KARATE students passed their gradings with three securing black belts.

Ten members of National Karate Association club Black Dragon Kinjite Ryu were put through their paces.

Gemma Jones, Amy Cooper and Jemima Faizey bagged their black belts while instructor Ryan Renard gained his third dan.

Andy Wagstaff is now a blue belt with Edward Cotton, Amy Adcock and Laura Cook upgrading to yellow and Harriet Gilmour and Freddie Topping to purple.

The black belt students’ gradings lasted for five hours including a written exam, teaching, self-defence, the use of weapons and also the art of breaking timber with the hand or foot.

The third dan test was similar but in Japanese.

There are club classes on Fridays from 7pm until 8pm at Warndon Youth and Community Centre, Shap Drive, Worcester, and on Thursdays from 6.30pm until 7.30pm at Grove Primary School, Pickersleigh Grove, Malvern, as well as in Cheltenham.

For more details contact club founder and master Mac Gilmour on 07554 526002 or at pennyandmac@btinternet.com.