TAMWORTH’S newest martial arts centre has already fought their way to the top, producing five national champions this month at the Australian Kyokushin Karate Championships at Sydney’s Olympic Park.
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The Fighting Spirit Gym is run by local former world champion and fifth dan all round martial arts guru Mark Tyson, and only opened in May this year.
The dojo sent a team of 21 fighters to the tournament and blew the competition away.
“We were the most successful karate club at the tournament,” Tyson said.
“Five premium titles and seven runner-up placings is an amazing result.”
The boys swept the floor in the full contact division, taking out the light, middle and heavyweight championship belts.
Jamie Givney won the heavyweight title, with Steve Hill the middleweight and Tom Shaw in the lighter division.
Brydie Mason took out the Australian Junior Championship, while Kaitlin Tyson is the Australian Kata champion.
Tyson is considered one of the most experienced martial arts teachers in the country and has been teaching locals the arts since 1988.
The last few years he has taken a step back and was training part time out of Tamworth’s Police Citizens Youth Club and other centres, although a decision to get back in full-time has already paid dividends at the championships.
“I have a very good group of students,” Tyson said.
“It is all about hard work and commitment and the results come after that.”
The gym is open five nights a week, teaching self defence in traditional Japanese Kyokushin Karate and Muay Thai, as well as ladies’ only fight-fit classes.
