A LLANDRINDOD Wells martial arts group is celebrating after two of its members were awarded brown belts.
The aikido group at Llandrindod Wells Sports Centre has been running for almost 10 years and is led by Sensei Mark Coldbreath who is a 3rd Dan.
Members Lukasz Bartlomiej and Stephen Heath have been graded and are now 1st Kyu & 2nd Kyu brown belts in the martial art.
Four Senseis from the Aikido headquarters in Portsmouth visited the class to carry out the grading. They watched the students training and put their abilities to the test in order to grade them for their next level brown belt in aikido.
Mark said: "I have been training and teaching Aikido for nearly 20 years, when I moved up to Wales I realised there were no Aikido classes in the area so started my own, I am proud to have such dedicated students who have worked hard for many years and earned their new grades."
The visiting Sensei’s were all highly trained in Aikido and have been practicing it for many years. The grading panel was made up of Sensei Gary Masters 7th Dan, Sensei Dee Masters 4th Dan, Sensei Roger Bish 6th Dan and Sensei Richard Lewis 5th Dan.
They were all very impressed with the level of skill of the students, said Mark.
Some of the more experienced students are doing weapons training where they use bamboo sticks as artificial swords.
Stephen said: "I’ve been training in Aikido for 5 years, ’fighting to stay fit’ and having fun with it, I still have plenty to learn, but with the instruction I’ve been given, even miracles may be possible."
Aikido is a Japanese martial art which when used for self-defence can counter many different attacks. Learning to defend yourself by blending with an attacker’s power, dispersing the energy, and finally, throwing or controlling the attacker.
In addition to being an effective form of self-defence Aikido can aids weight loss, develop discipline, fitness, stamina, balance and confidence. Aikido is suitable for all ages and sexes.
Mark is keen to enrol new members to the group. Anyone interested in joining the group or talking to Mark in more detail about aikido can contact him via www.kenshinkai.org.uk
Training takes place at Llandrindod Wells Sports Centre, 8:15pm till 10pm on Wednesdays and 7pm till 9pm Fridays. First session is free.