Karate news

Connor is THE Karate Kid!

15/10/2006

THE 'Karate Kid' is a term all too loosely bandied about and attached to anyone with a passing interest in martial arts.
However, it definitely applies to Connor Doran, 13, a Michael House School student in Heanor.
He can rightly be called THE Karate kid following his exploits at the recent England Kyokushin Karate
championships held at Wodson Park sports and
recreation centre, Ware in Hertfordshire, where he won five trophies.
He emerged in first place in all three categories entered, kata, wuko and knockdown.
Connor was awarded third place in the wuko grand championships - an event featuring the winners of each section throughout the day including adults.
He was also chosen as the most spirited fighter out of around 80 junior competitors - an award nominated for by all the referees and the senior karate instructors on the day.
He was in very impressive form in the knockdown category where fights are staged over two minutes. He won the first one in one minute 18 seconds, the second fight took only 58 seconds and the third in just 54 seconds.
A sixth trophy just eluded him as he came fourth in the kata grand championships.
Connor, from Bagthorpe, has only been taking part in the sport for two years but trains four times a week at Bramcote Leisure Centre and Lea in Derbyshire, and has already represented England over the past 12 months.
On the horizon for Connor is a trip to South Africa in 2008 to represent the Great Britain team against the host nation.
He is in good company on his travels with his mum, Diane, 45.
She also took up the sport at the same time as Connor and has made short work of becoming the English and British Wuko champion. She won the England women's wuko title in Ware, and gained the British title in July in Bridgend.

By Kev Miles


Provided by: ripleytoday.co.uk

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