HEATH Blackledge is Britain’s best after being crowned a British Ju Jitsu Champion in the veteran’s class.
The 41-year-old travelled to Birmingham with a group from the Master of Martial Arts Club in Accrington who practise Goshin Kempo Ju Jitsu.
And Heath won gold in the random attack and followed it up with a bronze medal in continuous fighting at the only National British Ju Jitsu Championships recognised by Sport England and Sport UK.
"Random attack is a set of different moves where people attack you with kicks, sticks and knives - it is all very controlled," said Heath.
He was going for a second gold but ended up being pipped to silver by team-mate Terry Ward in the continuous fighting.
"This is where you do one minute standing of punching and kicking, then throwing and then ground fighting," said Heath.
"I was up against 20 people from my age group who qualified to go to Birmingham. It was fantastic to win a gold medal."
It is nothing new for window cleaner Heath to win trophies as he won his first martial arts siverware aged 23 when he came out on top in the United Nations Championship in Spain and he has represented Great Britain since then.
"After I won the United Nations Championships, I have taken the sport from there," said Heath.
"I have since won the British attack title three times and travelled around the world competing - to South Africa, Europe and Uruguay, where I competed in the World Championships and finished fourth, even though I was up against professionals."
Heath, from Great Harwood, trains around seven hours a week in ju jitsu as well as generally keeping fit.
There were plenty of other medal winners from the Master of Martial Art’s club making them British champions.
Jake Bolton was a double gold winner (senior E/Hand Kata-Kyu’s and senior random attacks - Purple/Brown) while Hannah Furey won a gold (Junior e/hand Kata 15-17yrs) and silver (Contact Girls 15-17yrs) and Oakley Woodhouse won a gold medal (junior empty hand Kata 10-12yrs) and a bronze (Junior Weapons Kata Browns).
Other gold medal winners were Sam Clugston (Junior weapons Kata - Blacks), Gary Darbyshire (Junior Random attacks Green/ Blue), Terry Ward (Senior Random attacks - Kyu veterans), Sophie Ward (Contact Girls 15-17yrs), Samuel Thomas (Contact Boys 12-14 yrs 48K and over).
Silver medallists were Daniel Mala (junior random attacks - Black), John Spencer (Senior random attacks - Kyu veterans); George Barnes (Contact Boys 15-17yrs 65k and under), Tom Allen (Contact Boys 15-17 yrs 66k and over), Louise Phillips (Contact Ladies open), Terry Ward (Contact Veterans Open).
And winners of the bronze medal were Gary Darbyshire and Tom Allen (junior pairs), Jamie Lindsay (Juionr Random attacks - Black), Luke Robinson (Senior Random attacks - Black), Gary Darbyshire (contact Boys 15-17 yars 65k and under), Michael Hunter (Contact Male 73k and under), Lisa Mellor (Contact Girls 15-17yrs).
