SHE is the queen of combat.

But it appears martial arts school founder Rebecca Kane has a few more tricks up her sleeve.

The 27-year-old has just returned from competing at the World Irish Dance Championships.

And she has been selected as an Olympic torch bearer.

Earlier this year Rebecca qualified for the World Irish Dance championships in Belfast.

It was not her first time.

Having danced from the age of six and having lessons with Nora Oscarby, at Moldgreen Church, she had previously qualified for the world championships in Philadelphia and Glasgow.

The founder of the Kane Academy Gym, was one of 150 out of 3,000 entrants invited to the event on Easter weekend and she took on competition from Russia, China and the USA.

Unfortunately, Rebecca was unsuccessful this time around and didn’t get a recall.

She said: “With taking the gym on, I have had to spend a lot of time focusing on it.

“Nobody ever really knows about the dancing.

“In many ways it’s like I have an alias or clone. I put a picture up at the academy and people were asking who the girl was and many not believing it was me.

“I began dancing aged six at Moldgreen and eventually moved to the Frances Cassidy School of Irish Dancing, but when she passed away a few years ago, I moved to the Phoenix School of Dance, in Rochdale.

“I will start classes again now in preparation for next year’s North West qualifier in Oldham and the World Championship in Boston, ”

Frances Tomlinson, of Brighouse, also went to the World Championships.

Rebecca was nominated to be a torch bearer by one of her martial arts students who said her confidence has improved no end since taking part in Rebecca’s martial arts class.

The entrepreneur founded The Kane Academy, at Perseverance Mill, Lockwood while completing her degree in English and History around six years ago.

During this time she also competed at two martial arts world championships and took home the title.

She will be running with the Olympic torch on June 24 through Huddersfield as part of the Lloyds TSB bank team.

She said: “It is really cool.

“I didn’t expect it, it was a huge shock.

“It’s great to see this country waking up to sport and getting more involved.

“There is great excitement surrounding the Olympics and I feel honoured to be involved in this way.”