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When I found out that I had been selected for the 7th WIKF World Championships I couldn’t quite believe that I was going to the Worlds to fight other people from all around the world.
This meant that I had to step up my game and train a lot harder by not just training at Highbury Grove School twice a week but also training at Sensei Andy’s head Dojo twice a week where we do hard core training.
I had also been selected to do a demonstration in the opening ceremony where I was chosen for the main role fighting off another 4 people from our team and we also performed a Kata demonstration. This meant that we had to do a lot more training than normal. We also had WIKF squad training as well which was good as we got to train with other squad members from other clubs that we don’t normally see.
In between training I was also entered in to a couple of competitions one of them being the Nationals at Leicester where I was disqualified in my category for slipping off the mat too many times but then I went on to win the Gold Medal in the category above mine which was great as I was fighting fighters that were older than me.
After Leicester we also went to Walsall for the Central England Competition where we had a squad training session on the Saturday before the competition on the Sunday. I won the Gold Medal in my category and also won the Gold in another category where I was fighting brown and black belts. This was also good for my confidence leading up to the Worlds as I am currently a purple belt.
At least six months prior to the World Championships all of my spare time including weekends was dedicated to training.
DAY 1
The time had finally arrived and it was Thursday the start of my journey. We started with a squad training session where the atmosphere was amazing and we trained hard and we were ready and I really enjoyed that training session. After the training session we had to go and register which meant we had to be weighed in and show our licences. After this it was time to chill and get a good night’s sleep so I was ready for my Kumite fights in the morning.
DAY 2
In the morning we all made our way to the K2 where the competition was being held. I don’t normally get nervous but today I was. I won my first fight and lost my second fight which I felt I should have won if it wasn’t for my nerves. This meant my next fight would get me the Bronze Medal if I won and I did with the help of Jay Kirton in my corner coaching me.
DAY 3
On Saturday the older fighters took to the mats and when this had finished it was time for the opening ceremony which was amazing. All the athletes, Referees, Judges and organisers from all around the world took to the mats including the England squad and there was a one minute silence dedicated to Sensei Suzuki.
After the opening ceremony it was time for us to perform our demonstration to everyone from around the World which we had been working hard on. All eyes were on us and we pulled it off and done it to the best of our ability and received a big round of applause from everyone. We made our parents and coaches proud which meant that all the extra training had paid off.
DAY 4
On Sunday it was time for the Team Kumite where my team and I worked hard and got ourselves into the final what was taking place later in the day. It was not easy getting there but we did.
After all the team fights were done it was time for the finals where we were fighting against Sweden. I was on the mat first and won my fight, up next was Angus from Kaisho and was unlucky as he lost. This meant that Sibi from Suhari was up next and could not lose and he didn’t which meant we got Gold. We were the best 10-11 years team fighters in the World and we were ecstatic. Thanks to Carol Camp who was in our corner coaching us.
After the Medal Ceremony all the England squad took to the mats and celebrated before rushing of to get ready for the sayonara party, where we all danced and partied the night away.
This was quite funny because for the last three days we had all been fighting our hardest against each other and here we was all partying together.
The whole experience was amazing as I had come away with a Gold and Bronze Medal. This was fantastic and I will never forget it.
I got to see some amazing athletes fighting and meet some great people including Tom Scott from USA. I felt honoured to have been chosen for the lead role in my demonstration and to have been selected to take part in the 7TH WIKF World Championships.
Bring on next year’s Europeans Championships in Cyprus!!!
By Jack Ward
10 years old
World Team Champion and Individual Bronze Medallist
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