A show of strength (From Barry And District News)

A show of strength

YOU could have mistaken the Castlegate Community Centre for a builders" yard last week after these heavy-handed men and women had finished slamming parts of their bodies through thick stacks of tiles.

There was banging, crashing and dust and rubble flying everywhere.

But it was all done in the name of charity.

A fixated audience looked on as members of Barry Kyokushin Karate Club demolished tile after tile in a bid to raise money for the Richard Taylor fund.

Richard, a world-class skater, died in 2004 after an accident in Barry.

In his memory, his mum Gaynor set up a fund to generate cash which will go toward the improvement of the dilapidated Knap Skate Park.

The amount collected now exceeds £16,800.

Chief instructor of the club, Sensei Richard Males, said: "We were approached by Phillip, one of our members, who knew Richard, to raise money for his memorial fund.

"Everyone thought it was a good idea."

Richard is overwhelmed that the night fetched at least £400, with more money to come.

The order of breaks was as follows:

First Dan Spencer Bennett, 24, broke ten tiles with his fist (Seiken);

Third Kyu Phillip Sedgemond, 27, broke ten tiles with his fist;

Club chief instructor third Dan Sensei Richard Males, 49, broke 12 tiles with his head (Atama);

Fifth Kyu Lewis Giles, 22, broke seven tiles with his elbow (Hiji);

Ninth Kyu James Barratt, 17, broke seven tiles with a hammer fist (Tettsui);

Fifth Kyu Adam Tombs, ten, broke three tiles with his heel (Kakato);

Ninth Kyu Bethan Swayne, nine, broke three tiles with a hammer fist;

Ninth Kyu Charlie Swayne, seven, broke two tiles with a hammer fist.

* The club meets at Castlegate Community Centre in Belvedere Crescent on Mondays from 6.30pm until 7.30pm and Wednesdays from 6.30pm until 8.30pm. A new six-month beginners course has just begun on Wednesday from 6.30pm until 7.30pm, and there are still three weeks left to enrol. Anyone interested in joining can contact Richard Males on 01446 720843.