All in the family… Jenny Duckworth, her son Michael and his son Dean (3) all take part in martial arts.
Camera IconAll in the family… Jenny Duckworth, her son Michael and his son Dean (3) all take part in martial arts. Credit: Supplied/Martin Kennealey        www.communitypix.com.au d466669

Joondalup martial arts: Duckworths run three gens deep

Tyler BrownJoondalup Times

When Mike Duckworth attended an anti-bullying program run by ATI Martial Arts Joondalup at the age of nine, little did he or his family know the impact it would have.

Now the 21-year-old Merriwa resident is a 3rd Dan black belt and full-time instructor at ATI.

He has won many state and national championship titles and brought home a silver medal in his first open world championships held earlier this year.

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Not to be outdone, his mum Jenny Duckworth (56), who joined the club one year after Mike, is also a state and national champion who has won medals at the last two world championships.

The Padbury resident is a 4th Dan instructor with ATI and said she was thrilled to represent her country alongside her son.

“To both bring home medals was unbelievable,” she said.

Now Mike’s son Dean (3) has started his journey at ATI, taking part in the Little Dragons program.

“For both of us it was a no brainer to enrol Dean at an early age, not only for his social development but also for his confidence, listening skills and stranger awareness, which is incorporated into the three to six years program,” Jenny said.

“Three generations of Duckworths now training together in taekwondo is quite possibly a first for the popular sport.”

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