Amelia Cain headed to Japan to represent Australia at prestigious WKO Junior All Japan tournament

FIVE years after she reluctantly took up karate, Amelia Cain is headed to the sport’s traditional home to represent Australia on the world stage.

Amelia Cain, 13, is the Australian Under-14 national champion in Kyokushin (full contact) karate and is heading to Japan this month to compete in a prestigious world championship tournament. Picture: Ellen Smith.

FIVE years after she reluctantly took up karate, Amelia Cain is headed to the sport’s traditional home to represent Australia on the world stage.

The 13-year-old from Airport West will compete against athletes from around the world at the WKO Junior All Japan tournament in Osaka, starting on Monday, fighting to become a world champion in Kyokushin — otherwise known as full contact karate.

“I really didn’t want to do it, I was really reluctant,” Cain said. “But after a while I learned to love it and am really passionate about it now.”

Cain trains at Glenroy’s Fighting Arts Fitness Centre, spending much of her recent school holidays honing her skills.

“I make many of the girls in my division buckle a lot which I think gets me more points and makes me look a bit tougher than some of the other girls,” she said.

“It’s really getting the kicks in at the right places.”

Amelia Cain, 13, has her bags packed ready to head to Japan. Picture: Ellen Smith.

She said she was honoured to have been asked to represent Australia at a tournament in Japan, considered the birthplace of karate.

Cain is as tough as they come, battling bruises and injury to compete in most events.

“I have had many bruises,” she said.

“Before one tournament I actually broke my toe but I still had to fight.”

The Ave Maria College Year 8 student said her friends were blown away by her achievements, which include winning the national under-14 crown last year.

“My friends think it is really cool,” she said.

“Girls fighting is a bit weird for some people, but they are proud of me and they are really like ‘how do you do that?’

She said focusing on her technique had given her an edge over her rivals.

“Japan is really one of the big tournaments we aim up to because that’s where Kyokushin karate originated from,” Cain said.

“That’s one of the really big tournaments everyone looks up to.”

The Leader Local Sports Stars program recognises and celebrates the extraordinary efforts of junior and senior athletes and competitors across Melbourne.

Medallists will be named in seven categories — Junior Sports Star Individual, Junior Sports Star Team, Young Sporting Spirit Individual, Young Sporting Spirit Team, Senior Sports Star, Service to Sport and the Jim Dowsley Award for encouragement.

The program becomes a national celebration this year. Leader’s junior winners from Melbourne will compete against the Local Sports Stars program medallists in NSW, Queensland and Western Australia, and national winners will be crowned.

The junior categories will be judged on achievement, dedication, fairness and sportsmanship.

Cash prizes as well as vouchers from our sponsor Sportsmart are up for grabs.

For full details and to nominate an athlete, go to localsportsstars.com.au