Martial arts sisters earn black belts

The pair, who live in Bexhill but represent Kuk Sool Won of Eastbourne, got their reward for a season of hard work in the form of their 1st degree black belts.

And they enjoyed the honour of collecting their licenses and certificates from the Grand Master and Worldwide Founder of the sport Suh In Hyuk at the European Martial Arts Championship in Norwich last month where the tournament chair was the highest rank Buddhist Monk.

And they performed with distinction in the competition itself, which was attended by around 50 clubs from throughout Britain, Spain and Holland.

Sixteen-year-old Karen, competing in the 15-17 years age group, was unfortunate in the sense that she received the worst draw possible in the opening round of the sparring competition when she was paired with eventual Grand Champion Andrew London. Karen, who, like her sister, attends Bexhill High School, fought very courageously but eventually succumbed to a far-from-disgraceful defeat.

Siobhan, 13, on the other hand, collected a copper medal for finishing a tremendous fourth in the 11-13 years' sparring event. And she was just a point away from a repeat of the bronze medal she scooped last year in the self-defence section.

Among the weapons the pair have been taught to use over the last couple of years include jewel-bongs, swords and staff but their grading will enable them to move on to do archery, short stick and possibly, in the case of Karen, knife throwing.

The pair are pictured either side of instructor Phillip Holmes, 7th Dan black belt, who has been instrumental in their tremendous progress. Karen's father Mike would like to thank Holmes and wife Julie, who reached third degree herself at the Norwich event, for their guidance.