On Saturday & Sunday 22nd & 23rd May 2010, Kendal hosted the World Nunchaku Championships. The event took place at Lakes Leisure, Kendal.

The competition was hosted by Sensei Richard Smith, founder of Sport Nunchaku UK and 2nd Dan in Nunchaku. Richard has been busy for the last year organising this massive championships.

People from over 9 different countries travelled to Kendal to take part, France, Switzerland, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Poland, Germany, Scotland and of course England. There was over 95 competitors overall. Nunchaku was made famous by the late 'Bruce Lee'. Nunchaku's are made from either wood, metal or foam and are connected by a chain or rope (foam and rope for sport nunchaku combat).

The aim of the match is to gain as many points as possible by striking your opponent. You are awarded two points if you hit the head and one point if a strike to the body is made. Both competitors wear protective clothing and helmets.

There are three styles to Nunchaku, Swiss/ British style, French style and freestyle. Swiss/ British and French are styles of combat fighting with a separate competition for both. Where as freestyle is where the person does breathe taking techniques with one or two pairs of nunchaku whilst moving to music.

Great Britain did fantastic winning 12 medals in total. Keelan Knight, 15 years old, Kendal, came first for his age category; 14-17 years. This is the second time Keelan has become World Champion! The first time was at the 2008 World Championships held in Vevey, Switzerland.

Ben Cook, 9 years old, Windermere, won an amazing 3 gold medals for combat and freestyle. Ben has been doing Sport Nunchaku for about 2 years now and says his favourite part is the Combat fighting!


Tom Miles, 13 years old, Kendal, also won 2 bronze medals,
one for combat and one for freestyle. Tom was the only person from England in his age category to win a medal for freestyle and this was the first time Tom has entered this competition.



Sensei Richard Smith also entered the freestyle competition, again his first time and came 7th place. He also came 5th in the men's senior combat category; there was over 50 competitors in this category.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also Isabelle (5 years old) and Alexander (6 years old) Lord entered the 4-6 years category and both won a medal. Isabelle came 1st and Alexander came 3rd. Isabelle is so excited to be classed as a World Champion at the young age of 6.



Other winners were Sean Kerr (13 years, Carlisle) Bronze, Connor Flett (4 years, Carlisle) Silver and Rachel Edgar, Kendal, entered the women's category and won Bronze.



Winning all these medals is a enormous achievement for the Great Britain team and they are now back hard training for the next competition.