Sport
28 May, 2024
Karate kid ready for USA
Nine-year-old Narangba resident Charlie Bale already has two world karate titles to his name, as he prepares to represent Australia in the U.S. state of Florida from July 4 to 6.
Charlie will compete in the U.S. Open International Sport Karate Association (ISKA) World Martial Arts Championships, being the only one from the Morayfield-based Red Dragon Martial Arts school.
The Red Dragon Martial Arts scholar will take part in the Under 9s Clash Sparring, Continuous Sparring, Creative Forms no music, Creative Weapons no music, Musical Forms, Extreme Forms, Musical Weapons, Extreme Weapons, Flag Karate, Sparring, and Point Sparring categories.
Charlie’s mum Laura said “heading to America is the trip of a lifetime for Charlie”.
Charlie was eligible for the upcoming championships in Florida after winning world titles in Extreme Forms and Weapons at the ISKA World Cup in Sydney late last year.
The then 8-year-old became the youngest ever world champion from Red Dragon Martial Arts.
Laura said Charlie took up martial arts a few years ago as he “really wanted to start learning flips and kicks”.
“He was hooked from day one,” she said.
Red Dragon Martial Arts owner Brett Fenton said Charlie had “always been an old soul in (a) young body”.
“He understands what it takes to be elite and does all the work required without complaint,” Brett said.
“He has trained privately with me for the past two years on top of his usual classes, helping him become one of the best junior martial artists in the country.”
With the upcoming trip being self-funded, Charlie would welcome any input at http://gofund.me/5410cb9f
