Kuk Sool Won Martial arts ace Ashley Moody was crowned grand champion after winning five medals at the European Championships.

Ely Standard: Ashley Moody in action at the European championshipsAshley Moody in action at the European championships (Image: Archant)

Competing against the best fighters on the continent across six divisions, Moody, from Ely, won two golds, two silvers and a bronze, to earn top spot in the 2nd dahn category.

The championships took place at the University of East Anglia, in Norwich, and were only Moody’s third competition as a 2nd dahn after making the step up from 1st dahn in May last year.

She was also crowned Scottish champion in May, and UK champion in November.

Moody only returned to the sport in 2012 after taking a six-year break from the sport to have a family.

She said: “I have now won 13 grand champion titles and am undefeated in two-and-a-half years, since I started competing again.”

To be crowned grand champion, Moody had to earn enough points from the judges in six disciplines; open hand forms, reverse sword, short stick, self defence techniques, sparring and breaking. She came away with 18 points.

When she is not training for competition, Moody runs a kuk sool wan class on Monday and Friday evenings at the Larkfield Centre, in High Barns, Ely.

Classes are available from four-year-olds up to adults.

Moody took up kuk sool won in 1999 under instructor Darren Hart and quickly saw her passion for the discipline blossom. She was awarded her 1st dahn black belt in 2002.

Competing in tournaments has allowed Moody to travel across the world, to countries including the USA, Korea, Spain, Holland and Scotland.

Kuk sool won is a Korean martial arts system founded by Suh In-Hyuk in 1961.

Students of kuk sool won are not limited to any single discipline and attempt to study all traditional Korean martial arts.

For more details. go to www.Ksw-ely.co.uk or e-mail info@ksw-ely.co.uk