MEDIA RELEASE

Yeovil eight year old secures British Junior Kick Boxing Title

Sunday 5 June was a day to remember for young Yeovil based Melissa Rogers, aged 8, who secured the British Junior Kick Boxing title and qualified to represent Great Britain in the World Championships to be held in October.

Melissa, who trains regularly at Yeovil-based Panthers Martial Arts Academy, travelled to West Bromwich in the Midlands where she took part in the WFMC (World Fightsport & Martial Arts) World Championship qualifiers, winning what was only her second ever competition fight.

Kire Antoski, owner and chief instructor at Panthers Martial Arts, who trained Melissa, told how Melissa had demonstrated superb control within the fight. He said, "Halfway through the fight her opponent was getting tearful and you could see she was giving up hope. I advised Melissa to continue the fight and win the points, but to keep the strikes very light so that her opponent would have the confidence to finish rather than withdrawing. It was fantastic to witness the control Melissa was able to summon up and she really demonstrated the skill she has learned when executing the moves. I am so proud of her."

The contest also saw another pupil from Panthers Martial Arts gain a second title following his success in securing the new K1 WAKO (World Association of Kickboxing Organisations) British Championship in February. This time Yeovil man Adam Ridout, aged 23, was awarded the under 80kg Full Contact K1 Kickboxing WFMC British Championship title, qualifying to represent Great Britain at the World Championships in October 2016.

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

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 10 hold World titles, 6 hold European titles, 23 hold British 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.

June 2016 (PMA 02)