Sport
24 January, 2024
Martial arts quartet Martial arts quartet earns swag of medals
Four athletes from the Morayfield-based Red Dragon Martial Arts school achieved prominently at the International Sport Karate Association (ISKA) national titles in Sydney last month.
Red Dragon placed tenth out of 84 teams as the quartet secured eight gold, seven silver and three bronze medals from the event at the Blacktown Leisure Centre Stanhope.
Competitors came from all over Australia, with the majority from New South Wales.
Having also achieved well at the ISKA World Cup in Sydney several weeks earlier, the Red Dragon athletes were determined to do even better.
Having achieved world titles in Sword Combat and Sumo at the World Cup, Kelly Bodsworth was subsequently named national champion in Sumo, NoGi Grappling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) at the national titles.
Kelly, who competed in the 10-11 year division, also placed second in Point Sparring and Sword Combat.
James Clarke also competed in the 10-11 year division at the national titles, while his best achievement was third in Pop 360 Challenge.
In the 8-9 year division, Michael Cox placed second in BJJ, Power Breaking and NoGi BJJ, and third in Creative Breaking.
The team at ISKA also presented Michael with a first placing in BJJ for 8-9 year olds, for showing great sportsmanship in stepping up to the 10-12 year division.
In the 16-17 year division, Tyla Radburn-Hodge was named national champion in Kick Light Sparring, Sword Combat, Point Sparring and Extreme Forms, while also placing second in Pop 360 Challenge and Highest Kick. Tyla also placed third in Extreme Weapons.
Tyla’s four national titles capped off a memorable debut year of martial arts competitions, having come from a dance background before adapting to martial arts.
