FOUR martial artists from the Yorkshire Karate Association flew to Italy as part of the WTKA England squad to compete in the Unified World Karate Championships - returning home with a host of world titles and medals between them.

Sensei Oliver Willison travelled with William Brigham, Alex Lee and Oscar Fleetham, who train at Pocklington Karate Centre and Holme upon Spalding Moor Karate Centre.

The competition, which was held in Carrara, Tuscany, spanned over four days. It is the largest martial arts event on the planet with 34 individual world bodies coming together for elite competitors to compete against each other.

Throughout the week, in a variety of events, the Yorkshire quartet ended with seven world titles, 12 silver medal and four bronze.

One of Willison’s sections was hardstyle kata. In the qualifying rounds, he finished second behind a karateka from America in a judge's hand-tie decision.

In the final, he came up against the American again but this time came out on top to be crowned world champion.

Fleetham and Lee finished third in the qualifying stages of the 13-15 year hardstyle team kata section.

In the final, they were determined to keep their podium spot and pushed themselves up into second place to win silver medals.

Brigham, meanwhile, won gold in the under-70kg shobu ippon fight section.

After this, he competed in the +70kg shobu ippon event where he fought against much bigger competitors. He progressed to the final, winning silver behind a Russian karateka.

Willison and Brigham came face to face in the final of the sport weapon sparring event. The match finished a tie so the judge called for next point wins, and it was Willison who scored the first point securing him another title.