Martial Arts: The Military Sport That's Packing A Punch

The RAF's leading fighters have been competing for a place at the Inter-Services Martial Arts Championships, which take place in July.

One of them even has set his sights set on a place at the 2020 Olympics.

To the uninitiated, martial arts can look a bit scary - violent even.

But the principles behind taekwondo, Brazillian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) and karate are crystal-clear: discipline, control and a swift conclusion.

Senior Aircraftman Chris McDonald is a European, British, Scottish and forces karate champion.

The Marham-based firefighter is about to be handed RAF elite sports status so he can train full-time for the Tokyo Olympics, where karate will make its debut.

In the senior men's kumite final, he faced John McGorian from RAF Leeming. Although Chris was the winner, he was given a great fight.

In taekwondo, there's plenty of expert training on offer as well as competition. 

BJJ, meanwhile, often described as human chess, is one of the fastest-growing martial arts in the forces.

The RAF's number one Jon Maflin didn't have a strong enough match-up at RAF Cranwell, so he was on officiating duty.

Already an elite athlete, he has next year's world championships on his radar.

With dozens of titles in all the disciplines up for grabs, the pick of these athletes will go on to represent the Air Force here in July at the Inter-Services.

The number one women's BJJ fighter is Helen Rimmer, who grappled her way to another RAF title here.

She's one of a number of RAF fighters who are confident they'll more than hold their own when visitors from the Navy and Army come here in four months' time.

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