FIRE fighter Stuart Gervaise proved to be too hot to handle for his rivals after winning three veteran kick boxing titles at the recent WMO World Championships.

The 51-year-old won two of them against younger rivals after he decided to drop an age group ‘just for the challenge’.

And it was a challenge he certainly rose to as he struck double gold in the Over 42s points fighting and continuous fighting at under 75kg in the championships held in Rugby.

Gervaise, who works at Burnley Fire Station, also won gold in his own age group, the Over 48s, winning the continuous fighting title and added a silver in the points fighting.

The black belt, who is a member of Black Knights Kickboxing Club in Burnley, earned his place in his first world championships after winning two British titles back in February, both in the younger age group.

There were more 400 competitors from all over the world from as far as America, Canada, Australia, South Africa, United Arab Emirates as well as the home nations.

And Gervaise lived up to his word of not travelling down to Warwickshire just to make up the numbers as it proved to be a championship to remember.

“I said back in February that I wasn’t going along just for the experience, I was going all out to become a world champion and I ended up winning three titles,” said Gervaise who lives in Barrowford. “It was the first time I had reached the championships and I wanted to test myself against the best in the world.”

Gervaise, who moved from his native Paisley to East Lancashire back in the 1980s, got to represent Scotland at the world championships.

“I registered through Black Knights Kickboxing when competing in the British championships back in February,” he said.

“This means I qualified to compete in the World Championships and I was very proud to represent the WMO Scotland Team.”

Gervaise, who has been involved in martial arts for more than 35 years, thanked Sensie Allan Clarkin for his guidance at the Black Knights.

“I did eight weeks preparation training for the World Championships, it was very hard physically and mentally, and trying to stay relatively injury free leading up to the competition was a challenge,” he added. “But I was delighted to have done so well.

“A lot of my success comes from the world class training I get from our chief instructor Sensei Allan Clarkin at Black Knights kickboxing.

“I am very grateful for all the help he has given me over the years.”

For more details on the Black Knights, contact Allan Clarkin on 07931 635447 or log on to black-Knights-kickboxing.org.uk