Hicks Family Martial Arts students have been busy winning medals in Leeds and Market Rasen

Known for attracting top-level martial artists from across the UK, the Leeds Open is always a tough event, testing fighters’ skills, resilience, and mental toughness.

This year marked a record-breaking year for the event, with over 600 competitors, but Hicks’ fighters rose to the challenge particularly Joshua Leonard who won his own junior points advanced section before reaching the final of the open weight category to win his club’s ‘fighter of the day’ prize.

Hicks only took three fighters to the event, but coach Aaron Leonard also won a gold medal in men’s points advanced, while Arshan Nash won a pair of bronze medals in the men’s continuous light con advanced and the men’s points team advanced events.

Market Rasen hosted the Lincolnshire Open and 12 Hicks’ students took part. One of the standout performances of the day was delivered by Charles Hutchinson in the 6-7 year-old boys points competition, who was named ‘fighter of the day’. He had to step up and compete against opponents much larger than him, but despite the size difference, he fought with skill, heart, and composure.

Joshua Leonard and Atlanta Hickman won first place prizes with Martin Hobbs, Arshan Nash (2), Bob Nash and Dexter Smith finishing second, and Arthur Hutchinson, Kye Prior and Blake Darby all claiming third places.