Pair can kick it at worlds –
TWO young Bangor kickboxers secured three gold and two silver medals at the World Martial Arts Championships in Portugal.
Jack Reece Jones and Billy Jones did Wales proud at this elite competition, staged by the World Martial Arts Organisation at the Grande Real Santa Eulalia Resort and Hotel Spa in Albufeira.
Both boys recently turned 15 and have been best mates since they attended Llandygai Primary School.
Jack added three gold medals to his British and European titles, while Billy’s growing collection of trophies was boosted by two silver medals.
What makes their success even more special is the pair only started kickboxing earlier this year at The Dog House gym in Bangor.
Both fighters had been training intensively for the previous 10 weeks, including an early morning run at 4am, followed by circuit training, before attending school at Ysgol Tryfan.
During the evening, they trained from 4pm-8pm, under the expert eye of 19times world champion, Bangor coach Darryl Gallagher.
The Dog House is the brainchild of Gallagher and started operating during the latter months of 2017.
It is based in the Hirael area of Bangor, and boasts a growing membership of adults and children of both sexes.
It hosts regular kickboxing, as well as fitness classes for both children and adults. All participants will benefit from learning the arts of concentration, selfdiscipline, confidence, team work, positive thinking, responsibility, respect, self control, self awareness, motivation, self defence and friendship.
Students are also taught how to develop a winning attitude, learn to deal with challenge and build a strong mind and body.
Coach Gallagher said: “Compared to five or 10 years ago children now quit things so easy.
“They don’t have that winning attitude – everyone is a winner and no-one loses, but the real world is completely different. Martial Arts, when done correctly, takes a long time to achieve your black belt – the challenge, the emotion, the sparring, the dedication.
“We need to understand the importance of martial arts for the future of our children’s life development.
He added: “There are no egos. Egos are left at the door.”
Apart from increasing his following at his Hirael-based dojo, Gallagher has a vision of creating an elite squad of fighters from North Wales to compete in these and other championships, representing Wales and winning titles.
He hopes to have the squad in place ready for next year’s championships in Greece.
Gallagher, from Maes Tryfan, Bangor, has been kickboxing since the age of six. He began travelling to Liverpool three times a week from the age of 11, training at the Mushin Kai gym run by world renowned martial arts expert Alfie Lewis.
Such dedication resulted in him achieving black belt status in Lau Gar Kung Fu. His next step was to study freestyle kickboxing, in which he currently has a 2nd degree black belt. He also studied Shotokan karate, achieving a black belt in this discipline as well.
Having won an amazing 19 world titles, as well as numerous Welsh, British and European crowns, he is now a trainer of world champions.
To find out more about The Dog House and the various classes held there visit their Facebook page www.facebook. com/THE DOGHOUSEBANGOR