The World United Martial Arts (WUMA) British Championships took place in Worcester, England on the 31st of August 2008. The event attracts all styles of martial arts under one roof to compete for the British title. There was Laugar Kung Fu, Aikido, various Kick Boxing associations, Tae Kwon Do and Karate associations, MMA competitors, all competing against each other, all in harmony.

Having entered many W.U.M.A events previously in the past, Master Richard Hopkins (Deadly to his friends) still runs an outstanding event where everyone is treated with respect and fairness. No bad refereeing, no bias and there is always a great atmosphere.

Master Kirkwood and his National Squad did exceptionally well, they competed in traditional Korean patterns/forms, weapons, creative patterns, point sparring and continuous sparring. The strong squad of 13 students and Instructors where: Master Kirkwood, John Kirkwood Jnr, Ryan Kirkwood, Celia Gough, Kirsty Gough, Kara Gough, Billy Reid, Jack Reid, Eddie Kerr, Adam Kerr, Ashley Wilmot, Adam Wilmot and Mark Russell.

Master Kirkwood was asked to participate in the refereeing of the patterns/forms sections at the event, alongside 2 main referees from W.U.M.A. First up on the floor for individual patterns/forms was the children from the squad, who undertook their patterns against some fierce competition and were over joyed when Mark Russell took the British Title with a 1st place with his co-students Jack Reid taking 2nd and Kirsty Gough taking 3rd in the patterns. The adults did exceptionally well within their section with Instructor Mr. John Kirkwood Jnr taking the British Title and 1st place. Adults from A.I.M.A.A Scotland Billy Reid took 2nd place and Celia Gough took 3rd place.

Next on the agenda was the children's weapons section. Jack Reid who has been training with his "Graphite Bo" for a considerable time now came up against some really great "Bo" practitioners and against students that had obviously competed in major competitions using this weapon. Although Jack at this time did not use music for his pattern, he was outstanding and took 2nd place within this division. His father Billy Reid did exceptionally well in the adult division and took the British Title for his weapon "Nunchuka". Billy has been using this weapon for just over a year now and has developed his own pattern/form and is very proficient in using the weapon.

After the weapon divisions the competition then went onto creative forms/patterns. Kirsty Gough, who is an Assistant Instructor under Master Kirkwood, took part in the children's division and took a 2nd place. The musical creative form was outstanding and she did her Instructor and club proud.

It was at this point that the competition stepped up a level, as the point sparring was now in full swing. All the children's divisions had already started and our young students from A.I.M.A.A Scotland where divided into their individual sections by height and training time (beginner/intermediate/advanced). Adam Kerr, Adam Wilmot fought hard and long within their divisions as did Jack Reid, Kara and Kirsty Gough. The divisions were hard and had many fighters within them.  In the higher grade advanced section Ashley Wilmot took to the floor against a kick boxer, Ashley fought hard and furious and won all her fights to be crowned "British Champion". Also on the floor was Mark Russell who unfortunately lost out on points to his opponent.

Adults within the squad who competed was Celia Gough, Ryan Kirkwood, and Eddie Kerr. Both Ryan and Celia fought hard, but were beaten by points for the title, however Celia took a 2nd place in her division. Eddie Kerr fought like a mad man possessed and won his bouts and took the "British Title" much to the delight of the A.I.M.A.A Squad.

It was nearing the end of the point sparring divisions, when Master Kirkwood took to the floor and had to fight young Tom Hopkins (Master Richard Hopkins son) in the -80kg division. The fight was fast and furious and Master Kirkwood just lost out on 1 point as time ran out. Master Kirkwood was pleased to take 2nd place fighting someone who was half his age. He then went on to fight in the Masters+35yrs division, were he came up against some serious heavy fighters from kickboxing. Master Kirkwood fought three fights to get through to the final and face his opponent, who was a towering giant. The final was fast with both competitors gaining points all through the round, however Master Kirkwood clinched the points ahead of his opponent to win the title of W.U.M.A British Open Champion.

As the point divisions drew to an end the continuous sparring had already started at one end of the hall for junior fighters. Adam Kerr, Adam Wilmot, Jack Reid and Kara Gough fought within their own divisions hard and long, they did not achieve the ultimate goal of 1st place, but won 2nd or 3rds out beating many opponents. 

Kirsty Gough and Ashley Wilmot fought hard in their continuous sparring divisions, but had hard opponents and lost out on their fights. Celia Gough came up against the European Champion again in the continuous sparring. Celia had fought the girl, who was a member of the "Top Ten" team from Northumberland in her point sparring division, and the fighter was exceptional. However Celia did well and took a 2nd in her division, as did Eddie Kerr in his division. Eddie had three continuous fights, back to back but was unfortunate to lose in his last fight.  Ryan Kirkwood did well in the continuous sparring but lost out to a hard fighter from England.

The A.I.M.A.A Scotland squad did exceptionally well with their haul of 23 trophies and 6 British Titles. Master Kirkwood and Mrs Kirkwood are very proud of the squad and of the parents who had travelled the long journey to the competition. We thank the squad and everyone for their support of the event and for supporting the students. We now look forward to our next event which is the A.I.M.A.A Ireland Nationals in Dublin.

W.U.M.A BRITISH CHAMPIONS 2008 & SQUAD WINNERS

• Master John Kirkwood  W.U.M.A British Champion - Masters+35yrs point sparring

• Master John Kirkwood 2nd place Adult point sparring -80kg

• John Kirkwood Jnr W.U.M.A British Champion - Adult Korean pattern/kata.

• Mark Russell W.U.M.A British Champion - Junior Korean pattern/kata.

• Mark Russell 2nd Place - Junior point sparring

• Eddie Kerr W.U.M.A British Champion - Adult -80kg point sparring

• Eddie Kerr 2nd place -Adult -80kg continuous sparring

• Ashley Wilmot - W.U.M.A British Champion - Junior point sparring

• Billy Reid W.U.M.A British Champion - Adult weapon forms.

• Billy Reid 2nd place - Adult Korean pattern/kata.

• Celia Gough - 2nd place Ladies continuous sparring.

• Celia Gough - 3rd place Ladies point sparring.

• Celia Gough - 3rd place Adult Korean pattern/kata.

• Kirsty Gough - 2nd place junior creative pattern/kata.

• Kirsty Gough - 2nd place 3rd place junior continuous sparring.

• Kara Gough - 2nd place Junior continuous sparring.

• Kara Gough - 3rd place Junior points sparring.

• Kara Gough - 3rd place Junior pattern/kata.

• Jack Reid - 2nd place junior pattern/kata.

• Jack Reid - 2nd place junior weapon forms.

• Jack Reid - 3rd place junior continuous sparring.

• Adam Wilmot - 3rd place continuous sparring.

• Adam Kerr - 3rd place continuous sparring.

CLICK HERE FOR THE WUMA BRITISH OPEN GALLERY