AIRE Valley Martial Arts hosted multiple-time World Brazilian Jiu Jitsu champion Leo Negao for a grading and seminar.

Aire Valley Martial Arts founder and head coach Duane Harper was promoted to second degree black belt with long time training partner James Beveridge receiving his first degree at the ceremony.

A Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black belt can typically take up to 10 years of training with degrees or dan grades being added at three-year intervals.

Harper is current and multiple-time British champion in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and has been running Keighley’s only Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) school for more than 10 years with his wife and partner, Warrior Woman Jackie Harper.

He said: “We believe in leading from the front and setting an example to our students and as Keighley’s only black belt school for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu its extra important to do that.

"Keighley and the surrounding areas are well known hot spots for karate and Muay Thai and now we are here putting Keighley on the map for BJJ as well.”

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu came from Japanese judo after being demonstrated to the wealthy Gracie family by the travelling Mitsuyo Maeda in the early 1920s.

After years of development the Gracies opened up their first school calling it the Gracie Jiu Jitsu Academy in 1925.

Years later Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, as it became known, has grown to be one of the fastest-growing sport-based martial arts in the world and is considered essential training to many armed forces and police services.

Leo Negao is renowned worldwide as one of the toughest fighters of his generation and has trained with many of the legends of MMA and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and he is featured in BJJHeroes.