IT MAY surprise you to know that Basingstoke has a very successful kickboxing club that regularly competes at the highest levels.

Basingstoke Kickboxing Organisation has been going since 1985, and its members have competed all over the country and abroad winning many titles and medals.

The club’s 2015 season ended with a tally of 33 tournaments attended, 240 first second and third places, World Association of Kickboxing Organisation (WAKO) European champion, WAKO world bronze medallist and WAKO Irish Open silver medallist.

The 2016 season began in January with as much passion and enthusiasm as the year before.

This year BKO has added five British championship winners in Ron Peploe, George Peploe, Andy Partridge, Vinnie Turner and Ken Scott.

Also they have four members who are part of the Great Britain squad they are Ron Peploe, George Peploe, Partridge and Liz Ferioli During August, 26 children aged from five to 13 attended the summer camp for games, drills, sparring and grading.

They worked incredibly hard and all earned their grades. They even had a little fun along the way with drill games and nerf wars.

Immediately following the kids summer camp, 11 members of the club (including three children) attended a training camp in Hungary.

The BKO squad joined over 100 competitors from across Europe to train with the Hungarian National Kickboxing Team. The camp consisted of three training sessions a day and lasted eight days.

Each of the squad has returned to Basingstoke quicker and stronger and ready to fight for trophies at forthcoming tournaments.

The tournament season continues with the Cimac UK open in Windsor on Sunday. BKO will be taking a large squad of children and adults to compete at this tournament.

BKO hold 10 classes a week to choose from and the club boasts over 100 regular members aged between three and 60 years and welcomes new members.

Information on classes can be found on their website at basingstokekickboxing.co.uk