Karate star to represent England this month

Carla Rudkin-Guillen started her journey into karate in 2011 at the tender age of four years old.

The Ballard School pupil in Year 11 is now preparing to travel to Turkey at the end of October to represent England at the Junior World Karate Championships in the Cadet Kata category.

Carla has already represented England at the Junior European Championships and the Commonwealth Championships earlier this year where she won gold in the latter.

She is also a current English and British Champion.

Carla said: "I am excited and looking forward to competing at the World Championships as it will be an amazing experience."

Carla at the Commonwealth Karate Championships (Image: Carla Rudkin-Guillen)

Following in the family's footsteps, Carla is coached by her father Collin Rudkin who is a sixth Dan black belt, Ex England International athlete and founder of the Southern England Karate Federation.

Carla's dad, Collin said: "As Carla’s coach and dad, I am extremely proud of what she has achieved to date, especially as it’s due to her hard work and dedication."

In 2020, Carla was selected for both the England Cadet Kata and kumite Squads.

Which, according to her dad, is "very rare" for an athlete to be at England standard in both disciplines of sport karate.

Carla was also inspired to start by her older brother Danny who was also an Ex England International athlete and Team Commonwealth Champion in 2005.

Andrew McCleave, headmaster at Ballard School said: "We are all immensely proud of Carla at Ballard School.

"She has managed to combine a real dedication to her sport both inside and outside the school, prepare for her GCSEs, undertake her School Prefect duties and also take a lead role in our recent production of Matilda.

"Carla clearly has a real drive to succeed in all she does; she is the embodiment of our values, and we have no doubt she will continue to succeed in so many areas."