First year IT Sligo student Liam Codd has won six medals at the W.T.K.A (World Traditional Karate Association) Championships in Viareggio, Italy.
The 17 year old from Ballygawley, Co Sligo swept the boards winning gold in the Kickboxing, Karate Point (75kgs) and Kumite Shobu Sanbon (75kgs) events in the junior (16 to 18 years) categories.
He won silver in the junior Karate Point (70kgs),Kumite Shobu Sanbon (70kgs) and Karate Point (Team) events. The Irish team arrived home with 58 medals from the world championships.
Liam’s successful streak continued last weekend (November 20th) when he got his 2nd dan black belt. “Once you get the black belt you can progress from 1st dan right up to 10th dan,” explained Liam who started the sport when he was just eight and who has won 18 world titles at cadet and junior level.
A first year on the Health Science & Physiology course at IT Sligo, he hopes to pursue a career which will allow him to indulge his love of sport.“I would like to work as a physiotherapist,” explained Liam who is also hoping to establish his own karate school in Ballintogher.
A member of the Greendragons club which is attached to the Mercy College in Sligo, he said he owes a lot to his instructors John Sweeney and John’s son Michael. “I really want to teach karate. Unfortunately it is not an Olympic sport yet but I hope to progress and to compete at senior level in the world championship,” he explained. “I would also like as an instructor, to produce world champions”.
An all-round sports enthusiast, Liam is delighted with college life and looking forward to availing of the state of the arts sport facilities there. A keen soccer and GAA player he is a member of the Arrow Harps soccer club and also plays Gaelic with St Michael’s. He also finds some spare time for break dancing.“Karate is a very disciplined sport with a lot of focus on self-control,” said the student. “It does spill over into other areas of your life”. His interest in martial arts was aroused as a child when he started to watch Bruce Lee films. He does not think parents should have any worries about letting their children start karate. “Even though it is a contact sport it’s not dangerous because it is all about self-control. I think there is more chance of being injured while playing football.”