A Bathgate youngster has proven she’s a real martial arts master after scooping a string of top awards.
Eight-year-old Abbie Caldwell has won medals galore in both kickboxing and taekwondo and is tipped to reach the top in both.
The Windyknowe pupil took up taekwondo aged just three before adding kickboxing to the mix two years later.
She already has a number of Scottish titles to her name and recently returned home from the prestigious Bristol Open with two golds and two silvers as she competed against top kickboxers from around the world.
The event saw 97 clubs and 18 countries represented in Britain’s biggest World Association of Kickboxing Organisations (WAKO) competition.
The three-time WKA Scottish champion also won a pair of gold medals at the WKC Championships in Glasgow two months ago.
The dedicated star - who trains seven nights a week between Livingston-based Wolfpack Martial Arts and GMAC Martial Arts - has earned high praise from coaches at both clubs.
Speaking to the Courier, Wolfpack’s Kevin Baldwin commented: “The Bristol Open is the biggest kickboxing competition in Britain. It can be an eye-opener for some but she dealt with the pressure incredibly well and deserved her success.
“The team came top five which was a great achievement so we’re all really happy.
“Abbie’s been with us around six months and there’s been huge progress and improvement since she first started.”
He added: “I’ve been coaching for 15 years and for her age, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone with such commitment.
“We’ve got the British Championships in Nottingham in February and that’s where they qualify for the GB team and then the following year’s European Championships. My target as coach is for her to qualify for both and she’s absolutely in with a great shout.”
GMAC Martial Arts owner and instructor Gillian McIlvaney echoed those sentiments and said the future is bright for Abbie.
She commented: “Abbie has been with us for just shy of a year and her development has been incredible.
“She’s a great kid who trains really hard and has a huge desire to go out there and perform and win.”
She added: “Abbie always gives it her best and she takes everything on board that we tell her. She really listens and acts on it and that’s all you can ask for.
“It’s not just about herself either, because she’s brilliant with the rest of the team. She’s a real motivator.
“There’s two big competitions coming up - one in Ireland and an international event called the Claymore Cup in Ravenscraig next month and I’d expect her to medal in both of those. She’s got a really bright future.”
Abbie would like to thank sponsors McDonald Roofing Contracts ltd and Shin-Etsu as well as all of her coaches for their continued support.
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