Olly's one tough little dude

Olly Harris, 9, won the under-10 kata division at the New Zealand Kyokushin Karate Championships in Hastings over Easter. Photo: GEORGE NOVAK

A sprained wrist didn't stop 9-year-old Olly Harris from contesting a national karate title this month.

Olly competed in the under-10 grade in the New Zealand Kyokushin Karate Championships in Hastings over Easter weekend, winning the kata title and, with a sprained wrist, coming third in the full-contact division.

"Kata's like just a whole lot of dance moves but in karate fashion," Olly says, whereas full-contact is "just like fighting, going hard out".

In the excitement of his win on the Saturday, Olly tried out a new move he hadn't yet been taught by his sensei, Ian Gifford.

"We were just trying to do it... I landed it wrong," Olly says.

Olly's dad, Cliff, says despite a sprained wrist, Olly decided to compete for the full-contact title the following day.

"He sprained his wrist and he went against the best in New Zealand. I walked away going, if he can deal with that situation, which was high pressure and he handled it all himself, then I'm thinking he's going to handle life pretty well," he says.

Cliff says he's really proud of his "tough little dude".

"He's there fighting other kids and [his mum's] scared that he's going to get hurt, but my fear is more for the other kids because I think he's really pretty tough," he says.

"You wouldn't go in with one arm if you didn't think you were [going to win]."

Olly still used his sprained arm to block kicks to his head during the full-contact fight.

"He said to me he felt like he was going to pass out when they kicked him and he blocked them with it," he says.

You wouldn't go in with one arm if you didn't think you were [going to win].

Cliff Harris, father

Olly has been practicing karate since he was 4 and will be graded for his black belt in three months.

He says the discipline made him want to do karate, though that's not his favourite part. Olly loves the various activities they do in training.

"Sometimes we do little sparring [sessions] and stuff. Self-defence as well."

The spinning back-kicks are his favourite move and he trains three times a week for an hour at Tauranga Primary School.

Cliff says the community around Olly can take credit for his success at nationals.

"Me and [his] mum play a small part, but if it wasn't for his coach, the teachers at school, his soccer coach ... if it wasn't for all these people imparting into his life, on the field telling him to be determined in soccer, he'd never have gotten to that moment there and gone 'I'm going to do this because I can get a New Zealand title'. It's massive."