Bridgnorth fight club is packing a punch

But the club has enjoyed several other highlights in its 19-year-history – and their doors are open to anyone who would like to try adding to that list.

The club, which was formed in 1996, enjoyed arguably its greatest international triumph.

Luke Richardson,14, and stepfather Dean Lewis, 42, claimed four medals each at the ITF World Championships in June.

Richardson then added a bronze medal for sparring at the UITF World Championships in London the following month.

Their success has delighted members at the club, which is run by co-owners Gary Plant and Anna Bradford.

And the outfit has developed a fine reputation on the competition circuits in recent years both in Britain and abroad.

Bradford, who is also assistant instructor at the club, said: "We took over the club in December 2012. Gurdeep Kambo was the former owner and the club has got quite a strong heritage.

"There's always been a very high standard of training here. The difference since we have taken over is that we have brought the students back into competitions.

"I think they used to compete a long time ago, but nobody had competed from Bridgnorth Tae Kwon-do that recently when we took over.

"We have got back into competitions and that has raised our profile really. It has got our name out there again."

She added: "Dean and Luke are the ones that people are hearing about and they have done fantastically well.

"But everybody trains to a really high standard and we have got other students who have won gold at national competitions.

"David Rowley and Robert Hall both won gold for sparring at the British Championships this year and last year respectively, so we have a pedigree at competition level."

The club also had seven medal winners at the National Open in Cheltenham this year and they regularly send members to train with the national team, which meets once a month in the same town.

Bradford said: "Dean and Luke are die-hard regulars at the GTI squad sessions, which is the national squad for our style of Tae Kwon-do.

"That is the family of schools that we belong to and we have sent a few students to that, but Dean and Luke are the ones that have gone the most regularly.

"That has opened doors to bigger competitions and international tournaments, but we are trying to encourage other people to have a go at that.

"What's been great about Dean and Luke is that other people have seen their success.

"They've thought 'hang on a minute, I am going to have a go at that because maybe I can have some success there too'. They really have inspired others to have a go."

For those still not sure whether to try their hand at national squad training, there will be a taster session with national coach Jasper Chow at the club's St Leonard's School base in Innage Lane in October.

Bradford said: "Some people would thrive if they went to it but it is about having the confidence to go and see what it is like.

"We have invited the coach to do a session just for our club so they can have a taste of what it is like."

Bridgnorth Tae Kwon-do has enjoyed steady membership levels for several years, with 25 adults and children regularly attending the twice-weekly training sessions which are run on Mondays and Thursdays from 7pm-8pm.

Bradford added: "Physically it is good for increasing flexibility, stamina and just general aerobic fitness.

"Most adults that join say they have got no flexibility or fitness, so they are not going to be able to do it. But what Tae kwon-do is brilliant for is that you can just do it to your level.

"As long as you are pushing yourself to kick or punch harder or stretch higher it is very much an individual journey.

"People are often quite surprised that actually they can do it and it is quiet an accessible sport.

"And then on the emotional side it is very good for building confidence, for adults and for children.

"You have regular gradings. They are every three months to start with so you can see an instant reward for the effort that you have put in."

The ultimate stage for many Tae Kwon-do students is either the World Championships or the Olympic Games, at which Great Britain has enjoyed success in recent years.

While the style taught at Bridgnorth is not the same as the one which is displayed at the Olympics, many of the skills learned are transferable.

Bradford said: "We do ITF (international Tae Kwon-do Federation) style and that isn't in the Olympics, at the moment.

"WTF (World Taekwondo Federation) style is in the Olympics and they are broadly the same but there are key differences."

One such difference is the greater emphasis on punching techniques alongside kicking in the ITF style.

Tae Kwon-do is a Korean martial art and competitions take the form of either patterns, which involves performing a particular sequence of techniques, or sparring, which involves fighting for points.

Such activities guarantee a tough workout but full padding and protective equipment are always worn to ensure participants' can spar in complete safety.

Bradford said: "When you do sparring in the club we are not looking to hurt each other. That wouldn't help anyone to learn."

Adults practice continuous sparring while children do a form in which the bout stops after each point is scored to provide an extra breather for young students.

The club has a healthy mix of adult and child members, and Bradford insists that all are welcome through their doors.

She said: "We have a very supportive group of students so we guarantee that anybody who comes along will be made to feel welcome.

"Everybody remembers what it was like when they first started and they weren't quite sure what to do, where to stand and what to say, so everybody just helps each other out, which is great."

Bridgnorth Tae Kwon-do's coaching staff consists of principal instructor and third degree black belt Gary Plant, assistant instructor and second degree black belt Anna Bradford and Chris Murr, who is also a second degree black belt.

For further details visit bridgnorthtaekwondo.com