The Kingsley School Judo team fought tremendously well in the Devon Kyu Grade Championships in Kingsbridge on Sunday.

 

The tournament – for non-Black Belt competitors over the age of 16 - attracted more than 100 younger and older fighters from clubs throughout the West of England, including three members of the Kingsley School Bideford club.

 

6^th former Samuel Foulser was in outstanding form, winning all four of his bouts with classic “Ippon” knock-outs, clinching the Gold medal in the 1^st Kyu -66kg category and earning 40 points towards his 1^st Dan Black Belt.

Sam was naturally very happy with his performance. “I had a game plan and stuck to the techniques I had been training hard to develop for competition. Everything went to plan and winning 40 points was a brilliant bonus”

 

Gregor Herkewitz, an 18-year-old Kingsley Gap Year student from Germany, who is part of the British Judo Association adult beginners’ course at Kingsley, with only a few weeks’ training under his belt, picked up an incredible silver medal in his category. He won three out of his four bouts against much more experienced and higher-graded opponents.

Ryan Ashton also won a valuable ranking position. He fought in the novice to Blue belt 2nd Kyu 81kg class, with a well earned 5th place finish.  .