A Cumbrian teenager has joined the English Karate Federation’s prestigious national squad.
Amy Dixon, 16, from Dearham, was invited to join on a permanent basis after impressing the senseis at the squad’s trial training sessions that take place over a few months.
Places on the team are highly sought after and assessments are made on training techniques, fitness, response to instructions and overall performance.
The youngster has been training since she was six years old at Cumbria Karate Academy with Sensei Gordon Harrison who said he was delighted to see her hard work and determination pay off.
She has competed both nationally and internationally – attending competitions in Luxembourg, Spain and all over the UK and is aiming to go to the Olympics.
Amy said: “I’ve worked for this for years, It’s all I’ve wanted. I got the letter saying I’d made the squad and I can’t explain what I felt – It just meant everything.
“It’s a massive part of my life, I spend most of my time at karate or going to karate, it’s all I want. My instructor Gordon has known me since I started at six and he was just as chuffed as I was with the news.”
Training five times a week and going to the gym a further two times a week – Amy said she was thankful for the support of her friends and her family in helping her land a place on the squad.
She added: “I could not have done it without my friends and family. The amount of times I say to my friends I can’t go to something because I’ve got training or a competition and they say it’s fine and we can go a different day – they’ve just been my biggest supporters, they’re amazing.”
The Cockermouth school student is also in the midst of her GCSE’s and said she found the time to revise and do homework by working in the car – or plane – on the way to training and competitions.
Before she started her GCSE’s, Amy was also travelling to Manchester every Wednesday to train with her association squad.
Amy’s mum Karen Dixon said: “We’re absolutely over the moon, she has worked so hard, and sacrificed so much as well. This has been her dream for such a long time that to see her on that squad now is just fantastic, we’re so proud of her.
“I didn’t ever think she would end up going this far with it, Gordan has always said she had potential even when she was little. He’s just been amazing with her, he’s given her as many opportunities as possible.
“He’s given her the chance to go abroad and compete internationally as well, she wouldn’t have been able to get that experience and confidence in herself without him giving her these opportunities.”
Karen added that Amy’s school had also been supportive of karate career so far.
She said: “She’s doing her GCSE’s at the moment, but school have been so good at giving her extra work to do in the car and on the plane. They’ve all been really supportive and so proud of her because they can see how much she wants it.”
Cumbria Karate Academy has classes in Cockermouth, Egremont, Workington and Whitehaven.
New starters are welcome all year round and the club offers a free month trial to those interested in joining.
