John Lockwood flies out today to represent Great Britain in the World Masters Games in Italy.

The 40-year-old from Crosland Moor is Chief Instructor at Pulse Taekwondo Club in

Huddersfield, running classes at Almondbury Sports Centre and Brockholes Village Hall.

The eagerly-anticipated taekwondo competitions are on Thursday and Friday  in the Games, which are basically the Over 35 equivalent of the Olympic Games and are held every four years and organised in exactly the same way.

Lockwood, who runs his own roofing manufacturing business,  is competing in the Under 68kg division and is one of seven in the Great Britain team who have been training hard in readiness to take on the best exponents on the planet.

“It’s a big honour to be selected and training has been really hard, travelling to different places and doing different disciplines like sparring, kettlebell and gym work,” he said.

“We’re all  determined to make sure we are up to speed to take on some really top fighters – many of whom are Olympians and some even gold medalists – and it’s a great event to be a part of.”

Lockwood has been in the sport over 15 years, and represented GB in the 2011 European Masters, when he returned with a bronze medal.

“The Europeans are one thing, but the Worlds are another and it’s a big step up and a big test,” explained Lockwood, who had a foot operation after the 2011 event.

“It will be very tough and if I could come back from Italy with another medal I would be very happy indeed.”

WTF Taekwondo is an Olympic sport and anyone interested in joining the Pulse club  can contact Lockwood on 07946 021666.