Kuk Sool Won UK Championship 2010

Sam is the UK's silver medallist for his belt and age group!

We journeyed up to Liverpool on Friday night, ready for the competition on Saturday. Sam was putting on a brave face but actually was terrified. But when we got to the venue, he seemed utterly unconcerned!

Sam was due in Ring Two at ten o'clock. We waited ringside from ten to ten. The judges didn't appear for another hour, during which Sam was incredibly patient, polite, well-behaved and utterly cool. The picture above is an unusual view of my fantastic, handsome son.

Here you can see Sam in the terror zone, just before the contest. He looks scared. He was scared. When they were called forward the assembled parents all had last words with their children. "Remember, low stances!" "Thumbs up when you do number five!" "Loud kee-yups!"

As Sam dipped into the arena I told him "Have fun, do your best!"

We'd already talked about the whole tournament experience. Sam was a little worried about having to do routines in front of people he didn't know. We had agreed that it was Most Excellent to be taking part in a UK Championship in a sport at the age of seven, which Dad didn't achieve until he was twenty (UK cross country championship if you're curious). We'd high-fived over the fact that Most people will Never take part in any UK Championship, and we both had (or were about to).

Here you can see Sam telling the judges who he was, and what he would be doing. To my utter amazement, in the Techniques class, Sam decided On The Mat which three techniques out of fifteen he would be demonstrating. I was gobsmacked when I found out. It obviously worked as he won a silver.

This picture shows Sam just about to start his Techniques. Jesus H, he's got his "game face" on hasn't he! He was a determined little bundle of energy in Liverpool and reaped a just reward.

Sam is the second best seven-year-old in Britain.