FRESH from her triumphs at the Malympex European Open Martial Arts tournament a Tavistock kickboxer is setting her sight on future success in the sport.
Emma Garrod-Pullar, 16, a student at Tavistock College won a bronze medal in light continuous sparring at the event held in Buckinghamshire.
She is a student of Master St James black belt academy in Plymouth where she is a purple belt in kickboxing.
Emma, has been kickboxing for just more than two years, and took part in the competition alongside a team of fellow students from the Master St James black belt academy in Plymouth.
It was her first tournament and the brave teenager was one of the youngest at the tournament in the adult women section.
She fought in the under six feet tall category, and had to fight against some opponents far heavier than herself.
She said: 'Its now become part of me. I started kickboxing when I went along with a friend but she dropped out but I just kept on because I love it so much. The tournament was a great learning experience. It was interesting because in the two fights I was up against women who were black belts in Tai-Kwon Do; they used a different technique, using their legs more but not punching, while we are used to punching. I learned a lot from them.
'Now I'm training hard to fight at a higher level in the sport and just hope to do the best I can.'
Emma says she has now set her sights on training towards taking part in European and even world championships in the future.
Emma, is also an active supporter of SURF (Service Users Recovery Forum), which helps people suffering from mental distress.
The charity was set up by her mother, Claire Garrod-Pullar, who herself has post-traumatic stress disorder.
Emma's brother Ben, aged 18, is autistic — so his sister is keen to support SURF and plans to highlight its cause through her kickboxing and fundraising efforts.