School sport: Adam fires up the new karate kids

KARATE: Karate is continuing to grow as a participation sport in schools, with Hamish Adam and a team of experts making sure as many youngsters as possible are given a chance to try it out.

Adam, an 8th Dan and legend in Scottish karate circles, was one of the founding members of the Scottish Karate-Do Federation back in 1970 and is now working hard with Active Schools coordinators and individual schools to provide taster sessions to pupils as young as five.

He is mainly based in the Edinburgh, Midlothian and West Lothian areas with his son. In recent months, their taster sessions have had real success, with the likes of Mauricewood Primary School in Penicuik and Roslin Primary School having started up after school karate clubs.

This has been replicated in other parts of Scotland and Adam senior said: "The taster sessions are all about fun and getting youngsters active. Then, once the after-schools clubs start up, we can teach them a bit more about karate and hopefully link them up with a local club as they move into their teens.

"Karate is a great sport for children. It teaches discipline, concentration and a whole bunch of life skills and we look forward to bringing more youngsters into the sport."