Karate kid Klemz collects youth league bronze

BURGATE School pupil Thomas Klemz has won bronze at the prestigious K1 Youth League in Venice – the biggest karate competition of the year.

The impressive result saw Klemz emerge with a podium position against 96 of the best competitors from around the world.

His performance was all the more impressive considering the Year 10 pupil had only just recovered from Covid-19.

Over his four rounds, the martial artist beat the current European champion from Portugal and equalled bronze with German competitor Abu Wahib Jonas, who won silver at the world championships in Turkey last month.

This performance follows Klemz’s gold medal at the Commonwealth Karate Championships in October, which came despite being the youngest competitor in the cadet category to represent England.

The former Fordingbridge Junior School pupil has now taken two youth league bronze medals after previously coming third in Limassol, Cyprus, in April before competing in a bronze medal match in Croatia in July, which catapulted him to world number 10.

Klemz took up karate at five years old and trains for an hour every morning before school and two hours every evening.

Klemz, also a British champion in kata, now trains at Kazoku Renshinkai under senseis Andrew, Mark and Alvin Walters, and his kata coach Anthony Balkissoon.

Thomas and his family are also looking for sponsors to help with competing and training costs. Those interested can contact Anne and Jeremy at klemzanne@gmail.com or 07854 485409.

You can also contribute to his GoFundme page – to follow Thomas’s journey, visit his Instagram at @thomas_klemz_karate