Arnold-based BKS Martial Arts & Fitness is celebrating an incredible weekend of success after its elite competition squad, Team BKS (TBKS), brought home an astonishing haul of World Championship titles at the ICO World Championships, held in Swansea, Wales, last weekend.
Representing Team England, eight talented fighters from BKS faced fierce competition from some of the world’s best martial artists: including opponents from across Europe, South Africa, the USA, and South America.
Their hard work, discipline, and teamwork paid off in spectacular fashion, as the team returned to Nottinghamshire with an impressive collection of medals, including multiple World Champion titles.
Together, the TBKS team achieved an incredible 10 World Champion titles, four silver medals, and 5 bronze medals, marking one of the club’s most successful appearances to date.
These are the athletes who delivered outstanding performances on the world stage:
• Ethan Varley (9) – 4 x World Champion and TBKS Fighter of the Championships
• Reece Wells (14) – 1 x World Champion
• Kacie Danvers (13) – 2 x World Champion
• Jake Kerr (11) – 1 x World Champion, 1 x Silver, 1 x Bronze
• Sophie Smith – 2 x World Champion, 1 x Silver
• Henry Myers (10) – 1 x Silver, 1 x Bronze
• Zach McKinnon (14) – 1 x Bronze
• Zack Cutts (14) – Competed strongly across his divisions, showing impressive effort and sportsmanship throughout
Head coach Warren Bennett, proprietor of BKS Martial Arts & Fitness and ICO England Head Coach, praised his team for their unwavering effort and spirit throughout the event:
“I couldn’t be prouder of this team,” he said.
“They’ve trained incredibly hard all year, showing real maturity, focus, and drive. To see them perform so well on the world stage and bring home so many titles for England and for Nottinghamshire is incredible. Every single one of them gave their all and represented the club brilliantly.”
“The ICO World Championships is one of the largest and most prestigious events in the international kickboxing calendar, bringing together elite competitors from across the globe. For many of the TBKS athletes, this was their first time competing at world level; a testament to their dedication and the quality of training provided at BKS.
Under Bennett’s leadership, the Arnold-based club has become a powerhouse for martial arts in Nottinghamshire, developing national, European, and now multiple world champions through its TBKS competition team.
You can find out more about BKS and their programs here: https://www.bksmartialarts.co.uk/
