A MARTIAL arts instructor from Portishead has been inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame.

Kevin Ludick, who teaches at Combat Gym in Weston and is setting up classes in Portishead as well, travelled to Atlantic City, New Jersey, to receive a silver life award for 36 years of dedication and achievements.

South Africa-born Ludick, 41, has been training in martial arts since the age of five, picking up several awards and titles and along the way and recovering from a serious injury.

He began at the Port Elizabeth Ninja School of Martial Arts and went on to learn tae kwon do, Goju-Ryu Karate and several other styles.

He achieved his first black belt in 1988 and continued his martial arts training while he was a paratrooper, before suffering serious injuries in a motorcycle accident.

After a long recovery, Ludick came to the UK in 2000 and resumed his competitive career a few years later, going on to achieve considerable success.

"In 2003 I started competing in the martial arts again after being out for 10 years after having a big motorcycle accident," he explained.

"It took me a year and a half to learn to walk again. It was a hard road.

"(Returning to competition) was not easy as I lost a few before starting to win again when I won my first European kickboxing title and got my first Hall of Fame in the UK by the World United Martial Arts Federation for my dedication to martial arts.

"In 2005 I won and defended my European title successfully. I got second and third in the World Championships the end of that year in Germany. In 2006 I won the World Kickboxing Championship under-90kg in Malta – it was a hard road to the top.

"In 2008 I won the World United martial arts Pankration European Championship after fighting four people in a row.

"I also got my lifetime dedication Hall of Fame award in 2008 from the World United Martial Arts Federation.

"I had my first Pro Cage fight on Cage Rage Contenders Fighting Hurts, which was shown on television in 2009."

Ludick's coaching career has also produced notable results, with Kade Sherlock, Gerry Wood and Kieran Tatterton among the stars under his wing.

He puts his success down to the long list of teachers who have been involved in training him and thanked them for their help in gaining a place in the USA Hall of Fame.

"I thank my teachers for my award, which is the greatest award so far," he said.

"It was a true honour to train with each other at a seminar the day before the awards and I met my heroes – it was truly a night to remember."

There are classes at Combat Gym in Weston every day for anyone over the age of five, incorporating several different fighting styles.

Meanwhile, a new tai chi and qigong class in Portishead is starting on Monday mornings from 9.30am until 10.30am at the Avon Way Hall.

"Martial arts brings people together from all walks of life and age and helps build a community awareness and good health and longevity," said Ludick.

"I have seen it reduce stress and anxiety and bring people out of there shell and bring families together."

For more information, email combatgym@hotmail.co.uk, visit www.combatgym.co.uk or email Ludick on 07916 247189.