Chokdee Academy trio making grade in Brazilian jujitsu (From York Press)

Chokdee Academy trio making grade in Brazilian jujitsu

10:16am Friday 4th May 2012 in Sport By Peter Martini, peter.martini@thepress.co.uk

THREE martial artists from York’s Chokdee Academy are earning their stripes in Brazilian jujitsu after taking notable steps towards a new belt grading.

Richard Cadden, 35, a former two-time world Thai boxing champion, who runs the York Business Park-based club, and 37-year-old John Webb have earned two stripes on their white belts, while Graham Snow, 32, has one.

Three stripes are needed before moving up a belt, to blue, purple, brown and then black.

Cadden explained grading in Brazilian jujitsu is different to most other martial arts and harder to come by.

Few exponents in England have black belts and it can take even the best many years to earn such recognition. The Chokdee trio have been practising it for eight months.

Cadden said: “There are few grades and the smallest increment means a lot.

“People have been doing this for seven or eight years and have only just got a blue belt.

“We’ve just incorporated Brazilian jujitsu into our syllabus (at Chokdee Academy). This martial art is growing really quickly because of its exposure in UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) – it’s the predominant martial art used on the ground in the mixed martial arts – and this is why we’ve chosen it as another facet to what we offer at Chokdee.

“For me personally, it’s a really good experience. I’m being a beginner again getting on a learning curve and it’s exciting.”

Chokdee Academy will be holding a charity seminar in Brazilian jujitsu on Sunday, May 20, from noon to 3pm, raising money for the NSPCC.

It will be led by Pontefract martial artists Darren and Helen Currie, two of of the first Britons to gain black belts in this discipline.

Anyone interested can attend, and for more details, Cadden can be phoned on 07887 812139.