BRADFORD-based Onna Ju-Jitsu Club have gone down to London to pick up a national award.

They were named Sport England's Satellite Club of the Year trophy at a glittering ceremony in the House of Commons.

Meanwhile, Baildon Rugby Union Football Club were bronze-medal winners in the Satellite Club Participant of the Year category.

Both clubs won county and regional rounds before heading for Westminster.

Onna Ju-Jitsu started their self-defence satellite club at Belle Vue Girls' School in September 2013, and have since taken 30 girls from a deprived area of the city through their white belt.

Many of the girls were disinterested in sport, but through attending the club they have not only found themselves enjoying ju-jitsu but also overcoming cultural barriers.

Onna's founder Sensei Mumtaz Khan said: "I used to be one of the kids who would leave their PE kit at home in the hope of avoiding PE lessons.

"I had low self-esteem, low confidence and anger-management issues.

"I came across ju-jitsu when I was 20 and it turned my life completely around.

"For the first time in my life, I enjoyed physical activity and found something I was good at.

"Given the various issues our society faces today, such as the sexual grooming and exploitation of children and a 29 per cent increase in reported rapes, I feel that self defence skills should be taught to all schoolchildren and women to help keep them safe and healthy."

Sensei Martin Dixon, chairman of the British Ju-Jitsu Association, and Mike Diaper, senior executive of Sport England, are attending the club's gradings event for four hours on Saturday, December 13.

1pm-5pm).

Sensei Mumtaz, who praised the work of teachers Sam Crabtree and Kat Naismith for their recruitment and motivation, said: "I'm hoping that, as a club, we can lead the development of martial arts within schools with the aim of incorporating it into the PE National Curriculum.

"I feel with rising levels of obesity among children and young people that the current sports provision in schools needs addressing.

"Numerous questionnaires from students in schools indicate a preference towards learning martial arts, and as a club we are now in a position to meet that demand following the recent development of coaches.

"The club are also currently in talks with YouthTrain developing a diploma for students titled Work Preparation for Leisure and Tourism. The club is keen to develop students not only in martial arts but with a variety of life skills.

Following a rise in demand for people wishing to join the club, a new class will be starting on Thursdays at Girlington Community Centre (5.30pm-7pm).

Anyone interested in joining should ring Mumtaz on 07877-466818.

Baildon RUFC began their girls' rugby satellite club at Sir Titus Salt School last November and have created a welcoming, inspirational environment, and have seen many of the girls trying rugby for the first time.

No-one has benefited more from these sessions than 15-year-old Charlotte Gilligan, whose dad has had his leg amputated and is in a wheelchair, making it financially and logistically difficult for her to participate in sport.

The club's development officer Robbie Hill says: "Charlotte's development since she started attending the rugby satellite club has been fantastic, with her confidence growing both on and off the rugby pitch.

"She has become someone who has the ability to encourage others, as well as challenging herself to do things which six months ago she would not have even tried.

"Charlotte has been committed to the satellite club throughout, and her attitude to training and working as part of a team is something that she should be proud of."

RFU community rugby coach Dave Duxbury says: "I regularly visit the satellite club at Titus Salt to monitor the progress and support the good work it is doing.

"Without clubs like this, girls like Charlotte wouldn't be able to take part in rugby.

"While visiting the club, I have seen first hand both the development of Charlotte's rugby skills and the confidence she has gained from participating in rugby."