A NINE-YEAR-OLD girl really gets her kicks out of her martial arts classes and such has been her success that she has encouraged her mother to take up the sport.

Stacey Broadbent, of Bowburn, County Durham, has rapidly risen through the classifications in kickboxing since she began attending classes at the age of five.

She has been fast-tracked through the belt colours by coach Billy Punshon, culminating in her achieving the top level black-belt status recently. She is one of the youngest girls to earn her black belt in the sport.

Stacey's mother, Michelle, saw how well her daughter was faring in the sport and she decided to take it up.

She now joins Stacey at twice weekly classes at Cox-hoe and Sherburn Sports Centre.

"Stacey decided to give it a try after we saw a poster about the classes at one of the sports centres and, I suppose, she inspired me, so I thought I would go along myself," said Ms Broadbent.

"Billy said she is the youngest girl he has coached to the black belt, and she has not yet reached the age where she actually has a fight.

"She will now keep on training and as she gets older she will get involved in competitions."

Ms Broadbent, a blue belt, hopes to follow in her daughter's footsteps and go on to achieve black-belt status.