WESTWOOD Karate Academy fighters have just returned from the FSKA world championships in Italy clutching an armful of trophies and medals.

Competitors from more than 20 countries – including teams from Argentina and South Africa – fought at the event held in Turin. Twelve members of Essex’s Westwood Academy attended as part of an 18-strong traditional Shotokan UK team.

And UK fighters swept the board in the black belt events, winning a total of 13 gold, 25 silver and six bronze medals.

Brits also finished in third place in the overall medal table, only beaten by two ‘home’ teams from the Italian federations.

Westwood is now the home of six 2011 world champions.

Academy instructor Lee Wiseman won the heavyweight kumite (sparring) category and was a member of the gold medal winning kata team, along with Marites Tomlinson.

Marites was also runner-up in both her individual kumite and kata events, losing out to Italian competitors. In the children’s events, Michael Williams, Calesse Johnston and Emily Collins were also double gold medal winners.

All three team up to win the team kata event, and Michael and Calesse also won their individual kata events, while Emily won the girls kumite.

Completing the tally of 10 gold medals for Academy members was Mason Gill, who won the individual boys fighting.

Every member of the team won at least one medal, a brilliant achievement in the difficult black belt categories.