Dragons Karate, based in Watford, won one gold, one silver, and four bronze medals at the WUMF World Championships, held on October 10 and 11 at K2 Crawley.

The six-medal success came just over a year after the club opened its dedicated dojo in Colne Way.

Some of the winners on stage (Image: Dragons Karate)

Ben Praag, founder and chief instructor, said: "I want to give young people the confidence and self-assurance that I wasn’t given in school. This dojo is about encouragement, breaking through boundaries, and building people up, not putting them down."

Mr Praag, a 3rd Dan black belt with 16 years of martial arts experience, launched Dragons Karate in November 2024, originally running classes twice a week in school and community halls.

Determined to provide a permanent base for his students, he opened the Watford dojo on September 1, 2025. The club now offers multiple classes six days a week for both children and adults.

Equipped with premium mats and a dedicated gym area, the dojo provides a space for students of all ages and abilities to develop both physically and mentally.

The results are a proud moment for the whole Dragons community, reflecting the students’ hard work and the support of their families. The club’s World Championship success follows earlier achievements this year at two UK competitions, where they claimed three silver medals and one bronze.

Dragons Karate is located at Unit 43, Colne Way, Watford.