TWO students at a local kendo club in Bidford were celebrating a double success last weekend.

Bidford on Avon Kendo club (Mura Kendo Kai) duo Mark Nind and Tim Simpson were both awarded the grade of Ikkyu (Brown belts) at a national grading seminar in Stoke, which is a huge achievement for such a new club.

Kendo, or kendoka, is is a modern Japanese martial art, descended from kenjutsu that uses bamboo swords (shinai) as well as protective armor (bōgu).

The pair, who are 48 (Nind) and 57 years of age (Simpson) respectively, were accompanied by Dojo Leader Robert Tyrrell at the seminar.

"Nind is 48 years old and Simpson is 57 years old, so this is even more of an achievement as it becomes more difficult to attain this level as you get older," he said after the pair were awarded their brown belts.

"I want to recognise this fantastic achievement by these two very hard-working and dedicated students."

The club was founded in 2021 and members meet at the Crawford Memorial Hall on a Wednesday evening from 7.30pm - 9pm, with ages ranging from 11 upwards. 

For more information, contact Robert Tyrrell at: bidfordkendo@gmail.com.