Karate kid Alfie is a black belt at age of just seven
SEVEN-YEAR-OLD ALFIE Oliver is a real-life karate kid after becoming one of the youngest black belts in the region.
The Leeds youngster achieved the grade in Wadu-Ryu at the West Yorkshire Schools of Karate and Oriental Arts.
Alfie, from Morley, started learning the style of karate when he was four years old and has moved up the ranks quickly.
As well as being the youngest black belt in the history of his club, Alfie has been added to the national register for Wadu-Ryu.
His mother Rebecca Oliver, of Glen Road, said: “We were looking for an activity for him to do. When we took him for the first few times he was nervous, but all of a sudden he was being graded every three months.
“He has had to learn some Japanese, so he knows the names of the moves and how to count.”
Alfie, who trains for five hours a week, has been competing in tournaments twice a year and has received nine trophies.
His mother said: “Because he was of a high grade at a young age he hasn’t had to go into age categories. One of his first-place medals was from competing in the under-11s.”
Now a qualified instructor, he has been teaching people of all ages, with students ranging from a 52-year-old man to a nineyear-old girl. Tanya Pollard, chief instructor at Iruka Karate Club, said: “I don’t have many children as eager to learn as Alfie.”
I don’t have many children as eager to learn as Alfie. Tanya Pollard, chief instructor at Iruka Karate Club.