A MEN'S World champion, Dave Sheppard instructs a host of martial arts stars at Hereford Taekwon-do Club.

In fact, no fewer than seven of his pupils also hold titles at various weights and grades in the up-and-coming Hereford club.

Thirty-one-year-old Sheppard, who will defend his World title next year in Argentina, also lays claim to men's British and Scottish titles.

He said: "The atmosphere among the students is brilliant and we are definitely moving in the right direction. Not so long ago we were coming 15th or 16th in tournaments, but now we tend to finish fifth or sixth, which is a significant improvement."

He added: "Taekwon-do is one of the largest growing martial arts of the last 20 years and it is known for its explosive high kicks. We have 110 students in Hereford."

Sue Edwards, 29, holds women's Welsh, Scottish and British titles; Mike Jeffries, 17, British, Welsh and English men's titles; John Tilby, 32, English men's title; Peter Cox, 23, British men's title; Wayne Maguire, 15, Scottish and British boys' title; Jenny Stead, 14, is an English Junior champion; and 13-year-old Jamie Arnold, a Welsh closed champion.

Club members will be competing later this month in the European Junior Championships at Kettering and the Welsh Closed Invitational tournament in Newport.

The club itself will be hosting a Midlands Open tournament next year, which could attract between 400 and 500 competitors.