Hampshire's Philip Atkins put his best foot forward in his contest with Stan Fevrier in the Sei-Bu-Kan national championships at Alderman Quilley School, Eastleigh.

A picture taken at the event on December 1, 1984, showed that same foot paying a visit to the first aid table. But it wasn't a kick that did the damage and it fortunately wasn't enough to take Atkins out of the game.

Amid the exertion of top class karate, the feet sweat and stick to the floor. That causes them to split, but the rugged competitors are soon back in action after a few running repairs.