MARTIAL ARTS: Seven of the 13 Winsper's School of Blackbelts students who have secured first-degree black belts train at the Kidderminster dojo.

Kimberley Wallace, 11, and Nicole Jackman, 12, are members of the school's power team and junior demonstration squad, assisting with coaching youngsters in the Little Ninjas programme.

The five adults to graduate, aged between 19 and 25, were Emma Lewis, Daniel Avens, Jo Usowicz, John May and Luke White.

Twenty-year-old Avens, who works with children's and adult classes, was also promoted to the senior instructor level of sensei.

And sensei Ricky Dubidat was also celebrating after being awarded his second-dan grade.

Members from all over the Midlands and from as far afield as Middlesbrough came together for the graduation exam and ceremony on two successive Saturdays.

The final stage of their graduation to black belt included a demonstration of their school's syllabus knowledge and a fitness test.

They also produced a dissertation detailing what the award meant to them.

Their syllabus draws from both traditional and freestyle karate concepts but also includes other elements.

They include thai and kick-boxing, eskrima, Brazilian ju-jitsu, capoeira, Keysi's method, self protection and Bruce Lee's jeet kune do.