VERAS Academy took The English Karate (Kyu Grade) Championships by storm on Sunday, at Ponds Forge in Sheffield.

Once again Veras Academy placed first on the results table, bringing home no less than 23 medals, nine of which were gold, giving the Academy nine championship titles.

The Veras team started the day with a gold medal for Luca Veras in the nine years and under Individual Kata and ended the day with a bronze for Andras Tamas and Paul Gibson in the male Team Kumite.

In between was non-stop action with the team competing in both kata (forms) and kumite (fighting) events throughout the day.

As usual the competition was fierce and the standard was high and to be competing at national level was a fantastic experience and for some of the team members this was their first major tournament.

As well as showing the judges and referees all the correct scoring criteria, competitors are required to show an exceptionally high standard of behaviour and sportsmanship.

Feigning injury or exaggerating an injury is usually met with a penalty or even disqualification.

The Veras Academy team are trained not to show emotion in the competition arena and all members of the team including the very youngest showed great courage and self control even when they received a few hard knocks.

Sensei Raphael, Veras Academy Association Head, said: “This has been a great day for the association, I can not express how happy I am to see the tremendous performances of every one in the team.”

Sensei Raphael has a full calendar of international competitions lined up for his squad this year in various countries including France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Poland, Latvia and Turkey.

Veras Academy classes are held in London and Maldon. For more information please visit www.verasacademy.co.uk Results: Luca Veras: boys’ gold medal in kata and kumite 9 years and under; Belle Bautista: girls’ bronze 9 years and under kumite; Luan Veras: boys’ kumite 10-11 years gold medal; Liam Veras: boys’ kumite 10-11 years silver medal; Demie Holland: girls’ bronze kumite 10-11 years; Luke Kavanagh: boys’ kata 10-13 years bronze medalist; Harry Elvis: bronze medal learning difficult; Chloe Casimir: girls’ kumite Gold medal 14-15 years +54Kg; Ben Pomeroy: boys’ kumite bronze medal 14-15years -57Kg; Andras Tamas: Male kumite -75Kg Gold medal; Donna Blake: female silver medal in kumite and bronze in kata; Team kata 9 years and under: Luca Veras, Jack Walsh and Daniel Gardner - gold medal; Team kata 10-13 years: Luan Veras, Liam Veras and Seyhan Cinar - gold medal; Team kumite 10-11 years: Luan Veras, liam Veras and Seyhan Cinar - gold medal; Team kumite- male adults: Andras Tamas and Paul Gibson - bronze medal.