Recently our Fight Squad attended the ICO British Open in Stafford doing battle to qualify for a place at the ICO World Championships in Hull in October 2023. What a battle it was, each of our fighters gave 100% and brought home a number of qualifying places in a mix of points and continuous.

The Team are members of Jason Barid’s Black Belt Academy (JBBBA) in Stockport and train 5 days a week. Their dedication, drive and determination is inspiring. The support they give each other on and off the mats is truly incredible.

A little background information on the team who qualified:

Sophia, Age 12 - Points Fighter

My Name is Sophia McNally, I have been doing martial arts for just over two years. My parents initially wanted me to start martial arts as I was starting high school and they wanted me to feel confident and comfortable should I ever have to defend myself. I am so happy they found JBBBA. I was selected at the end of last year to be part of the fight squad team and have since competed in a number of competitions, most recently the ICO Open where I brought home bronze. I am also part of the SWAT team where I help the younger members at JBBBA and assist the coaches in the classes. I would love to be a Junior Coach at JBBBA and be one of the best female points fighters in the world.

Joseph, Age 10 - Points Fighter

Joseph started in 2017 aged 5. During lockdown Joseph carried on with his training at home and with online classes and managed to get his junior black belt at the age of 9 and full black belt aged 10. Joseph joined fight squad and started competing at 10 and has achieved a bronze, 2 silvers and a gold in both points and continuous fighting. He qualified for ICO worlds with a silver in points fighting.

Billy, Age 15 - Points & Continuous Fighter

My journey began 6 years ago and martial arts has been great from being a white belt to going for my second Dan at the end of this year. Throughout my time in martial arts I have started competing for my Academy winning 4 golds, 2 silvers and 1 bronze. By the end of the year I will have a chance at ICO world champion title. I am also a junior coach at JBBBA.

Jake, Age 17 - Points Fighter

My name is Jake Ridgway, I started my journey in martial arts journey at 6 years old doing mma, as a child who didn’t know what sport they wanted to do I quit and pursued football. After 4 years of that I returned to martial arts at 10 years old, joining JBBBA, I was obsessed with the idea of competing from day 1 and the prospect of becoming a world champion and took part in my first tournament only a few months after joining. Then my competing journey came to a halt, as the fight team ended. Yet I still had this desire to compete and win in tournaments, years past and with hard work and determination I became a coach at our academy. With the help of my good friend and fellow competitor Lyall Stocking, we rebuilt the fight squad in 2022 hand selecting a team of students to compete once again, and now both us coaches , and our talented students have won numerous British, English and European titles, in both points fighting and continuous. While also qualifying for Team England in multiple martial arts associations, but my goal remains the same, to become a world champion and represent my country doing the sport I love.

Lyall, Age 18 - Points & Continuous Fighter

My name is Lyall Stocking and I started my martial arts journey at JBBBA when I was five years old and continue to this day at the age of 18. I am 2nd dan black belt and now I am a coach that teaches students at JBBBA spreading my knowledge and love for the sport. I recently competed in competitions for the past year wining multiple golds, 4 British champion titles and European title. I would like to continue to aim for more titles. I aim to take myself and my club to the highest level at competitions with the fighters we have here to reach the best we can.

Josh, Age 11 - Points Fighter

Josh’s journey began in 2017 when he was just 5 years old. Since then he has graded successfully from white to junior black belt. In December 2022 at only 10 years old he stood along side adults, completed his test and was awarded his 1st Dan Black Belt. Josh has been on the fight squad competition team for 12 months and been competing against the very best in the country. Josh is also part of the SWAT team. He is honored and proud to be selected to represent Team England at the world championships this year.

Sam, Age 10 - Points Fighter

My name is Sam Jarrett and I started my kickboxing journey in 2019 to give me some confidence and fitness. In my 4 years at the academy I have learnt respect, discipline and to never give up. I am part of SWAT & fight squad and train 4 nights a week in 7 classes, one being boxing with Robin Reid. I have won the WMFC European championship, and have won silvers and bronze in other competitions. I have learnt never to give up and push myself to compete at a high standard as it was not such a great start at my first competition, but now I am showing what a strong competitor I have become.

Overall they are a lovely bunch of youngsters, working hard, having fun, supporting each other doing the sport they love.

If you would like to make a donation to this amazing team it will help cover the costs of their fight kits, fight fee, fit to fight medical, travel, accommodation etc. Any donations would be greatly received and would enable this group of amazing youngsters the chance to follow their dreams.