The death last year of Professor Robert Clark, of the Liverpool-based World Ju-Jitsu Federation, has had unexpected benefits for Bradford-based Onna Ju-Jitsu Club.

The club, founded 13 years ago by Sensei Mumtaz Khan, has recently changed its affiliation from the Federation to the British Ju-Jitsu Association (BJJAGB).

Although the club will continue to deliver a syllabus developed by Professor Clark, the change of affiliation brings greater opportunities for the club by being able to re-introduce grappling and sparring as part of their training regime.

Recently Sensei Mumtaz, who is a fifth Dan, together with five fellow club members, were invited by Professor Martin Dixon (BJJAGB chairman) to attend the British National Championships in Walsall.

The event was well attended and highly organised and left a lasting impression on them - so much so that all six wish to compete next year!

The event has six competition categories - random attacks, advance random attacks, empty hand kata, weapons kata, continuous fighting and pairs demonstrations - and Onna Ju-Jitsu Club are now assembling a team to compete at next year’s championship.

The club have even introduced a new range of certificates incorporating the colours of Team GB, together with a new martial art suit marrying its history with WJJF together with its future with BJJA.

Students have welcomed the changes and approve of the fresh identity.

Onna Ju-Jitsu Club, already a leading provider of martial arts within the Bradford district, hopes to further their work with both primary and secondary schools.

Following the huge success in running a transition summer school camp at St Bede's Catholic Grammar School, it is hoped that the club will be able to deliver packages across the district, therefore reaching a wider audience.

Students at St Bede's were able to learn ju-jitsu while gaining white-belt status after an intense period of training through the summer school holidays.

In addition to achieving belts, it is also now possible for students to achieve a GCSE equivalent qualification - the British Ju-Jitsu educational award (maximum grade B), which is backed by ASDAN and the BJJA.

Any school wishing to run a project should contact Sensei Mumtaz on 07877-466818 or by e-mail to mumtazbkhan@hotmail.com.

Onna Ju-JItsu Club recently held their club gradings at the Khidmat Centre, Whetley Lane, with over 200 students successfully achieving new ranks.

Three adults received senior black belts, two senseis were awarded Nidan (second degree) black belts and 26 children, aged from nine to 15, achieved junior black belts.

26 children aged from 9-15 years old achieved Junior Black Belts.

Senior first-degree black belts (Shodan): Faisal Khan, Aqeelah Bahadur, Umara Bahadur.

Senior second-degree black belts (Nidan): Sensei Waheeda Ghafoor, Sensei Tahira Afzal.

Junior black belts: Hammad Aftab, Ifzah Ali, Mohammed Atif, Hadi Bilal, Ibraheem Bilal, Usama Faisal, Idrees Haider, Shammas Hanif, Farhan Hussain, Ilyas Iqbal, M Mustafa Khan, Uzayr Khan, Faisal Mahroof, Faizaan Mirza, Sobaan Mirza, Vedad Omerbegovic, Faizaan Salim, Sulaimaan Salim, Ehsaan Shahzad, Husna Shahzad, Oman Shahzad, Alex Squires, Luqman Ali Sultan, Safa Zahid, Rais Zaman, Samual Zaman.