Students have moved to the next level of their Keiryu Practical Karate education after successfully passing their grading exams.

Keiryu Practical Karate, which was created in May this year, has clubs in Silver End, Witham and Maldon and aims to develop students’ self-protection techniques that can be used in real-life situations and encounters.

The grading session, which was the club’s first, was an ordeal and tested all students beyond their perceived limits.

Donna Mullan, who is from Rayne, and Emma Ager, from Cressing, both graded to third Kyu brown belt, while Braintree’s Skye Bekir, who is 12, moved to fourth Kyu purple Belt.

Meave Oakman, aged 11 from Silver End, graded to fifth Kyu green belt and her father, Chris Oakman, graded to sixth Kyu orange belt.

Sean Perkins, of Silver End, graded to fifth Kyu green belt.

Instructor Lee Mullan said: “Keiryu Practical Karate represents a major developmental shift and is now bringing real self-protection in today’s world for people of all ages, including trained martial artists – all are welcome.”