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As an active six-year-old, senior physiotherapist Becky Sheppard's parents enrolled her into martial arts classes to help her burn off some excess energy.

Fast forward to 2026, with back-to-back European Championship titles already under her black belt -Becky has just been crowned women's overall grand World Champion in Tang Soo Do.

This puts her in the elite category, having beaten off competition from several hundred participants in the Championships held recently in Chicago. 

Winning the title is impressive enough for Becky (28), who lives in Whittlesey - and who works in the Critical Care Unit (and other wards) at Peterborough City Hospital - but even more so that she did it with a fractured ankle! 

Becky - who trains with the Tang Soo Do Team GB coach in Huntingdon - said: “I was determined to get through it. I train four times a week in the run up to a big competition alongside gym sessions and having missed out on the World Championships in 2022, this year's title was definitely on my bucket list.

“Having gained the title - I am now taking some time to rest, and thanks to my physiotherapy colleagues who have been looking after me. I am now awaiting surgery on an old ankle injury, and I hope to pick the sport up again when I am fully recovered.”

Tang Soo Do is an old traditional Korean style martial art - the inspiration for the Eighties box office smash The Karate Kid and is now growing again in popularity. 

Becky said: “I started training at six years old - I was an energetic child and my parents enrolled me to try and tire me out! I loved it and having taken some time out as a teenager, I returned to the sport - which centres around self-defense, sparring and weapon training - gained my black belt in 2017 and started competing more seriously.”

Her achievements include the title of European Champion 2023 and 2025. 

Becky Sheppard, Senior Physiotherapist Critical Care and Surgery, in action and lifting the 2026 World Championship trophy.