Tae Kwon Do clubs in Southampton are setting their sights on national acclaim following their incredible local success, writes GORDON SIMPSON.

The clubs won 79 medals between them in Febru-ary's Hampshire and Dorset Championships and Chris Walker, a third degree black belt who runs the Itchen and Southamp-ton clubs, is looking towards the English Championships later in the year for more success.

Walker himself won the adult heavyweight category at the championships and coaches members of the clubs, part of the Professional Unification of Martial Arts (PUMA).

"We're delighted. This is the first time we've done it as such a big group," said Walker. "The English Championships are at the end of the year, and we should get another 20 or 30 people entering for that."

The growth in the sport since Walker took over has been impressive.

He added: "My student base is 125. When we started Itchen College, there was only four. Itchen's now built up to regularly training about 45 people."

Walker also runs a unique self-defence 'Fear and Adrenaline Stress Training (FAST)' scheme, designed to help people control their adrenaline in a times of confrontation.

For details on any of the classes, contact Chris on 07775 921995.