Eight Cumbrian youngsters are getting ready to compete in an overseas karate championship.
Cumbria Karate Academy students will be fighting as part of the Wadokai England Team at the Wadokai Cup in Strasbourg on Saturday November 4.
The Federation of Wadokai Europe hold the cup each year and each member country selects students to compete in both kata – detailed movements consisting of micro-sequences including punches, kicks, blocks, footwork and breathing techniques – and kumite, which involves sparring against a partner.
Only 18 places on the England team were up for grabs this year – meaning the academy has scooped almost half of the available spots.
Team members include Sophie Cowan, 23, who is a photographer, Melodi Saki, 14, of Energy Coast UTC, Ross Pattinson, 13, Samantha Hewitt, 13, Rory Galloni-Wilkinson, 13, Joe Cookson, 15, all from Cockermouth School as well as Harriet Griffiths, 10, from Fairfield Primary School in Cockermouth and Emily Cookson, 11, of Broughton Primary School, also in Cockermouth.
The students are currently training hard in preperation for going up against some of the top competitors within the federation.
Head coach Gordan Harrison said: “Last year we took three students out to compete in the cup in Romania and all three of them came back with medals.
“This year we’ve managed to get eight selected, so we’re hoping they come back from Strasbourg on top.”
Gordan added that as all the coaches are volunteers, the majority of the money made by the club is able to be put back into supporting the youngsters to attend competitions.
Most of the students competing are from the academy’s biggest club in Cockermouth, but it also has clubs in West Cumbria including Workington, Whitehaven and Egremont.
It is also the only club in the county that has British Karate Federation and English Karate Federation qualified referees and judges.
Many of the youngsters compete at regional, national and international levels and Gordan added that he was proud of the students selected to compete in Strasbourg.
