Karate sensation Sophie Kowal is following in her brother Leon’s footsteps after she won her second national title.

Leon, who is only ten, has already been a national champion three times and is heading for the European All Styles Karate Championships in Sheffield this October.

Meanwhile, six-year-old Sophie won her first national title last autumn.

The St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School pupil then competed in the Federation of English Karate Organisations (FEKO) national championships in Nottingham and, in her first freestyle competition, went all the way to become under-sevens national champion.

Both siblings are under the tutelage of Bradford Shotokan Karate Academy chief instructor Fred Fawcett, who is a former European champion himself and highly respected around the world as a coach.

Dad Stephen is immensely proud of his daughter’s achievements and said: “Whatever she’s done, she’s been like a duck to water and me and my wife can’t believe how well they both have done.

“Fred works her really hard and is a no-nonsense kind of coach. But she trains three times a week and absolutely loves it.

“She’s just got her purple and white belts and she should have a black belt by October, which for a girl of her age is just remarkable. It probably will make her the youngest in the country to have one.

“She’s now looking to do even better throughout this year and hopefully she will be able to defend her title which she won last year as well.”