Wimbledon's Emma Markwell was one of two Darren Chan students who took gold at the BKK British Regional Championships held in Milton Keynes at the weekend.

Bethnal Green-based Ollie Potter won the men's heavyweight novice category while Markwell took the female lightweight pro category in the full contact style of Karate, Kyokushin.

In the lead up to the Championships both put in extra training with British and European Karate Champion Chan at his Fight Factory Gym in Purley.

Ollie, 31, said: "I took up martial arts just to keep fit and always said I was never going to fight in competitions but eventually I had to prove a few doubters wrong.

"I decided to get some extra training with Darren which gave me the further technique and fitness I needed for my first ever tournament.

"It got to a point where I actually hated him because of the fitness regimes he had me working on, but it was all worth it on Saturday when I took home first place.”

Emma 19, who fights on the Great Britain Kyokushin Karate team, has now won the title twice in a row and said: "Some of the techniques Darren showed me helped me out no end on Saturday, he is one of the best technical fighters around.

"I’m now having two weeks off before I start back training with Darren for the All World Kyokushin Tournament in October.”

Darren himself is in action at the weekend fighting in a full contact pro Kickboxing event in Birmingham.

For more information or to train with Darren call 0208 668 1387 or visit fightfactory.co.uk