Daniel Almendro Barreda led the way with two gold medals in a successful Four Nations Championship for Islington-based Shotokan Karate London.

Three other SKL students struck gold at the tournament in Crawley, with three silver medals and four bronze also banked by the club in only their fourth major competition.

More than 350 competitors, including those from Scotland, Ireland, Norway and Germany, took part in the tournament, which was hosted by the Japan Karate Association.

Barreda’s victories came in the male Over-16 kata (orange/red/yellow 9th-7th kyu) and the male sanbon Over-19 kumite, where Maruf Aripdajanov took silver.

Farhana Khanom secured a gold medal in the female Over-16 kata, with Katie Harrison taking the bronze and team-mate Stephanie Foster winning gold in the green/purple/purple-white 6th-4th kyu section.

Foster also added a silver medal in the female kihon ippon Over-16 kumite, while Robin Lewis won bronze in the male event for the same category.

SKL filled the entire podium for the first time in the female sanbon Over-16 kumite (orange/red/yellow 9th-7th kyu) section as Ellie Henderson won gold, Khanom clinched silver and Harrison and Laura Davis both took bronze.

The club came close to two more medals, with Amin Gorosin finishing fourth in the 16-18 years cadet kata and Antonio Telmo fifth in the 19-44 years senior kata (brown and black belt).

Sensei Antonio said: “During the two years of competing in major JKA tournaments our grand total now comes to 37 medals. For a small club we are medal heavy!

“Congratulations to all for showing true karateka spirit. This achievement was thanks to the strong commitment to training shown by all squad members, who endured long hard sessions in the build-up to the event, and also to a strong bond between all members in the club.”

For more information about the club, who hold training sessions three times a week, call 07707 661 162 or email shotokankaratelondon@gmail.

You can also visit the club website at www.shotokankaratelondon.co.uk