Karate: Olly's hard work pays off at champs

Olly Harris, 8, won his division at the Central North Island Karate Open Championships held in Auckland last Sunday. Photo/John Borren

The Tauranga Kyokushin karate programme run by Sensei Iain Gifford, based at the Tauranga Primary School, continues to produce young champions of all ages.

The latest to produce a golden result is eight-year-old Olly Harris, who won his division at the Central North Island Karate Open Championships held in Auckland last Sunday.

It was a tough day for Olly, who attends Tauranga Primary School, as he had six separate competitions to get through.

"I am so pleased to be North Island champion of juniors," Olly said. "I focussed more. I like the kicks best and the defence. It is fun and I like it.

"I have a green belt and have to get brown and one more before the black belt. Testing is in three months."

Olly's parents Cliff and Anna Harris believe karate has helped him grow as a young man, enabling him to achieve at school and in his other love football.

"He has been doing karate now for four years, and we as parents were amazed at the level of focus he is able to draw on when the time matters," said Cliff.

"The minute we got to the venue he took himself away from us and started warming up and focusing quietly in a corner for the day ahead.

"It was not until he had been announced the champion that his focus subsided, and left us with a very tired boy wanting lollies. Karate has definitely helped make him come to the realisation as a child that there is a time to laugh, a time to play and a time to work hard."