Two young girls from Beckenham who endured “horrible” bullying in school have responding by becoming successful martial artists.

Nia Blackman, 13, and Zuri Blackman, 10, were the only female competitors from the UK to compete at the UAEJF World Youth Jiu Jitsu Championships in Abu Dhabi.

Both sisters got through to the finals in Abu Dhabi (April 22) – with 10-year-old Zuri even beating a 15-year-old girl who weighed over 10kgs more than her to claim a silver medal. 

Mum Sherise Blackman told News Shopper about Nia's and Zuri's bullying.

She said: “To see your daughters get bullied is hard for a mum. They didn’t want to go to school, the bullying was both cyber and physical.

“It got to the point where my youngest wanted to sleep with me every night. She didn’t want to eat and was losing weight.

“As a parent what do you do? My husband, who used to do Judo, enrolled them in Jiu Jitsu – and it snowballed from there.

She added: "To now see them this confident and happy is phenomenal. If your child is getting bullied – bring them to a gym.

“It doesn’t make them aggressive, it makes them ridiculously calm and measured. Jiu Jitsu is an intelligent sport.”

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a grappling martial art where no strikes are thrown.

Nia and Zuri have won medals in Britain, Europe and America since starting the sport.

“I am blown away by them,” Sherise said. “I would tell other parents that Jiu Jitsu is a gift. If you’re sitting there thinking how will it get my kids to believe in themselves, have confidence, have focus, then wow, this sport gives all those things.”

Sherise is confident that her daughters will go on to become the youngest ever female black belt Jiu Jitsu competitors.