A local mother has recently won a major martial art competition at the Kuk Sool Won European Championships at Kings Lynn on Saturday 5th June. The two-day event, is one of the largest martial art competitions in the region, saw over six hundred competitors coming from all parts of Europe to compete.

Janet Small 47, from Reydon near Southwold, had to compete in a variety of different categories, including sword, sparring and board breaking.

Janet won five gold medals and one silver medal to take the overall 1st degree Black Belt Senior Grand Championship title. Her particular division was made up from a large selection of both men and women and witnessed Janet providing the Judging panel with several faultless performances.

When asked about her achievement, Janet said, that she was really surprised and pleased at the same time, and added “I knew I had done well but I wasn’t sure if I’d gained the overall Grand Championship title until the end of the day.”Janet, who works as a local artist, is also a part-time gardener at St. Felix School, Southwold. She has been practicing the traditional Korean Martial Art of Kuk Sool Won for six years and trains regularly several times a week at both the Halesworth and Lowestoft Kuk Sool Schools.

The married mum, who has a twelve year old son, seems an unlikely candidate to be participating in the martial arts. Janet initially started the martial arts for fitness reasons, however she has already set her sights on her next major goal; to achieve her second-degree black belt, which she say’s she’ll be taking some-time next year.