Fighters, young and old, will be coming to Lithgow this weekend for the 2017 Blue Mountains Taekwondo Championships.
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Close to 200 competitors from around New South Wales will put their skills to the test at the Lithgow Civic Ballroom on Sunday.
The event is again being hosted by Lithgow’s Haktari Taekwondo Academy.
The Lithgow club will be sending four fighters of its own in Alexis Reid, Hunter and Jorja Pender and Toby Zorz.
Head instructor at Haktari Taekwondo Academy and tournament director for the Blue Mountains championships Jeff Crane said the local competitors will be packing a punch.
Haktari boasts a national silver medalist in 8-year-old blue belt Alexis Reid.
"She can can do flips and kick vertical, she's something to watch," Mr Crane said.
The taekwondo master also rated the chances of yellow belts, 6-year-old Hunter Pender and his sister 8-year-old Jorja.
"They're young but they're coming along really nicely."
Jorja is currently the state champion for her age/weight division and Hunter finished second at the NSW State Championships earlier this year.
White belt Toby Zorz, 6, will be fighting in his first tournament.
The competition is in its 26th year with 24 editions held in Lithgow and two in Wallerawang and several highly esteemed fighters have fought in the Blue Mountains championships throughout its history.
This includes Rio Olympians Safwan Khalil and Hayder Shkara who competed in the competition in their younger years.
"This is a regional event we've been hosting for a long time... we're really happy to keep it going and hopefully build more future champions," said Mr Crane.
The tournament will use the same electronic scoring system as used in the Olympics. Two rings will be running all day from 9am to accommodate the wide range of fighters.
"We will have 6-year-olds through to veterans that are in their 40s," Mr Crane said.
"There'll be the very beginning white and yellow belt right through to black belt."
Mr Crane was grateful for all the support the championships have received from Lithgow businesses.
"I think it's fantastic that our small area is able to support whatever goes on and I'm really grateful that they chose to support us."
He gave a big thank you to major sponsor Springvale Lodge and other sponsors SportsPower Lithgow, Buckleys Accountants, Zig Zag Motel, Lithgow Valley Motel, Westfund, Empress Beauty, Lean & Bennett, EVE’S, Sunnyridge Meats, Portland Butchers and Sunshine Bakery.
