Karate kid is Welsh Open champion

For Lambourn’s Holly Annetts, karate is so much more than a sport – it changed her life.

She first took it up on a whim when she was 11, in the midst of one of the most challenging times in her life.

Now, aged 18, she’s celebrating being crowned Welsh Open champion and moving into the University of Bath where she’s studying sports performance – thanks to dedication, determination and karate, the future looks bright.

Annetts won the event in Swansea with a near-perfect score of 29.1 out of 30 and is now looking to take her karate career to the next level.

“I’m delighted, it didn’t sink in until about a week later,” Annetts said.

“I moved up to Bath on the Monday, the day after the Welsh Open, so it was quite a full-on week.

“We hadn’t competed since Covid, so I had no idea what to expect.

“I felt a lot of pressure because I love the sport so much.

“I was overwhelmed, I was so excited to win.”

Of course, like all sports, karate requires so much more than natural talent and skill - Annetts has to commit to travel long distances and train long hours, but success like she’s had at the Welsh Open makes it all worthwhile.

“I have amazing parents, nothing’s ever too much for them,” she said.

“They’re my parents, so I suppose they have to be, but they’re absolutely brilliant.

“I had my sister and my boyfriend watching me for the first time, I knew I wanted to impress them.

“Having their support is invaluable.”

Karate requires an intense command over one’s own mind and body, something Annetts credits with helping her out of a dark place

She said: “I love this sport, it’s a big part of my life, I’d actually say karate has been my saviour.

“I push myself a lot physically, but every lesson and every training session teaches me something mentally.

“I had a few really bad years at secondary school, I was being bullied, I was miserable and life was boring.

“I went to a trial session with a friend and never looked back, karate changed my attitude to life.

“If I hadn’t taken it up, I probably wouldn’t be sat here the person I am today.”

Annetts, who achieved adult black belt status in November 2021, is now dreaming of pursuing karate at semi-professional or even professional level.

“I want to aim high, I’d love to progress to semi-pro or even pro,” she said.

“I’d love to be selected to compete at the World Games in Florida next year.

“It’d be great to compete on the TV one day, I’d love to be a role model to show people the power of sport, how it can change your life.”

Annetts came to the sport relatively late and that’s perhaps her one regret when it comes to karate.

She said: “I wish I’d got into it sooner, when I was young the closest I came to it was watching the Karate Kid movies.”

Now, after challenging beginnings Annetts is well on the road to success, whatever form that might take – the real karate kid is fighting back.