At the recent Shukokai/shito-ryu Karate Alliance black belt examinations held at Warrington, the Harrogate and Otley Karate Centres added four more names to their long list of students who have achieved success at black belt level since the centres were established 45 years ago.

The cadet 15 years and under session saw first degree black belt success for both 11-year-old Harrogate Grammar School pupil Lucas Aspinall and 14-year-old Prince Henry’s Grammar School student Emily Anslow.

The second session, for 16-plus ages, saw 16-year-old Cameron Lord, who attends Prince Henry’s, give an impressive display of kihon (basic techniques), kata (traditional form) and kumite (free-fighting) in front of four of the country’s most senior black belt examiners and was awarded the rank of second degree black belt.

The top accolade of the grading was awarded to St Mary’s ‘A’ level student, James Cape. The 17-year-old gained the highest marks of all of the examination’s 30 candidates to become the youngest student in the clubs’ history to achieve a much coveted third degree black belt.

Eighth degree black belt master Ken Gee, who has coached the youngsters, said: “Some of the youngsters have been training karate non-stop since they were six-years-old.

“To concentrate and persevere at any sport for nine or more years is an incredible feat in itself but even I have to stand back in admiration when I look at the list of their other activities.

“Lucas, piano and rugby, Emily, explorer scouting, piano, flute and guitar, Cameron, rugby and football, and James, an all-round achiever in sports such as junior football and badminton, for which he received the St Mary’s Sports College Excellence in Sport award for 2014.”

For information of classes at the centres log on to: www.harrogateandotleykaratecentres