Fayokemi Abidekun
Sport: Judo
Academic course: Philosophy
Hometown: Dagenham
Best sporting achievement/personal best: Commonwealth Junior Champion 2019
2020/21 goal in sport: To continue to hold my commonwealth champion title, and hopefully secure some places in well ranked competitions.
How did you manage to continue training/practice sport or keep fit during the Covid-19 lockdown? I wasn’t able to continue sparring however strength and conditioning, 5k runs and HIIT sessions.
2021 is now the Olympic Year. What is your favourite past Olympic Moment? Nicola Adams being the first female Olympic champion.
Harry Edwards
Sport: Karate
Academic course: Computer Science
Hometown: Four Marks
Best sporting achievement/personal best: 3 x Gold at World Martial Arts Games
2020/21 goal in sport: Continue representing nationally and look to be selected for an international event
How did you manage to continue training/practice sport or keep fit during the Covid-19 lockdown? Virtual karate lessons alongside my own training and fitness work.
2021 is now the Olympic Year. What is your favourite past Olympic Moment? Watching and being inspired by the Paralympic athletics at the 2012 games.
Danielle Kirby
Sport: Karate
Academic course: Sports and Exercise Science
Hometown: Wickford
Best sporting achievement/personal best: My biggest achievement is representing the EKF national team at World and European level. As well as winning double gold at the WIKF world championships and representing Kent at the University European games.
2020/21 goal in sport: To continue to build up my strength and technique in my injury come back to insure I’m ready for when covid allows for competitions.
How did you manage to continue training/practice sport or keep fit during the Covid-19 lockdown? I continued to teach the UKC club via zoom and continued my knee rehab. I also took part in online karate and fitness classes and YouTube workouts over messenger with friends.
2021 is now the Olympic Year. What is your favourite past Olympic Moment? The GB hockey female team winning gold.
Luke Yates
Sport: Karate
Academic course: Sports and Exercise Science for Health
Hometown: Dartford
Best sporting achievement/personal best: UWK English Silver Medalist, English United Karate Federation Champion, English Karate Club double Champion, English Karate Club Cup Champion and representing England in the WUKF World and European Championships.
2020/21 goal in sport: To retain my national titles and to continue to represent England at European and World level.
How did you manage to continue training/practice sport or keep fit during the Covid-19 lockdown? During Covid-19 I trained in and instructed daily Zoom and Facebook Live sessions throughout the pandemic. Also I trained regularly at home in my gym.
2021 is now the Olympic Year. What is your favourite past Olympic Moment? I am looking forward to Karate making its Olympic debut in the Tokyo 2021 games.