Last updated 07:53, Friday, 14 November 2008

KARATE is thriving in Workington as two more youngsters picked up their first Dan junior black belts at the weekend.

• View more pictures...

BLUE: More of the many Hokushinko club’s students who took part in the grading

Nine-year-old Michael Ridley, of Workington, and Tom Irving, aged 11, of Seaton, both passed their examinations on Sunday at the Hokushinko Martial Arts Club grading.

The duo have both been training for five years under the instruction of Mark Hodgson, of the Hokushinko Club.

And at the same time, Philip Stoddart, of Workington, also picked up his third Dan, after training with Hodgson for the past 28 years.

They were among a host of youngsters from the thriving club, who were put through their paces in a long grading day, collecting belts at all levels from yellow through to black.