Bushey teenager Daniel Imber kicked off the new year by receiving his black belt.

The 15-year-old started training in 2008 with sixth Dan Chief Instructor Vando De-Bellis of Tigers Shotokan Karate.

In 2012, Imber trained with 82-year-old Sensei HiroKazu Kanazawa tenth Dan Japanese Master; one of the most renowned and respected traditional Karate Masters.

Imber said: “Karate has given me the confidence in embracing new challenges and opportunities and hopefully will give me an advantage later on. I am very grateful to my instructors and my family in encouraging and supporting me.”

De-Bellis said: “Daniel’s excellent record of achievement has been due to his hard work and commitment, training every week and today when the pressure was on he demonstrated his skills and ability to the judges and deserves this reward for all the effort he has put in. We are all extremely proud and he is a credit to the club.”

Imber’s mother Dominique was so impressed by his achievements and the teaching of the club’s ethos that she joined in 2011 and is now a second Kyu, working towards her own black belt.

Tigers Shotokan Karate have clubs for adults and juniors in St Albans, Bushey, Borehamwood and Park Street.

Anyone interested in joining should contact the club secretary on 01727 840773 or e-mail c.debellis@btopenworld.com.