Sport South West Taekwondo students among the medals at several competitions

MARTIAL artists from Bristol are celebrating after taking home a medal haul from several competitions this summer.

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Members of South West Taekwondo (SWTKD), which trains in Lyde Green and Thornbury, kicked off the season with the Elite Martial Arts Professionals (EMAP) Open Championships.

The event, held at Thornbury Leisure Centre, was open to students from different disciplines in martial arts, and the SWTKD team returned with more than a dozen gold medals, as well as silver and bronze.

Instructor Master Vaughan Buxton, a 7th degree black belt and a British, European and World title holder, said: "It's a fun, friendly event and a great opportunity to learn - from the novice student to the more seasoned competitor.

"Each competition helps students to hone their technique, manage their adrenaline and improve their performance."

The team then competed at the annual South-West Championships in Torbay, and the club held their own competition for colour belts aged 18 and under at Lyde Green Community Centre the following week.