and chief instructor at Panthers Martial Arts who trained Adam, told how from the start Adam took control of the fight, finishing the 1st round with domination in his favour. At the start of the second round Adam piled on the pressure and by the middle of the round finished the fight with a knock-out (KO), claiming the WFMC World K1 title -80kg.

Both Adam and Melissa have trained at Panthers Martial Arts Academy for several years, with Melissa starting from the age of four, attending the Lil'Panthers kickboxing group and Adam from the age of 15.

Adam is also a black belt in kickboxing and holds a purple belt in classical ju jutsu and mixed martial arts. He works as a qualified instructor at Panthers and is currently teaching children aged 4-8 who attend the Lil'Panthers kickboxing group as well as several junior and adult K1 kickboxing groups plus, juniors and adults learning classical ju jutsu, mixed martial arts and BodyMaX Fitness.

Last year Adam won his first Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) full contact fight in Cheltenham with a Knock Out (KO) and not surprisingly he holds the fastest KO record at Panthers Academy, finishing the fight in just five seconds!

For more information about Panthers Martial Arts Academy visitwww.panthersmaa.comor contact Kire Antoski T/: 01935 426 753 (evenings); M/: 07811 283 482 (anytime) or E/:hello@panthersmaa.com.

For more press information and a hi res photo contact Jane Adkins, A Head for PR, T/: 01935 813114; M/: 07960698089 or E/:jane@aheadforpr.co.uk

Photo captions:

Eight year old Melissa shows off her gold medal

Two new world champions from Yeovil L- R: Adam Ridout, Melissa Rogers in fighting form with Sensei Kire Antoski from Panthers Martial Arts Academy.

Video footageof Melissa in action is also available.

Note to Editors

Yeovil Panthers was established in 1994 by founder and chief instructor Sensei Kire Antoski. Sensei Kire has over 39 years of martial arts experience and is a black belt Master in 4 different martial arts: 6th Dan Black Belt-Kickboxing, 4th Dan Black Belt-Ju Jutsu, 3rd Dan Black Belt-Tai Jutsu & 1st Dan Black Belt-Karate. The club is the most successful Martial Arts Centre in Somerset and has over 190 members of which 15 hold World titles, 9 hold European titles, 23 hold GB titles, 5 hold silver World Championship medals and 3 hold bronze World Championship medals.

The club has expanded in recent years to include tuition in Body Blast Aerobic, Kickboxing, Ju-Jutsu, Mixed Martial Arts, Lil' Panthers - Kickboxing (ages 4 to 8), Lil'panthers - Ju Jutsu (ages 5 to 8), Kendo and Ko Budo Weapons.

In 1998 the club was renamed "The Martial Arts and Fitness Centre" and it was further expanded in 2000 to become the Panthers Martial Arts Academy - Yeovil and is based on Pen Mill Trading Estate.

The centre works with the community and has satellite clubs in Millfield School, Gryphon School, Ilchester School, St Antonys Leweston School, Chilton Cantelo School and Sherborne Primary School. It also provides specialist training for the Armed Forces.

October 2016 (PMAA 03)