The slower start to 2024 and limited para-accessible competitions is now well and truly behind me. April particularly has been an incredibly busy and successful month, where I was competing every single weekend, picking up medals at each event.
At the English Karate Federation National Championships in Sheffield I secured a silver medal, giving me even greater focus in my training for the British Karate Federation 4 Nations Championships in Durham, the final crucial competition of the month.
I put in a really strong performance against some tough competitors and came away with gold, so I am now the current British Champion in my category. The BKF 4 Nations Championship result particularly highlighted the improvement in my
performance, as I got a bronze medal last year.
With international competitions, recent changes to coaches and training schedules for the National Para Squad within the EKF, have temporarily disrupted selection processes. As an intellectually impaired athlete, frustrating though this has been, I am determined to continue developing and competing as an international athlete with the best competitors globally.
The World Karate Federation are holding a Para Karate Cup competition and specialist training camp in Croatia in June, which I am planning to attend. This will give me an amazing opportunity to be coached by world class kata champions and to compete on an international level.
On the domestic front, I have 3 competitions coming up in the next 3 months. The EKF E1 Series in Manchester, the HX Karate Open Cup in Halifax and the Central England Championships in Worcester.
I continue to train weekly with my club Abel Karate and with my two 1:1 coaches based in Kent and Richmond respectively, alongside my daily practice and training at home.
I am greatly encouraged by improvements in my performance and results, and as ever am so grateful to the DHF for their ongoing support.
