A KARATE kid from Bradford has returned from the junior world championships with a silver medal.

Scarlett Ancliffe, 10, took part in the I.N. Cup International Karate Championships held in Niigata, Japan.

She jetted off, along with her family, coach Keith Priestley, and training partner, seven year old Leyton Tate, from Wakefield, for the week long tournament on July 14.

The Home Farm Primary School pupil, from Buttershaw, is currently the British and European champion.

After coming through bruising encounters with some of the best child fighters her age, Scarlett reached the final before being beaten by a formidable opponent.

Scarlett competed in the Kyokushin discipline of karate, a full contact style recognised as one of the toughest forms of karate there is.

Keith Priestley, a 6th Dan black belt and coach at the Fight Club dojo in Wyke Community and Children’s Centre, said it brought a tear to his eye seeing Scarlett reach the final.

The 64 year old said: “I am really pleased with the result, I don’t know how to explain it; it was an emotional rollercoaster and proud does not even come close.

“I’ve won two world titles as a fighter and it’s a great feeling, but now to coach these kids and put them through hell and for them to do so well, it’s incredible.

“In Scarlett’s category there was no size or weight limit, and in her first fight she went up against a boy about a foot taller than her, and she absolutely annihilated him; she was just awesome.

“In the final the girl she was against was absolutely huge, and she got a big knee to her ribcage which put her down on one knee, and the fight was over. But to pick up a silver in Japan, where they are taught this in school, shows hard work paid off.”

Scarlett’s training partner Leyton, seven, picked up a bronze at the tournament, which took place in front of thousands of people in an arena the size of Wembley, and was broadcast live on Japanese television.

Francis Ancliffe, Scarlett’s father, of Fleece Street, Buttershaw, said the trip was an excellent experience, and expressed his immense pride in his daughter. The 32-year-old, who is also a former kickboxer and student of Mr Priestley, said: “Scarlett was absolutely outstanding, when she got second place it brought tears to my eyes. We were in shock for the first few hours, but eventually came round. Japan is beautiful; its another world over there, its a very different place to Bradford but it was brilliant.

“Since we got back Scarlett has been loving it, they had an assembly at her at school and she has had a lot of support from everyone.”