Robbie a black belt aged just nine

NINE-year-old martial artist Robbie Leaning was among seven youngsters to achieve a black belt in kick-boxing at Scunthorpe's Twin Tigers Martial Arts club.

The young warrior, of Morecambe Avenue, Scunthorpe, joined his sister, Misha, in achieving the belt.

He said: "It was just amazing.

"I will have been training for three years in January.

"I wanted to do it because I liked the sport and I want to keep getting better.

"It is just fun, doing the kicks and the punches."

Misha, 13, added: "It was a really big achievement.

"I have been going for three years in January.

"I want to go on to do competitions now."

Misha said she had to work her way through various belts to get to black.

"There were about nine other ones before we got to black belt," she said.

Sisters Jayde and Jasmin Hunt and brothers Adam and Stefan Padlik and Sam Carter all achieved their black belts at the club on the same day.

Three junior members achieved the same level in taekwondo.

David Major and Kenny Metham were awarded first degree black belts, with Lauren Blanchard picking up a third degree black belt, despite being just 14.

Seniors Ian Chambers and Matthew Smith completed the success story on the day, with the latter becoming a master by achieving a fourth degree black belt.

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