Key Takeaways
- Oliver, 11, and his stepfather Ben took up karate 5 years ago in Suffolk, rising from red to brown belts while deepening their personal bond.
- Oliver explained that training helped overcome childhood anxiety, saying, “It makes me less anxious and emotional than I would normally be.”
- The pair are among 7 Arena Karate athletes selected for Team GB at the WTKA World Championships in Italy, with the club fundraising over £10,000 to compete.
A shared journey from beginner belts to international selection
When Oliver and his stepfather Ben decided to take up karate together 5 years ago, they were simply looking for a joint activity. Living in Coggeshall, Essex, the pair joined Arena Karate in Hadleigh, Suffolk, where the discipline soon transformed from a weekly pastime into an obsession that reshaped their home life.
Ben, 37, has been Oliver’s stepdad since the boy was a toddler. As a young child, 11-year-old Oliver struggled with confidence and experienced anxiety. Stepping inside the dojo provided welcoming structure and stability, helping him foster his social skills while learning alongside his father figure. Oliver now assists at weeknight sessions with the Little Dragons, guiding martial artists aged 3 to 7.
“It has given us something to focus on… we compete, train and coach together,” explains Ben, reflecting on their development since their first grading together in May 2022.
Oliver has felt the personal impact of their continuous practice. “I love how the sport builds me up,” Oliver says. “It makes me less anxious and emotional than I would normally be. My mum really notices a difference.”
Climbing the ranks together
While Ben had experimented with martial arts earlier in life, training beside Oliver gave him the motivation to stick with the sport long term. “I had done a few martial arts in the past but this is the only one I have stuck at, mainly because I am doing it with [Oliver],” Ben says. “We have gone all the way from red belt up to the dizzy heights of brown belt now.”
Oliver is quick to point out with a smile that his path was slightly different: “That’s because you skipped all the early belts. I did all the harder ones!”
Their teamwork previously delivered bronze in parent and child kata at the Ipswich Karate Championships in 2023. While Ben initially guided Oliver through foundational patterns, Oliver often reminds his stepdad of upcoming sequences as the routines become more intricate. Ben notes the sport “massively” helps their bond. “We were doing things such as learning to ride a bike but this is something we have been learning together. Hopefully one day, we will reach black belt together.”
Oliver agrees that their time on the mats has cemented their connection, explaining that their “relationship was strong before” but now “it is even stronger”. He adds: “We have a stronger bond than most. It is brilliant.”
Preparing for major championships
The duo are part of a 7-athlete contingent from Arena Karate selected to represent Great Britain internationally. Founded in 1975, the Suffolk club has around 50 members, with its international squad ranging from 11 to 37 years of age.
The team is scheduled to compete at the WTKA GB European Open in Barnsley on 10 October before traveling to Carrara in Tuscany for the WTKA World Championships from 21 to 25 October, an event featuring 2,500 competitors from 75 nations. Ben will enter kumite in the veterans’ bracket, while Oliver will take part in both kata and kumite in his division.
Because karate receives no government funding through UK Sport, families are actively fundraising to meet a target exceeding £10,000 to cover travel and entry costs. Head coach Stefanie Barnes notes that the required sum is “massive” for a small club, adding that while “the athletes have done the hard work on the mats, it is a huge financial hurdle.” Barnes described their work ethic as “fantastic” and said she was “so proud” of them.
Among their clubmates traveling for their first international call-ups are Esmee, 11, Lily, 12, and Lacie-Mae, 14, who will perform a team kata. Lily notes they put in 100% in training, while Lacie-Mae explains: “We have to learn to pace ourselves, so we are in-sync with each other. It takes lots of practise.” Esmee adds: “I have learned lots of moves and techniques. I can’t wait to perform them on the world stage but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous too!”
