Veras karate kids return with a bang
Thursday, 5th March 2015
Published: 5 March, 2015
THEY might only be two months in to 2015 – but the year has already proved a pretty big hit for fighters from the Veras Karate Academy.
Made up of energetic martial artists from across Camden and Islington, the super squad proved to be fighting fit in February when they returned from the UK Open Championships, held in Dudley, boasting 11 golds, six silvers and 10 bronze medals.
The success follows on from January’s showing at the English National Championships in Sheffield where, under the guidance of Sensei Raphael Veras, the triumphant team won 21 medals – consisting of two golds, eight silvers and 11 bronzes.
• For classes in Camden and Islington visit www.verasacademy.co.uk
Swiss rollers! Karate bros turn on style
KARATE brothers Luan and Liam Veras, pictured with their dad Raphael, were all smiles in Switzerland after spending their Sunday getting to grips with the best young martial artists Europe has to offer.
Competing in the Swiss Open Championships, Liam, 9, started the ball rolling as he won a gold medal in the Under-10s kumite, a form of freestyle fighting or grappling.
He also took silver in the kata, a graceful discipline in which competitors are judged on choreographed patterns of movement.
Despite being unable to train for the competition because of illness, brother Luan, 10, also showed tremendous battling spirit as he won a bronze in the Under-12s kumite.
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