A BLACK Country martial arts instructor has been awarded his black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Paul Kelly, founder and chief instructor of the MAC academies in Dudley, Stourbridge and Halesowen, was awarded the belt by world champion professors Braulio and Victor Estima

Kelly is already an accomplished instructor with coaching credentials in Jeet Kune Do, kick boxing, boxing, Muay Thai, Filipino Kali-Silat and Combat Submission Wrestling.

He has been teaching in the area for nearly 20 years and his MAC group welcomes anyone to the sport. He has travelled to the USA to train with the world’s top martial artists but received his black belt after training with the Estimas in the UK.

He said: "A Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt is one of the toughest and most sought after black belts there is, especially a Gracie Barra Black belt. It is about the personal achievement, but it is also about martial art as a way of life and a way to build individual spirit and strengthen the team ethos.

MAC has three local academies and its own Brazilian Jiu Jitsu instructor, Professor Stuart Gwilt, based at the Stourbridge academy. Classes in all martial art programs are available throughout the week and weekend. For more information visit martial-art-concepts.co.uk