An OSWESTRY martial arts group is celebrating after 18 students recently passed grading sessions to obtain their black belts.

MD Warriors, which train in Whittington Road, took some of its members to a KB Martial Arts Community Black Belt Grading session.

Successful students included Cai Williams, Charlie Sinclair, Rhys Williams, Charlie Jumar, Alex Pawley, Javen Felton, Lewys Skilton, Holly Faulks, Orissa Cherry, Ffion Jones, while Heidi Ford, Ffion Skilton, Theo Batterbee, Hannah Sobhani, Katie Roberts, Zoe Jones, Holly Williams and Viktoria Owen all passed too.

The qualification rounded off years of hard work to attain their black belts.

MD Warriors coach Beth Ellison was delighted with the results.

She said: “The students worked exceptionally hard and were tested in all areas of the programme, including grappling, sparring, kata and physical endurance.

“The grading concluded a long period of training, where they have worked up to black belt standard – training other students and showing their leadership skills.

“All black belt students are expected to display the qualities of being excellent role models to their peers, as well as being brilliant martial artists, and these 18 students proved just this.”