HIGHAMS Park-based Matsuri School for Karate Excellence members travelled to Japan, the home of karate, and came away with medals.

The visit, which coincides with the release of Karate Kid, a new film starring Jackie Chan, saw three members from the school fly out to Okinawa, the birthplace of the martial art, which is an island between China and Japan.

There, Patsy Huddleston, 40, and 20-year-old Kate Huddleston won silver and bronze medals respectively at the illustrious All Okinawa Open Karate Championships at the Ryukyukan Karate headquarters.

Patsy picked up her medal in the full contact ladies’ knockdown fighting event, while Kate (pictured left) also claimed her bronze in the same format.

Both ladies and another member, Karren Janata, also starred in the Kata, or floor routine, although they did not manage to medal. However, Karren did pass her black belt test.

Matsuri team coach and head teacher Craig Finch was impressed with his students. “I am very proud of the team and how well they performed.

“Having a full-time Dojo (karate arena) based in our gym is allowing us to train students at a higher level. I am confident that we will get gold next year.”

The team will be defending an enviable record when they travel to Dixon California for the United States Ryukyukan International Open Karate Tournament on November 3.

For further information about Matsuri School, who train at E4 Health & Fitness Club in Highams Park, call 020 8524 5133 or 07590 717963 or go to www.matsuri.org.uk