A 12-year-old martial arts talent has secured her place at the sport’s world championships in the USA after winning two medals at a major national competition.
Annabel Cooper, a pupil at Durham High School, competed at the WKA (World Kickboxing Association) Scottish International Open Championships, earning gold in Creative Forms and silver in Traditional Forms among 650 competitors at the Gladiator Arena in East Kilbride.
Her success at the competition means she will join Team England at the WKA 50th Anniversary World Championships in Delaware in October.
Said Annabel:
“I was so happy when I won the two medals and I’m really excited about taking part in the world championships! I dedicate a lot of my time to martial arts and love that it combines many sports into one, including gymnastics and dance, and is a very creative sport.
“The arena in Scotland was a lot bigger than what I’m used to, and I do get nervous watching on the sides before I’m about to go on, but once I start, I get lost in it. It’s a really thrilling sport to do.”
Annabel, of County Durham, has been studying martial arts since she was four years old and has a black belt in taekwondo and in weapons. She trains four times a week at The Martial Arts Centre, in Horden, in East Durham, learning tricking, taekwondo and weapons. She trains monthly on a Saturday with their competition squad, Team Explosive.
“I also help out with the younger ones on a Saturday and I love it. It reminds me of when I started and people would help me. I love seeing them get better and better,” she added
The youngster has an array of weapons she uses including a sword, nunchucks, kamas and a bo staff. The Creative Forms discipline is usually a two-minute routine with weapons such as nunchucks, showcasing her control over the weapon, martial arts techniques and theatrical elements.
“You practise a routine in training then I usually switch some bits of my routine when I learn new tricks. It’s important to show the improvements you’ve made in training” she said.
Traditional Forms can be with a sword or bo staff and the latter is used for striking, blocking and sweeping and is seen as an extension of the limbs. Tricking, a modern training discipline, combines acrobatic and gymnastic movements such as flips and twists, with kicks from martial arts to produce a routine with artistic elements.
Due to her age, and the lack of competitors in her category, Annabel is often put in the age 13 to 16 age bracket as she was in Scotland.
Proud mum, Lucy, said:
“I’m so proud of Annabel, particularly the hard work and effort she has put in to improve and develop her skills. She works so hard with her Sensei and after every competition goes straight back to training. She particularly enjoys being part of Team Explosive at her club and now, with Team England, she is throwing herself into fundraising to ensure her whole team can get to America for the world championships.”
Michelle Hill, Headmistress at Durham High School, said:
“Annabel has consistently shown her dedication to her sport and we’re delighted all her hours of training and learning have paid off with a place on Team England. We’re so excited to see how she’ll fare at the world championships. The Durham High School community will all be cheering her on!”
