Karate kid 'excited' to train with national team

Archie only took up karate after finding his new swim club was not to his liking

A 13-year-old has been selected to train with the England karate team only two-and-half years after taking up the sport.

Archie, from Alvescot near Carterton, Oxfordshire, trains six times a week alongside school at Oxford Sport & Traditional Martial Arts (OSTMA).

He said getting the call to train with the national team was "a great feeling".

Sensei Tom Woodham-Davies said Archie had impressed him "from day one", not just by his performance in the classes but also with his commitment.

The teenager only took up karate after finding his new swim club was not to his liking.

But within three months he had been selected for the SKA kumite squad which allows students to test their skills in a competitive environment.

Archie's commitment to karate has impressed his trainer "from day one"

Since then, he has been competing all over the country.

After winning a bronze medal at his first E Series in November, Archie was invited to a three-month trial with the England squad which takes place in Wolverhampton every month.

He said he "didn't believe it at first", adding: "It was a great feeling. ...I definitely didn't expect to have something like that this early on.

"I thought it would be something much later down the line, so really, really excited about that."

He also praised his school for being "supportive".

"Luckily, all the training is off school and all the extra national or regional training are on the weekend, so I don't have to skip school for that," he said.

"It's really good for fitting around school hours."

Sensei Tom, who is one of his trainers, said Archie "picked everything up" from day one.

"He really impressed me, but not just of how he was in the classes, it's just been his commitment to it."

He added: "We start classes from as young as three years old, so alongside Archie we have a great team of other athletes and instructors that come into the sessions.

"You can see straight away that the young ones take a liking to Archie, he's doing a good job in helping the young ones."

Archie is preparing for his next two big competitions - an international in Orleans, France in March and representing England at the Youth League in Spain in April.