Pint-sized Varsha Vinod won her black belt in Bunjunkai karate in May this year at the tender age of five, after training since the age of two!
High-kicking her way through the KoInChi Academy of Martial Arts in India where she studies, Varsha has even challenged British Karate Federation Champ, Juan Moreno!
After battling it out with the tiny karate kid, Juan was shocked how good 5-year-old Varsha was. “It’s hard to remember she is just five, her skills and concentration are amazing,” he said. “I think it’s an extraordinary achievement how far she has come in just a few short years. She is definitely the real thing.”
The youngster’s talent has also astounded computer game makers of the Lara Croft Tomb Raider series, Eidos. They have replicated her karate skills for their new game, Mini Ninjas, which include her mastery of the yawara stick, and the nunchucks.
But does her martial arts skills hinder her everyday life in the school playground? “The other children are very proud of me, I don’t think they are frightened of me,” Varsha shared.
Proud dad, Viswanathan Vinod, 37, is also surprised that such a small child can master the art of karate at a young age. “She picked it up very well to everybody’s surprise, even though I was a little worried, but she loves it. Thousands have congratulated her on the demonstration of double nunchuck rotation and kangudai Katas (karate disciplines).”
