The Karate Kids

375

They may look all innocence and light, but it doesn’t take long to realise that buddies 11-year-old Jake Carroll and 9-year-old Leah Kiernan could kickbox your assumptions in about 3.4 seconds flat.

Which may explain why these pint-sized killing machines are heading off to Italy for the WAKO Cadets & Juniors World Championships 2018 in September.

Having studied the fine art of kickboxing under the guiding hand of Jessica Grant and her brother, Ferdia, over in sunny Newtown, Jake has spent four years and Leah three getting to the point where, well, they’re worthy of being world champions.

And meeting them this afternoon down at the funky Greystones Studios on Theatre Lane, it was clear to see why.

Currently fundraising for that trip to the Palazzo de Turismo in Jesolo Lido from September 15th to 23rd – you can help by donating here – these two best friends are rarin’ to go. And given their wonderful demonstrations of their finely-honed skills at the end of our interview, their medals haul looks set to rise and rise…

That gofundme page for Jake & Leah is right here. Do it.