Two Year 7 students have been karate-chopping their way to success as members of Hull and East Riding Karate Club.
Ellie-May and Mia have both been with the karate school for 3 and 4 years respectively and have excelled at recent competitions, including the Northern Open Classic Championships in Warrington.
Ellie-May, who is graded as a green belt, currently holds the title for Under 12 Northern Open Champion and has also won gold in her category for the last three competitions she has attended.
She said, “I’ve been doing karate for about three years. I got into it after watching my brother at his classes and I really love it.
“Learning the routines for our performances takes a lot of practise, but once you get over the nerves, it’s great fun.
“I’ve won gold quite a few times for routines on my own, but i’ve also won medals for Team Kata - which is a routine performed with a group of other students.
“It feels great to have won medals for something I love doing."
Mia won a bronze medal for her solo routine at the Northern Open, but won gold at previous competitions.
She has been studying karate for four years and is a purple belt - two grades away from black.
She said, “I don’t remember how I got into it but I’ve been doing it quite a while now.
“I like how the moves and routines make you feel powerful when you perform them.
“The competitions are really fun, but it can be hard to focus because of all the people shouting and other groups performing at the same time.
“You have to try really hard to concentrate on what you’re doing and shut everything else out.”
Excellent work girls, keep it up!