WALTHAMSTOW-based kick-boxing club Titan Freestyle Martial Arts can boast one of the country’s finest competitors after Ethan Rhys secured a brilliant bronze medal at the UK Open Championships in Maidenhead.

Rhys, who has trained with the local club for the last four months, was competing in the under 70kg category on the day and, while he was pleased with his performance, he is already targeting gold next time around.

“It was a great day and good experience for me,” said Rhys, who hails from Edmonton. “I plan to build upon this success and hope to achieve silver or gold next time.”

Titan Freestyle’s chief instructor Jason Duck, who instructs students alongside his wife Tonya, was delighted with his protege’s achievement.

“I’m so proud of him,” he said. “Ethan was up against some strong competition but his natural talent and specialist training he’s done with us shone through.”

Meanwhile, the club are celebrating their first anniversary at the Peter May Sports Centre in Walthamstow, and to mark the occasion are holding a new six-week beginners’ course, starting on Wednesday October 7 at 7pm.

All are welcome and those interested will get the chance to experience an exciting brand of martial arts, that is a fusion of kick-boxing, karate and self-defence.

“You get all the fitness benefits, such as improved stamina, muscle tone, strength, balance, faster reflexes and helping to reduce body fat, without the fear of serious injury, due to it being only semi-contact, as opposed to full,” explained Tonya who, along with Jason, have over 30 years experience in the martial arts and has a gold medal at the 1997 World Martial Arts Council Championships to her name.

“It’s been a great first year,” says Jason. “Last year two other students won bronze at Windsor and Buxton and I can’t see any reason why Ethan or any other Titan student can’t win silver or even gold at a competition next time.”

For further information contact Jason on 07764 791982 or Tonya on 077537 44893.

Keep an eye out for our reporter’s attempts to master the martial arts in the Guardian.