WUKF World Karate Championships 2023: Meet the Leeds children who won big at the world championships

The World Union of Karate-Do Federations (WUKF) World Championship was held last week in Dundee, Scotland. More than 5,000 competitors, coaches and officials from 31 countries came to stake their claim as world champions.

Among the champions from Leeds is Barney Ross, 15, who took home a gold medal in his first year competing. Barney took up the sport at a young age and is coached by Glenn Riley, owner of the Leeds-based club Akashi Shotokan Karate Association.

52-year-old Glenn has been practicing karate for more than 38 years and has professionally taught the sport since 2011. The duo competed this year as part of the AKA Great Britain team.

Glenn, a former British champion, said: “The Great Britain team is really, really supportive. It’s made up of students from all over. It's always a case of wanting my team to do well. I was actually thrilled to bits for Barney, it’s an amazing achievement for him.”

The Great Britain team scooped 10th on the medal table, winning nine gold, 10 silver and 15 bronze medals. The karate teacher also took home an award, despite retiring at the championships in 2018.

He said: “After a successful career, I decided to step down as a competitor and concentrate on coaching. So I was kind of conned into coming out of retirement for this one, but I'm really glad that I did.”

From the Ippon-Do Honbu Dojo karate club in Middleton, four students took home medals – Jack Gallagher, 20, won gold and silver, Alfie Haycock, 14, won silver, while Esme Haycock, 10, became a world champion. Sam Simon, 11, was awarded a bronze medal.

Becky Gallagher, Jack’s mum and treasurer of the family-run karate club, said: “[My husband] is a senior referee. I was an official, I was doing all the scoring. I was in the area where my son was competing and so was my husband, so it was quite good to watch him. It was very emotional – I was crying.”

Martial arts school in Icibiban Dojo in Meanwood also saw many of its students take home medals. Among those that won gold are Dasan Mustafa, 13, Ahmad Mustafa, 11, Ariz Nasseri,14, Aleeza Nasseri, nine, Frank Szczepanski, eight.

10-year-old Lawand Aire was awarded silver at the championships as were 13-year-olds Alex Dent, Dasan Mustafa, and Reda Mahalli. Five students were awarded bronze medals including Salma Elsabbagh, 14, Layjha Contrevida, 16, and 13-year-olds Elijah Contrevida, Adel Mahalli, Azhi Salman, Ala Aire and Alex Dent.

Kieron Greeff, coach at Icibiban Dojo, said: “I’m extremely proud of all the work and commitment these young athletes have put into their training, and I’m so pleased to see that they’ve been able to turn all that effort into medals on such a big stage and under such high pressure. It wouldn’t have been easy for Ahmad and Aleeza to step on to the mats the day after their older brothers won gold and give equally excellent performances to make them world champions too!

“Whilst many came home with medals so many more just narrowly missed out finishing in fourth, fifth and sixth. With such a young and experienced team, many with well under two years of training I’m extremely excited to see what the future holds.”

57-year-old Shelly Collinson from Chisana Senshi Karate Club has been playing the sport since the age of 18 and was also awarded a bronze medal at the world championship. Shelly said: “I was happy about it because I was fighting an 18-times world champion. She’s from Africa, she’s 60 years old. It was just an honour to fight her.”