WEYMOUTH students are celebrating their fourth year at the Wessex Traditional Martial Arts Academy.

The head of Wessex Karate Academy, Peter Thompson, a sixth dan in Goju-Ryu Karate expressed his immense gratitude for all who helped him turn the former warehouse home of New Look into a modern and well equipped dojo.

He said: “It took a lot of hard work and dedication but the club grows every day and could not be happier.

“The dojo is now the proud home of many clubs boasting a wide array of styles such as karate, taekwondo, judo, jujitsu and kobudo, alongside multiple fitness classes and even a baby ballet class.

“The dojo is also used for courses held by many important martial artists from around the globe, with ties to other clubs worldwide and the WTMA is fast becoming a major hub for martial arts in the south of England.”

Recently Ian Rossiter, a fourth dan in Jujitsu, held a two-part seminar looking at a variety of traditional jujitsu and Brazilian jujitsu techniques.

Rossiter said: “I have had the utmost pleasure training and teaching alongside the instructors at Wessex Traditional Martial Arts.” and I find it refreshing to find that the traditional values of martial arts are at the core of what is taught here.”

He went on to praise the “fantastic facilities” and its “knowledgeable instructors”.

The WTMA hopes to have more events like this as it moves into the New Year.

New students are always encouraged to come in and find out what’s available, as there are classes on every day.

More information can be found at wessexkarate.co.uk or at 83 Lynch Lane, Weymouth.