|
|
 Following on from our amazing POWER RANGERS competition which we hosted on behalf of Jetix Television, we are pleased to present our well-deserved winner Robbie Hirst.
Robbie was featured in the Dursley Gazette on 11th September, click on the picture for a full-sized version of the article, or read below for some more info.
Cam student ‘Powers’ through nationwide
‘Channel Your Energy For Good’ competition
Gloucestershire could have the next Power Ranger in its midst as a local Martial Arts student celebrates being one of the winners in a national competition in association with the Power Rangers and Black Belt international.
Robbie Hirst, 8, who lives in Wotton, was selected as one of three winners after impressing the judges with an exceptional display of attitude and behaviour and saw off thousands of entries from other young people all over The United Kingdom. He can now celebrate his win with a special Power Rangers martial arts belt and a huge selection of Power Rangers and other prize goodies.
As part of their 15th birthday celebrations, Jetix Television partnered with Black Belt International’s top Martial Arts instructors from across the UK to launch a nationwide competition encouraging kids to “channel their energy for good”. The competition saw the Power Rangers work with kids from 15 schools from across the UK where aspiring mini-Rangers were judged over a month-long period both in and outside of their Martial Arts classes.
Robbie’s instructor Richard Olpin, from Cam, is the founder and chief instructor of the Ilyokwan Black Belt Academy, which is based at Cam Everlands School. The competition organisers approached Mr Olpin to ask if he would host this event having been recommended by the Chairman of Black Belt International, Paul Griffin. Richard is no stranger to success himself, having won a number of national and international awards, including Black Belt International’s highest award for his contribution to the development of Martial Arts in the UK.
Richard told us “As instructors, we assessed the kids on their conduct, attitude and behaviour in-class, in particular the example they set to their peers. At home, their parents oversaw a number of activities including everyday tasks such as tidying their bedrooms and helping around the house. We had some great feedback from the parents who were reporting in how well their children were doing at home.” He added that as the winning student, Robbie’s award was extra special because he’s had some real challenges to contend with along the way.
Richard said “Robbie suffers with brittle bones and through his life he's had numerous breaks to contend with, the worst of which happened on his way home from school a couple of months ago when a fall resulted in a shattered femur. Even though he was lying on the floor with a badly broken leg, the first thing he said to his Dad at the time was "can you phone Master Olpin and tell him I might not be able to get to training tonight?”. The following week when Robbie came home from hospital, on the very next lesson he was in class, in his uniform, on crutches. Obviously he couldn't actually join in, but he sat there with his dad doing everything he could and trying to do all his moves from the bench. He's not missed a single lesson since then either. (He did the same thing a couple of years ago too following a previous break. That time he came to every class in a wheelchair!)”
Talking about his success, Robbie commented: “I’m really pleased to be a winner. I worked really hard inside and out of my classes to do well and I’m really excited about being able to wear my own special edition Power Rangers belt.”
Boel Ferguson, Managing Director of kids TV channel, Jetix says, “We have been proud to have partnered with the BBI, using our characters and TV channel to promote an active lifestyle. Robbie has been a very worthy winner - much like the Power Rangers, he has displayed the virtues of good behaviour, attitude and teamwork and set an excellent example to others”
Richard added “This is great example of how the many benefits of the martial arts encourage individuals of any age to develop a range of life skills that will benefit them for the rest of their lives. I know I’m biased, but I’d love to see everyone take up the martial arts. I believe that so passionately that I’d invite anyone hearing Robbie’s story to get in touch and I’ll invite them to come and train with us for a whole month free of charge to prove it!
|
|
