Kickboxing: Melton's world champion family

A world championships became a family gathering as a Melton martial arts club returned from an overseas trip with four world champions.
From left, Emmadee Fox, and the Penniston trio - Logan, Morgan and Brent EMN-171115-115457002From left, Emmadee Fox, and the Penniston trio - Logan, Morgan and Brent EMN-171115-115457002
From left, Emmadee Fox, and the Penniston trio - Logan, Morgan and Brent EMN-171115-115457002

Kickboxing instructor Brent Penniston was a proud father as his sons Morgan and Logan followed in his footsteps by claiming world titles.

And pupil Emmadee Fox was crowned a global champion for a third successive championships.

The Melton quartet enjoyed the luxury of a five-star hotel resort in Albufeira, Portugal, the venue for the ninth World Karate and Kickboxing Council (WKC) World Championships.

World champion borthers Morgan (left) and Logan EMN-171115-124710002World champion borthers Morgan (left) and Logan EMN-171115-124710002
World champion borthers Morgan (left) and Logan EMN-171115-124710002

But there were obstacle to clear before the action had even got under way.

“The team nearly didn’t make it with the closure of Monarch Airlines,” said Brent.

“But with some persistence and connecting flights we managed to get all Leicestershire competitors to and from the competition.”

And the championships proved worth the inconvenience as the team compiled an incredible medal count of nine gold medals and another five silver medals.

The championships were held at a five-star beach resort in Portugal EMN-171115-124658002The championships were held at a five-star beach resort in Portugal EMN-171115-124658002
The championships were held at a five-star beach resort in Portugal EMN-171115-124658002

The sports sword discipline was introduced at this year’s championships, a high-energy points-scoring class which uses a stiff foam sword wrapped in a material outer to act like a real sword when fighting.

Morgan became it’s first-ever eight-year-old open weight world champion, while older brother Logan (12) took the boys’ under 15s title.

The championships also staged competitions in points fighting, continuous fighting, traditional kumite fighting, forms/kata, and weapons forms/kata.

Morgan added a silver medal, while Logan claimed a second gold medal as well as a silver.

Sports sword world gold for Morgan EMN-171115-124722002Sports sword world gold for Morgan EMN-171115-124722002
Sports sword world gold for Morgan EMN-171115-124722002

And there was even more success for the senior members of the team with Emmadee winning three gold medals and two silver, while Brent also claimed a trio of world titles, making him a world champion at four consecutive events.

“To be part of a team is an amazing feeling,” Brent added. “When the team wins it feels like you have won, too.

“This year having my two sons in our team was a massive milestone for the three of us, and for us all to return as world champions was one of my most treasured memories and greatest sporting achievements.”

* The British Chinese Kickboxing Association (BCKA) club in Melton offers kickboxing, kung fu, sports sword, sparring and

kickboxercise

For more details, contact Brent on (01664) 562286, email [email protected] or find them on Facebook.

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