THE Kumiai-Ryu Martial Arts System Orange dojo had a weekend to remember recently.
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Teenager Charlie Bubb claimed the International Sports Karate Association Australian super welterweight muay thai title on August 24.
On the same weekend, six Orange KRMAS students passed their black belt gradings.
Renshi Anthony Wharton said it was an excellent few days for his Orange dojo.
He was thrilled with Bubb’s title victory.
Bubb edged out former champion, Wollongong’s Nick Martin, by half a point to claim the title.
“He (Bubb) kept his composure and basically won with his defence and strong countering,” Wharton explained.
“I’ve watched the video back five times. He deserved to win. It was good it was close. At that level it shouldn’t be a walkover.”
Wharton said the 15-year-old had a bright future in the sport.
“He’s nowhere near peaking,” he said. “He’s still got a long way to go. He’s already No.1 in the ISKA rankings.”
Bubb will head to Thailand in three weeks where he has secured a stadium bout.
Orange students showed off their abilities at the black belt grading in Port Macquarie.
Mitchell Anderson (11), Ben Dyet (15) and Luke Crawford (15) completed their first degree black belt grading.
Senseis Rachel Crawford and Robert Murphy achieved their second degree black belt.
Shihan Noel Onley passed his fifth degree black belt grading.
To add to this, Tyler Bartimote and Jeremy Graham, who will grade for their black belts next year, achieved their first Kyu grades.
“They’ve done a lot leading up to it. The guys have been training hard since February,” Wharton said of the students.
“I’m stoked. These guys, compared to the other dojos, were very strong.”
The grading camp was held over three days and included intensive training and sparring.
Things don’t stop for the students from the Orange dojo.
In three weeks, Bubb will head to Thailand where he will compete in a stadium muay thai fight in front of a huge crowd.
In December, Bubb along with Tyler Bartimote, Jay Moses and Kiel Chapman will represent NSW at the Australia Junior Muay Thai Championships.
The Orange dojo will have a strong representation at the club nationals to be held in Cowra on November 23.