Martial Arts

Grand golden glory for local teenager...

Stan Bannister (13) from the Howard of Effingham School has done it again! Stan and his father Rabb Bannister travelled to Houston, Texas for the third consecutive year in October to compete in the Kuk Sool Won World Championships. Stan and his father both competed and returned to Bookham with an impressive medal haul of one gold, three silver and three bronze medals.

The World Championships was perfect preparation for the following tournament which took place in November in Liverpool. Stan competed for the final time in the Junior Black Belt category for competitors aged 12 years and under and did amazingly well. He competed in five different divisions and won four gold medals and a silver. His medals amounted to a total of 23 points out of a possible 25, resulting in Stan being the top scoring overall junior. He was consequentially awarded the title of UK Junior First Degree Grand Champion.  

Receiving the Grand Champion trophy in front of hundreds of spectators was really exciting. It was a very special evening full of celebrations for Bookham competitors. Not only did young Stan receive the Junior title but his father Rabb was also promoted to the level of First Dahn Black Belt in front of all his friends and family. Stan’s younger sister Kate also won a silver, bronze and two copper medals at the championships. What's more, James Barker, Stan’s principal instructor won the Grand Championship title in the highest level competition in the country. James is a 4th Dahn Black Belt and certainly leads his club by example at tournaments.

Bookham’s martial arts team enjoyed a very successful weekend with every competitor coming home with at least one medal. The other martial artists that competed for Bookham along with the Bannister family included new Black Belt Andy England and Conor Nelson, Will and Laura Robertson,  Ella Morris, Marco Posca,  Shannon, Ciarán and Aurelia Stirling-Loyer and  James Cowling. Out of seventy clubs in the UK the Bookham team finished in 7th place overall with their sister school in Oxshott finishing in 4th place.

Bookham’s competitors continue to practise hard in preparation for their local club championships held in Oxshott on 26th February. Stan continues to assist with the Little Dragons classes for 4-6 year olds held on Wednesdays at 4.00pm. Barker Martial Arts offers classes for all ages and abilities and welcomes beginners. We train on Mondays and Wednesdays at the newly refurbished South Bookham SPACE (SPorts And Community Environment) on Dorking Road, Bookham. Please visit www.barkermartialarts.co.uk to register for your free taster class.