PORTLAND Kyokushin Karate Club now boasts having a national champion among its ranks, as young practitioner Elijah Read claimed victory in the 8-9-year-old non-contact division of the Australian Kyokushin Karate Association (AKKA) national championships on the weekend.

Read needed to win three consecutive fights to get the job done, and while he was victorious in all three, the first one proved to be the biggest challenge.

“I had to wait for the centre ref to choose a winner, it was a draw for the other refs,” Read said.

Even for his own age bracket, Read said he was on the smaller side when it comes to physical stature, but said it was a difference which he learned to use to his advantage.

“I learned how to go under the strikes from my opponents, it was a challenge but I got there.

“I would say anyone who wants to take part in one of these should do it, it was a lot of fun and I met a lot of cool people.”

Portland’s dojo operator Deb Millard said it’s a great achievement for a young competitor whose goal has always been to reach this pinnacle of the sport.

“Elijah’s goal was to be a national champion and (he) has been successful at the age of nine… there’s big things to come in the future for this little guy,” Millard said.