Karate champ sets goals

Having trained in karate since the age of four, Olivia can now lay claim to be being one of the country’s most talented junior martial artists.

The Shobukan Karate student, who trains in Wangara, travelled to Hobart last month where she became the Australian champion in the discipline of kumite ” or sparring ” for her age and weight division.

Determined to keep improving, she has already set goals for 2014, with plans to compete at the Australian Open in April and defend her national title in Perth in August.

Proud father Michael Panossian, a sensei at Shobukan Karate, said Olivia shared his passion for the ancient art of self-defence.

‘Olivia has grown in confidence and has learnt how to set herself goals through karate,’ he said.