On the Wednesday morning we trained from 7am-9am. We then had a few hours break before another 2 hour training session. The squad went out for a meal in the evening for some team building.

On the Thursday morning, the training session was again planned for 7am-9am, but it was the only training session of the day as the competition was the following day, so we didn’t want anyone fatigued or injured. The team spent the afternoon relaxing in preparation for the competition over the next 3 days. As some people weren’t competing the next day, they took the opportunity to get some shopping done for presents, whilst me, my mum, my dad and my sister cleared one of our hotel rooms, so we could do one last training session with our dad. After this was finished we decided to go out early evening to ensure we got back at a reasonable time to get a good night’s sleep.

Our alarms woke us at 6.30am on the 9^th of July 2010. Both me and my sister were starting to get nervous, as in a few hours we’d be competing on the World Stage. After getting ready and having a light breakfast, we went up to our rooms to collect our kitbags. At 8am we got on the bus which transported us to the stadium. We passed through areas which had really new buildings and areas which were really run down. It seemed that the people who lived in Sao Paulo were either really rich or really poor. We even saw children sleeping under cardboard on street corners. As we walked into the 12,000 seater stadium we were both relishing the prospect of getting to the finals on Sunday. We both went and got changed and made our way to the warm up area where we took the time to get in some last minute practice and get limbered up. At 12.05pm, my (Mitchell’s) section was called, so I proceeded to the area I had been called to. I was one of the last ones to perform in my section so had to wait a while. When I eventually was called up and stepped on the mat, my nerves had completely gone and I performed my Kata to the best of my ability. After finishing and the scores displayed I was in joint 1^st place with the Italian. After all the competitors in my section had finished, me and the Italian were still joint first, so I was through to the finals on Sunday!!!

Not long after this my sisters section was called up, so here’s her account of her section. After seeing my brother get to through to the final, I really wanted to get through to the final as well. I was last to be called in my section, so had seen that there were some very good competitors in my section, so I knew I was going to have to perform the very best I could. After I had done my Kata, I was joint first with the Italian girl, who was very good. This meant that I was through to the final on Sunday!!

At 3pm, all the sections had finished for the day, so the World Union of Karate Federation (WUKF) officials decided to start the opening ceremony. All the countries paraded in with their competitors and flags. However, England took their own formation, and instead of walking in, in a straight line, we had four people on the older ones shoulders in a square formation and the rest under a giant England flag which was being held by the people on the shoulders. It was a very proud moment for all of us.

After the speech from the WUKF president, the competitors went back to the stands to watch the rest of the opening ceremony which included: Brazilian dancers, a Japanese drumming group, a Karate demonstration from Christophe Pinna (French No.1) and a marching band. As this came to an end, hundreds and hundreds of balloons were dropped from the ceiling which amused and entertained many people. After the opening ceremony had finished, the squad went back to the hotel where we dropped our bags off and all went out for a meal, before going back to the hotel to go to bed.

We were up again at 6.30am on Saturday morning; had a light breakfast and then met the coach at 8am for the trip to the stadium. It was winter in Sao Paulo but the weather was sunny and warm.

Saturday was individual & team fighting and team Kata. Mitchell’s team Kata event was one of the first sections called so along with Charlie and Jack (the other team members) proceeded to the area where they were to compete. After all the teams had performed they were in the top 4 which meant that they were in the team Kata final on Sunday!!

We were then both called to our areas for our individual fighting events at the same time. I (Hollie) was first on in my section and I was very nervous. My first and only fight was against a Brazilian girl, who was amazingly quick and sharp. Unfortunately I lost this fight which ended my chances of medalling. I thought that was the end of the fighting for me, but what I didn’t know was there was an unexpected situation which would arise that meant that I had to fight in the female team events.

Mitchell was then called up on his mat as soon as my fight ended so here’s his account of his section. I was the second fight in my section and I was against an Argentinean opponent. I stepped out onto the mat and once the bout began I realised that it was going to be more of a street fight than the normal karate fight. Over the course of the fight I had the Argentinean boy on the floor about 8/9 times. In the end I narrowly missed out on a close fought contest.

The stadium was open to all during the 3 days and we were warned to keep a close watch on our kit bags and equipment because lots of Brazilian street kids were in the arena and various items were going missing. However; over the 3 days we were there we made friends with a number of the local children who just wanted to swop Brazilian clothing and equipment for our England items.

After all the competitors had competed, we once again went back to the hotel, went out for a meal and then everyone went to bed in preparation for the finals the next day.

Up again at 6.30am on the Sunday, breakfast and onto the team coach. At breakfast all the other countries were sat in the breakfast room so the tension was building.

As we entered the stadium the atmosphere was electric, the noise from the arena incredibly loud. National anthems we being played as the Finals day was about to begin.

My (Mitchell’s) section was called first. As I was the last one to perform, I looked at the scores, but the one I was most interested in was the Italian’s, which was 24.8, so to win I needed 24.9, or to take it into final decider I needed 24.8. Unfortunately I scored 24.7, so I lost out by 0.1. A number of people queried the scores by the referees on my mat to no avail, but afterwards they told me to be proud even though they thought I should have won. I felt disappointed afterwards, but my goal now is to beat the Italian at the European Cup in Romania in September.

So overall I ended up as a World Silver Medallist in the individual Kata event.

Very soon after, my sister was called up for her final.

I (Hollie) was the last one to be called up in my section. I was just as nervous as I had been on the first day. The Italian who I was joint first with performed a very good Kata. She scored 25.0. After doing my Kata I felt I performed very well and when my scores went up, I had scored 25.2, so I was now WORLD CHAMPION!! I was absolutely thrilled and really happy.

Mitchell then had to compete in the final of the male team Kata with Charlie and Jack. They did a very good Kata against some very good teams and ended up joint third which meant that they had won Bronze.

Soon after this the female 15-17 years open weight team fighting was called. Unfortunately, the team captain had to pull out due to an injury and as I was the reserve I had to jump in. We were against a very strong Brazilian team. The first fight England won, although we lost the second fight. I was the third fighter, so it rested on me whether we became World Champions or not. My fight got to 5-5 and the next to score a point won. However, we both threw punches at the same time...the adrenaline kicked in as the judges had to decide whose punch scored first. I kept hoping it was me. The referee then put his hand up to give the point, the adrenaline was incredible, and then the referee gave me the point!! This meant I had helped to win the Gold Medal for our team!!

A few minutes later, we got called up for the team rotation 15-17 open weight female final. This is where you fight continuously for 6 minutes or you have to gain a 6 point margin over your opponents to win. The team can change fighters at any point, as long as you have been on for at least 15 seconds, and every fighter has to fight. Once again we were against Brazil in the final. This was a very tough fight, which we ended up with us winning 9-8 in the dying seconds! Once again we were World Champions!!

After all the sections had finished the medal ceremony began. We went up to collect our medals as our sections were called up. When people from England were called up who had won Gold the national anthem was played to which all the England competitors and supporters sang their hearts out to!

After all this there was a final demonstration from Christophe Pinna, which brought the 2010 WUKF World Karate Championships to an end.

Going to Brazil was an amazing experience. It has given us more confidence for when we compete abroad in the future. The standard of competitors from all over the world is extremely high and has made us realise the need to continue to train really hard in order to maintain our own high standards.

We have learnt many new skills through our team bonding in Brazil and made many new friends.

Whilst in Brazil we saw a lot of poverty, with lots of shanty towns (Favelas) which went on for miles. We realised very quickly that there are two different cultures in Brazil. One being the poor slum areas and the other being the areas with posh new buildings with brand new cars parked outside where the rich people of Sao Paulo live.

Also whilst travelling to and from the airport to the hotel we experienced the open canals which carry the sewage away from the city. The smell was horrible and it is hard to believe that people have to live with the smell every single day.

Something else we have also learnt is not to listen to rumours about people but to make up your own mind about them. We had been told not to trust the Brazilian kids at the stadium but all those we met were really friendly and just wanted to meet people from another country.

All these experiences have made us realise that as a country we are quite well off compared to others.

The experience was one in a life time, and thanks to your donation, you helped to make it possible. We have taken a lot away from the experience and are now looking forward to competing in the European Cup in Romania in September this year.