BUDE’S ju-jitsu twins Liam and Dan Smith are looking to raise between £2,500 and £3,000 each to take part in the 2017 WCJJO (World Council of Ju-Jitsu Organisations) World Championships in Queensland, Australia this autumn.

The Smiths will head out to Brisbane in October to compete at the sport’s showpiece event just months after being awarded places in the squad, after being invited for sparring.

Such was their impact on the coaching staff, they were invited on to the squad full-time, but with the sport currently receiving no additional funding, the 26-year-olds, who only took up the sport eight years ago, will have to pay their own way on the trip Down Under.

The championships run from Thursday, October 26, to Sunday, October 29.

Dan has also just signed with Dynamite Pro Boxing, which has meant quitting his job as a chef at La Bousche Creole in the town. But with no debut yet, money is tight.

Liam works for Camelford Leisure Centre delivering lessons, which include swimming and kickboxing.

Trying to balance work with training is a challenge, but Liam believes that Dan brings the best out of him.

Liam said: “We drive each other to push harder and get better. When one of us comes home from training or the gym and says what they’ve done it makes the other push themselves that much harder to improve.

“However, trying to balance work and training is hard, especially when money is tight. We have to train as much as we can, whether that be in Bude, Launceston or Okehampton and we have to drive up to Dunstable once a month for GB sparring and it’s a fair old way. Plus we have to get our own equipment and a lot of what we use at the moment is a bit worn out.

“Eventually we want to set up our own gym in the town and teach all of the MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) disciplines. But until then it’s about working and trying to get as many medals as we can. To be taken seriously as a coach you need to have won things and we haven’t done that yet.”

Despite never competing in any international competitions, the Smith’s are confident that they’ll do well in Brisbane with Dan likely to compete in the 65kg category and Liam aiming for the 70 or 74kg division, depending on how he goes at this weekend’s AMA National Championships in Bury, which will give both men a great gage of where they currently stand.

Liam said: “We’ve sparred with some former British champions and the best in the country at the national training camps and we’ve more than held our own. If we perform like we can then I see no reason as to why we can’t possibly bring home medals although we know that’s going to be extremely tough. We just want to go out there and give it our best shot.”

However, to achieve that Liam knows that they need to start raising money fast. Although their airfares have already been sorted they need the money to afford their own equipment amongst other things.

Liam said: “It’s a tough situation but we’ll definitely go regardless. I’m going to have to carry on working right up until we leave and cram in as much training around that as I can, but we need to raise some funds.

“We’ve organised a Zumba fitness class with Lisa Wood Fitness at Camelford Leisure Centre on Saturday, August 5, and we’ve already got about 50 friends and family saying they’re going to come but we’re always on the look out for new ideas. If anyone would like to donate then it’d be greatly appreciated.”

The Zumba fitness class at Camelford Leisure Centre runs from 2pm-4pm.

For further information on the Zumba fitness class or how to donate to Liam and Dan, email Liam at [email protected]