A 66-year-old karate veteran from Spalding picked up a gold and three silvers after travelling to France for the International Combat Association World Championships.
Brian Whatford, ranked a ‘Shihan’ (master) in the sport, is the reigning English, British, European and now world champion in the Kata discipline.
Competing in his fourth World Karate Union event in France he picked up a gold and two silvers in Kata. There was also a silver in Kumite (fighting).
Brian wasn’t just fighting but also coached the England team that finished second in the medals table as well as judging other elements in the competition.
In total there were 3,928 entrants from 35 countries.
Whatford runs the ToriKai Martial Arts Association clubs in Werrington and Yaxley.
He is also a seventh dan in Shukokai Karate, Karate Jutsu and a first dan in Okinawa Kempo.
“I used to compete back in the mid 80s and to the mid 90s having great success winning many medals but retired after winning an English grand championship with the EMA Europeans Martial Arts competition,” he said. “In 2021 a student asked if he could enter competition and ended up entering myself and achieving two silvers.
“I’m really pleased, but it’s not about the medals. It’s about competing against and meeting people from different countries from around the world and remaining good friends.”
Whatford was again in action at the Peterborough Championship Series in Kettering and returned with one gold, two silver and a bronze medal, as well as two grand champion titles.
However, he was more delighted to see three of his students, Velayuthan Venkatachalapathy, Jamie Nowlan and Vilius Rubezevicius taking bronze, silver and gold in their first competition.
The ToriKai Martial Arts Association teaches traditional karate, self defence, pressure point knockouts, fitness, conditioning and competition, with everyone training at their level and speed.
Whatford said: “We have five people training who are over 60 so it’s for all ages – you’re never too old as they say!”
- Breaking News
