ULTIMATE Karate increased their dan grade team further by promoting six new black belts.

They include second dan Lleyton James, an international student from Canada, who has trained with chief instructor Neil Bennett for two years at Malvern College.

Jack White and Elliot Cresswell from the Powick class along with Andrew Baker, Jack Bennett and Tommy Ferry from the Malvern class were all promoted to first dan.

All candidates read out essays on their personal journey.

Sisters Alessia and Arianna Gouveia took pre-grading assessments, both passing with 97 per cent and qualifying for their dan grade exam next year.

Shihan Bennett said “I’m very proud of our black belts.

“They all have a positive attitude to the sport of karate and achieved something that many only ever dream about.

“The black belt is the white belt who never quit, they work extremely hard with one goal in sight.

“This is a great example to everyone.”

Fifty-year-old Eric Price had already attained his lifelong ambition of being promoted to first dan black belt after years of training with the club.

Meanwhile, two club instructors have been promoted in rank in second dan Preston Jones and third dan Scott Marsh.

The three-hour exam consisted of all aspects of the art, including kata, defence, traditional weapons and continuous fighting.

Bennett holds a fifth-dan black belt and founded the club in 1997, which is based on wado ryu sport karate combined with other martial arts skills.

Classes are available and anyone interested can contact Bennett on 07801-846055 for further details.