East Midlands student Billy Christie has just returned from the Zhong Ding Northern Competition after gaining a bronze medal in the pushing hands competition.

Billy is only fifteen years old and this was his first ever competition so it was a great achievement to bring home a medal.

Billy was presented his medal by Sifu Andy Norman which can be seen in the photo to the left.

Billy is the youngest student of Master Instructor Ken (Junior) Mead who has has had many pushing hands medal successes himself, having won seven gold medals both nationally and internationally. He is also the pushing hands coach for the National Squad.

Billy has been studying Tai Chi for just under a year and now attends both Tuesday classes at the Bentinck Miners Welfare. He particularly enjoys the martial aspects of Tai Chi and really enjoys the pushing hands training with Junior.

Junior has expressed how very proud he was of him for entering the competition at such an early age and coming home with a medal.

In addition to the pushing hands competition, Billy also took part in the weapons fighting competition. This was his first attempt at this type of sparring and faired well, competing against far more experienced opposition. Other competitors commented on his speed and skill and he was praised by senior instructors at the medals ceremony for his martial spirit.

Billy was a great representative for the East Midlands in Competition and all of East Midlands Zhong Ding wish him well in his further training and look forward to seeing more medals as he develops his skill further.