ALLIANCES forged in York’s martial arts gyms have boosted the sport’s standing across Britain.

No fewer than four British titles were claimed at the recent WKA Open Championships in Birmingham and the bulk of those newly-crowned aces are to feature on Ring Series III the latest mixed martial arts show to be staged at York’s Energise centre on Saturday, July 6.

Fighters from the United Masters Academy in Layerthorpe and the Legions Thai-Boxing Club in Tang Hall have reaped the benefit of training with each other when they excelled at the British championships.

There were three disciplines in the tournament – mixed martial arts, K1 and light-contact kick- boxing – and there was success across all three.

Leading the way was Latvian Martins Baulkains. He had a crack at all three – reaching the semi-final in mixed martial arts, bagging a bronze in the K1 class and then being crowned the WKA British kick boxing champion. The Ring Series show will be his next outing.

Also impressive was Ian Houillebecq. After missing almost three months with illness, he returned to the competitive arena with a vengeance with a knockout of his opponent to win the K1 title.

Houillebecq will top the bill at Energise two weeks today when he fights for a Commonwealth crown.

A technical knockout was also produced by Wes Nunns to land his British K1 title at Birmingham with his next outing in a title bout on Ring Series III.

Also on the July 6 bill will be teenager Sam Watkinson, kick-boxing gold medallist in Birmingham, where he stepped up a weight class and bagged a silver to boot, while another junior to shine with gold was Luke Robinson to earn the national mixed martial arts belt.

Megan Wetten, meanwhile, was a silver medallist in her outing at Birmingham, where Legions Club co-owner Dave Phillips and United Masters co-founder and Ring Series III co-promoter Tony Dias agreed the closer links established between the city’s gyms were contributing to increased national success.

Said Phillips: “Both gyms are gelling together and we are also getting lads down from Craig Long’s Black Belt Academy, so there’s a lot of working and training alongside each other.”

Dias said that further evidence of the growing co-operation between the city’s martial arts clubs was reflected in that of the 12 contests so far confirmed for Ring Series III, 11 would feature York fighters.

“It’s got the making of a cracking show, our best yet,” said Dias, who co-promotes the Ring Series with fellow United Masters founder Gaz Watkinson.

Tickets are still available for the July 6 show from Dias, phone 07956 612667, Watkinson, phone 07798 765259, or Phillips, phone 07946 477001.