Place in club’s history for Aimee
TEENAGER PRAISED AFTER ACHIEVING TOP GRADE
A teenager has become the first female fighter in her karate club to gain a black belt.
Aimee Potts joined Lyons Shotokan five years ago as a “shy kid” but has gained in confidence and skill to achieve the highest belt in the sport.
The 15-year-old has been presented with the belt by chief instructor James Luke after passing the Shodan 1st Dan black belt test in Solihull.
The achievement marks a first for the club, as the Hetton School student is the first of its girls to pass the test, progressing through nine belts.
James, himself a black belt 6th Dan, said: “Aimee joined our club in 2012 as a shy kid with a few confidence issues, but she managed to gradually overcome this.
“She acquitted herself brilliantly, drawing favourable comments from all the instructors on the grading panel and making her instructor very proud.
“Aimee is a lovely young lady who will make a valuable addition to our ever-growing team of back belts.
“She is quite tenacious and I think she has really grown in confidence over the last few years – or that’s what her parents say we have helped to do.
“Now she’s is talking about whatshewantstodonextand college.
“Every one at Lyons Karate would like to send her our congratulations.”
Aimee, from Hetton, will now work her way up through the Dans as she adds to her grade.
The club meets at both Easington Lane Primary and Hetton Community Centre.
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