Cultural exchange for New Forest karate kids

KARATE World Championship silver medallist Fran Salazar has visited youngsters at New Forest karate club as part of an international friendly match between England and Spain.

Fran Salzar, who won a silver medal in the 2018 World Karate Championships, visited New Milton Health and Leisure Centre on Sunday along with a team of youngsters from Spain.

The special event was hosted by the Southern England Karate Federation (SEKF) and began with a demonstration of Fran’s world class kata skills, followed by a friendly kata competition between Spain and England.

The SEKF was represented by England Youth Kata squad member Carla Rudkin-Guillen, who is current Berlin and Helsinki International Open Kata champion, and Ethan Stonton who is the current British International Open Kata champion.

The match was followed by sparring training session taught by ex-England Internationals, Sensei Collin Rudkin and Sensei Danny Rudkin.

Collin said: “The Spanish and New Forest students had a really great time training together, experiencing each other’s culture and sharing training techniques.

The special event concluded with a buffet of traditional English and Spanish cuisine. For more information on SEKF New Forest club contact Collin Rudkin on 07966 303585.