Meet Coach Anthony Halsall

You know coach Anthony as the youngest member of the Can Do Martial Arts family, teaching karate to all ages. We know coach Anthony as a dedicated and passionate young man who loves his sport and wants nothing more than to share that love with others (and win a few competitions while he’s at it).

Anthony joined CDMA when he moved from Canterbury in 2021. But this isn’t here his martial arts journey started.

As a schoolboy Anthony always enjoyed martial arts, fascinated by the movements and speed at which practitioners moved. And whilst at school, he began developing his own skills… Anthony said, ‘I joined karate because I used to do some with my Dad and thought I would give it a go. I took part in my first competition at the JKS Nationals in 2015 and ended having to fight the same fight twice as there was a technical issue. I was so tired after my fights, but I knew I wanted to do it again and again.’

In 2018, whilst a year 12 student at The Canterbury Academy Trust, Anthony was selected for the Japan Karate Shotorenmei England squad. The school news reported, ‘Anthony’s selection is well deserved as he has worked incredibly hard on his fitness and his ambition is to represent Great Britain at an Olympics.’

In 2019 whilst still a student of The Canterbury Academy Trust, Anthony attended Karate Training Camp in Japan where he spent a few days developing his Karate. Already, at only 18 years of age, Anthony was identified by national coaches as an athlete with tremendous potential and the trip was designed to develop his experience with there being the possibility of an internship in the future.

At school, Anthony was part of the specialist Sixth Form Athletics Academy which provided students with personalised training programs to meet the unique demands of their selected sport.

After he left school and joined the CDMA family, Anthony’s achievements have sky-rocketed! We are incredibly proud of his commitment to both his sport and is coaching.

‘I improved in my karate most during covid as my father built a dojo in our back garden. I struggled with the change from a very average fighter at the start to becoming a fighter people saw picking up results regularly. This has been one the major difficulties I’ve had to face not only in my competition career but also as a traditional karateka. I would like to thank both Jordan and Ben for their help in pushing me to be the best person I can be in and out of the dojo. They both work tirelessly to attain everything they have and are a true inspiration.’

Competitions

Japan Karate Shotorenmei England Squad

2018 – Senior Kumite

English Karate Federation National Squad

2021 – Senior & Under 21 Male Kumite

2022 – Senior Male Individual Kumite, Championships

2023 – National Senior sub 60kg champion

2023 – Senior team silver

World Karate Federation

2022 – Karate K1-Series, Pamplona

JKS England Squad

2023 – Kumite (along with Luke Morris in Kata)

2023 – JKS England badge holder

Despite a long list of competition success, Anthony says one in particular stands out as his ‘best moment in life’. He said, ‘It was in July this year (2023), when I became the English national senior under 60kgs champion, and on the same day won senior team silver at the English Karate Federation.’

Ambitions

It is still an ambition of Anthony’s to represent England in an Olympic competition. However, until then he loves to compete at international level, visiting competition stages across the world including Spain and Luxembourg, and most recently having been selected to represent JKS England at the 2024 worlds in Tokyo in July next year.

Anthony also thoroughly enjoys coaching the younger students in karate at CDMA, and we are delighted to have such an accomplished and passionate young man in our martial arts family.

‘I’d also like to thank CDMA for welcoming me with open arms and always supporting me in all my competitions. I hope to give back to CDMA as much as they have given to me.’

Anthony’s classes

Anthony coaches Karate for all ages:

Tuesdays at 5pm in the Dojo

Wednesday 3:30pm and 7pm (Kumite) at St Nicholas’ Didcot

Thursdays at 3:30pm and 7pm at Stephen Freeman

Fridays at 3:30pm and 5pm Didcot Primary Academy

Saturdays at 9am Henley Christ Church Centre and 11am in the Didcot Community Centre

Sundays at 4pm at the Dojo

If you or your child would like to give it a go, we offer free karate taster classes, and there is no pressure to wear anything other than what you’re comfortable and can move easily in.

Why not come along and see for yourself how inspirational Anthony is?!