Eight members of a Cumbrian karate team have achieved success in an international competition that took place in France. These students, all of whom hold brown and black belts, are affiliated with the Cumbria Karate Academy. The academy, which is composed of four clubs situated across West Cumbria, specifically in Cockermouth, Workington, Whitehaven, and Egremont, focuses on teaching traditional Wado-ryu Karate.
Earlier this year, these students were chosen to be a part of the England squad for the competition, and have since been diligently preparing, both locally and with the national squad in Birmingham, according to a spokesperson from the academy. In early November, they travelled to Strasbourg to represent England in the European Wado Kai Cup.
The entire England squad made an impressive showing, bringing home a total of 10 medals. The Cumbrian participants managed to secure six medals across various categories, including individual kata, team kata, and kumite (fighting). Gordon Harrison, the academy’s Chief instructor, who holds a 6th Dan Black Belt, expressed his pride in the team’s commendable performance. He mentioned, “It was a really proud moment seeing the team perform so well after all their hard work. We took a relatively small squad who were up against the best in Europe, and we came away with a great medal haul.”
The students, namely Joe Cookson, Melodi Saki, Rory Galloni-Wilkinson, Ross Pattinson, Samantha Hewitt, Emily Cookson, Harriet Griffiths, and Sophie Cowan, competed against representatives from 13 other European countries, and emerged victorious in several categories.
14-year-old Melodi Saki shared her excitement about the experience, saying, “It was a fantastic experience to compete as part of the England squad. I was really proud that we all came home with medals. I had a great time and made memories that will last forever.” Samantha Hewitt, also 14, remarked on the brilliant opening ceremony, expressing her admiration for the sense of camaraderie and support among the different nations.
Mr. Harrison highlighted the significance of the international exposure for the students, emphasizing that it is not just about the medals, but about the valuable experience of performing on such a prestigious stage. Looking ahead, he mentioned that they are already gearing up for their next event in April and the European Wado Cup in Edinburgh in 2024.
The enthusiasm and hard work displayed by this group of karate students from Cumbria have led to their well-deserved success on the international stage, and undoubtedly, they have set new goals for themselves as they look ahead to future competitions.