Compass Martial Arts, which has schools in Sherburn and Goole, achieved remarkable success at the ICO English Open Martial Arts Championship, held in Oxford on February 1st and 2nd, 2025.
The talented team secured an impressive 113 Medals in total – 42 Gold, 42 Silver and 29 Bronze. The Yorkshire club came second overall beaten only by Scotland and by one gold medal. In all 44 competitors qualified for the ICO World Championships in Wales later this year.
The team led by husband and wife team David and Lianne Lazenby, competed against elite martial artists from across the world with a team aged from 7 years old up to 53 across all abilities and styles and competed in various categories including Karate, Light Contact and Points Sparring, Boxing, Kumite, Musical Forms (a mix of Karate and Gymnastics), Weapons, Kick Boxing, Tai Chi and Taekwondo.
Lianne Lazenby said: “You know you are part of something special when the only team in front of you is a whole country, and only by 1 gold. The whole team is awesome, and they support and encourage each other through every fight and performance. And we couldn’t have pulled this all together without the support of our instructors, support team and parents who are so amazing and supportive. We can’t wait to take everyone to the World Championships later in the year.”
Everyone who received a medal qualifies for the upcoming World Championships in Wales, where the team hope to improve on their medal tally from last year’s event.
Lianne continued “We’re a really inclusive club so to ensure all qualified team members can attend the World Championships in Wales Compass has a fundraising target of £10,000. To help us hit the target we’ll have a range of events and activities throughout the year, we’d also really appreciate it if any local businesses would be interested in supporting us too.”
Their success at the English Open follows their outstanding performance at last year’s ICO World Championship in Frankfurt and adds to Compass Martial Arts’ growing reputation as one of the top training centres for martial artists of all ages and levels in the area.
Compass Martial Arts has over 400 students on its books and is known for its commitment to empowering students with the physical and mental tools necessary to excel both in competition and in life.
The dojo opened in 2016 and offers comprehensive training in various disciplines including kickboxing, karate, and self-defence. With a focus on personal development, physical fitness, and competitive excellence, the club strives to inspire students of all ages to achieve their highest potential.
For more information, visit https://www.compassmartialarts.co.uk/