Poplar’s Veras Academy took six students to the English Karate National Championships in Sheffield last weekend.

Sensei Raphael Veras saw his team pick up an impressive five medals, including brothers Luan, Liam and Luca Veras.

Liam got the ball rolling by picking up bronze in the under-nines kata category before he shot to gold in the pairs kata section with his brother Luan.

They were joined by Emre Oner to claim bronze in the team kata and six-year-old Luca joined his siblings to win bronze in the junior team fight category.

Luan won bronze in the individual under-nines category to complete the Veras medal haul.

Luke Kavanagh, 12, and 22-year-old Sanan Aliyev, competing in the senior category, both produced valiant performances, but failed to pick up medals.

Anyone interested in joining the academy should visit www.verasacademy.co.uk.