A TAEKWONDO star from Shipley will represent Great Britain at the European Cadet Championship in Latvia this summer.

Thirteen-year-old Adam Cassere, a pupil at Bradford Grammar School, qualified for Team GB at the European President's Cup for Children, in Germany.

Adam has been training in Taekwondo for six years and first started in primary school after seeing his friend travel to Germany for a competition.

“I really liked the sound of it as well as the travelling opportunities. I found I enjoyed it so this spurred me on. It feels like I’ve gone from strength to strength. Qualifying for the European Cadet Championship was so exciting,” he said.

In January, Adam won a bronze medal at the European President's Cup for Children as well as qualifying for the European championship.

BGS’s director of sport, Oliver Rogers said: “Taekwondo is really unique in that it provides a great environment for learning the importance of perseverance and excellence, building character, stamina, flexibility and camaraderie.

“Like any martial arts, the art of taekwondo reinforces physical aspects of exercise by improving general health, mental focus, respect and self-confidence, which ultimately sharpen concentration and academic performance.”

Adam reflected on the intensity of the sport, saying: “It’s usually three rounds of one and a half minutes. It can be very intense if you have up to five fights in a day, but I relish it. The best part is when you win.

"At the nationals last year I was up against two people I had lost to previously, so it was great to beat them a year on and see how much I’d progressed.

“I’d love to keep it up. A girl in my taekwondo club has now made it into the senior team and this is the next step for me. I want to progress from the cadet team, to the juniors, then on to senior when I turn 18.”

Dr Simon Hinchliffe, BGS headmaster, said: “Adam is a terrific pupil and we’re all very proud of him. Bradford Grammar School believes in offering a wide range of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom for personal development and growth.

"The future for sport at Bradford Grammar School is very exciting and we will continue to give pupils opportunities to be active and competitive which is crucial to developing well-rounded young people.”