Karate World Champion! Joshua wins ultimate prize for his sport

QE boy Joshua Han has won the world title for his age group in his chosen form of Karate.

Joshua, who is in Year 9, achieved success in five rounds of the Kata individual category at the 23^rd SKDUN (Shotokan Karate-Do United Nations) World Shotokan Karate Championships in Serbia. He won the title ahead of two Romanians in the class for boys aged 14-15 and is the only English champion among all eight U18 classes for boys and girls.

Joshua (pictured with his karate teacher, or sensei, who travelled from the UK with him) was part of a 45-strong group representing England in the city of Subotica, north of Belgrade. Thirty-five countries participated in the championships and there were around 60 competitors in Joshua’s category.

The championships involved three categories: Kata, or Patterns (as in patterns of movement); Sparring, or Fighting, and Team Kata. In his addition to his world title, he came fifth in Sparring and was part of the fourth-placed team in Team Kata.

Joshua took up the sport when he was just seven and has been studying it seriously for the last four-and-a-half years.

It is not the first time he has represented his country at the World Championships: “I went mostly for experience like last time, but this time, I won!”

SKDUN describes itself as “a non-political organisation working for and promoting the good practice, principles and ideals of Shotokan Karate through the medium of international competition, technical instruction, international grading examinations and education for instructors, trainers and students”.