SWAN Hill Martial Arts student Kris Hansen won a gold medal at the recent Queensland Kudo state championships.
Kudo is a Japanese martial art, a combat sport that combines punches, kicks, knees, elbows, throws and ground fighting.
It also involves a number of close-quarters techniques that are often illegal in other forms of competition.
Kudo evolved into a separate martial art in 2001 and was brought to Australia in 2012 by Swan Hill Martial Arts/Renshinkan founder Paul Cale.
Hansen, 22, began his combat sports journey at the age of 15 with the Swan Hill Boxing Club for a short time, before spending five years training with Jock Fraser.
He also played football with the Mallee Eagles until deciding to pursue his passion for martial arts.
Hansen joined SHMA in 2013 and quickly added Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts to his skills.
Through the club’s affiliation with Bendigo Team Norton BJJ, Hansen and SHMA instructor Scotty Fletcher were introduced to the art of Kudo by Sensei Paul Cale and were invited to a Kudo training weekend at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.
Cale was impressed by the talent of the pair and recommended that they, along with Jimmy Crute and John Watts from Bendigo try-out for the team to represent Australia at the World Titles in Japan.
There will be two more competitions held in Queensland before the final team for Japan is decided.
As an apprentice, Hansen is hoping to get sponsorship to help him with costs, anyone interested in helping can contact SHMA on 0429 329 220.
