JORDAN Godbold has been called up to the full junior national shotokan karate squad.

JORDAN Godbold has been called up to the full junior national shotokan karate squad.

The 11-year-old Ipswich resident received the call-up after he went on a selection course in London and impressed the coaches.

The black-belt supremo will now compete in European tournaments and will be in the age 11-15 squad for the next World Cup in Japan in 2009.

Godbold said it felt brilliant to be selected, and he is looking forward to meeting up with his new team-mates in Westminster. He met the coaches and some of the squad at his trial, and said everyone had been very friendly.

His father Sean, who is also a black belt along with daughter Leah, 14, said: “I am very proud of Jordan and Leah. The kids have a flair for it.

“Jordan thoroughly enjoyed the selection day. From being nervous before it, he came out full of beans. He is very pleased, it is a major achievement for him.”

Sean Godbold, who did karate as a child, took it up again when his children started at the age of six because he wanted to spur them on and give them some support.

Jordan, who became a black belt a year and a half ago, will now train with the national squad once a month, as well as having six courses over the year and two international courses in England.

Once every three weeks he will work with the national team in Westminster, as well as keeping up his training commitments at home.

Jordan trains four times a week with his coach John Donohoe, 56, at Maidenhall Sports Centre.

Donohoe said: “The commitment the little lad has got is incredible, really. He has shown so much skill since he got his green belt.

“There are probably another three or four kids who are feeding off him because of his talent. He is so good that the kids look at him as a role model. It is good to have that bridge to relate to the kids.”

Shotokan is a Japanese form of karate, and the most widely practised across the world. It is a traditional form of the martial art, focusing more on etiquette, stance and behaviour than competition.