Young athletes fundraise to compete on world stage

Sixteen athletes from Burns School of Black Belts have qualified for an international mixed martial arts competition

Young martial artists have been selected to compete at an international competition.

Sixteen students from Burns School of Black Belts (BSBB), which holds classes in Newcastle, Whitley Bay and Jarrow, qualified to represent Team GB at world championships in October.

They are now fundraising for the cost of flights, accommodation and competition fees for the event in Carrara, Italy.

One of the hopeful competitors, Lewis Stubbs, 15, from Wallsend, said: "I've worked really hard and want to do my best for myself, and my trainers, as well as the country."

Martial arts, which can include kickboxing, judo, taekwondo, karate, ju-jitsu, is a self-funded sport.

The students qualified for the World Traditional Kickboxing & Karate Association Unified World Championships by placing in the top three of their respective categories on the UK competition circuit.

Lewis, who has been kickboxing since 2019, said he trains as many times as he can each week.

He said he was "really excited" at the prospect of going to the competition, adding: "Kickboxing makes me feel healthy and is great for strength and precision, I’ve made loads of great friends."

Lewis Stubbs, 15, said he had worked "really hard" to qualify

Lewis' mother, Gemma Stubbs, said the sport had given him "purpose".

"Kickboxing has been amazing for Lewis, [BSBB] have taken him in and really helped to mould him into the young man he is today."

The school's founder and chief instructor, Rick Burns, said each student was "outstanding" and deserved to go to the competition.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience," he said.

The trip will cost each student about £1,250.

Mr Burns said the school and families were doing their best to raise enough funds to get every student there, including hosting cake sales and a sponsored kick-a-thon.

"At the start, a few families were not sure if they could go," he said.

"I overheard a few people say: 'Listen, if you're struggling, we'll help'. That's just the kind of group we've got."