Local lad Phil Gamston (pictured) represented Walsall at a major martial arts tournament, called Fight Series, held at The Hangar in Wolverhampton, on 30th September and won.  He now plans to donate a percentage of the prize money to charity.    

"I was struggling to make my weight and training has been tough" explained Phil "and it put my body through hell before I entered the ring to fight for Walsall.  I needed to get my head in the zone and things didn`t go to plan with my weight so it threw everything off.  I had to prioritise my body and get ready for the fight.  I wanted to do Walsall proud".  

Phil is a member of K-Star Thai Boxing Academy in Aldridge and has spent the past 4 years training in Muay Thai martial arts.  

  "My friend got me into it" said Phil " and I was looking for a hobby.  I quickly fell in love with the sport and the environment of the gym where I do my training".  

K-Star`s founder and Chief Instructor Steve Logan (pictured with Phil) was given an award earlier this year for his work as a pioneer of Muay Thai in the Midlands.  Steve started the first full-time Muay Thai Academy in Birmingham over 30 years ago and promoted the first Muay Thai events in the Midlands.  The K-Star brand now has 5 full-time Academies.  

The Aldridge Academy is based in Rookery Lane and supports the local schools and charities such as the James Brindley Foundation. Tom Abbotts (pictured with Phil and Steve) runs the Aldridge Academy and he is the former ECMMA Midland Mixed Martial Arts Champion.   

  "Phil talked to me about donating a percentage of his prize money to charity" said Tom "and we want to donate it to the James Brindley Foundation in Aldridge.  This is a charity that`s close to home for us and we support the community".  

Tom began working for K-Star in 2016 and became Midlands Champion in 2018.   "Congratulations to Phil" said Tom.  "His performance was spectacular to say the least.  Thank you to everyone from K-Star who supported him and to everyone who helped during training.  It`s because of all of you turning up week in and week out that the show can go on".  

Further information about K-Star MMA:  

Website: k-starthaiboxing.co.uk/aldridge

Facebook: K-Star MMA  Aldridge