Rising star Maxim Barbosa has earned a special award after achieving a black belt in karate at the tender age of 11.
The youngster from Ore has been awarded the Outstanding Young Person of the Month Award.
It has taken Maxim two years to reach the black belt standard and he often spends up to six hours a week training with the SAMA martial arts group. He took up karate at the age of five, along with his younger sister Valentina. He helps her to learn and is keen to become a karate teacher when he finishes his studies at Rye College.
Maxim’s proud mum, Kelly Allen, said: “I’m so proud of Maxim’s karate achievements. It’s been a difficult time for him as his grandfather has been diagnosed with a brain tumour, but if anything it has spurred him on as he wanted to get his black belt to make grandad proud. Maxim would like to thank his karate instructors Sempai Matt and Sempai Kyle for the support and encouragement they’ve given him. They are outstanding teachers and have a great rapport with the children they teach.”
The award is sponsored by Sussex Coast College Hastings and the Hastings Observer Series. Each month, the award is presented to someone aged 18 and under who has excelled in some way, perhaps in sport or their academic studies, or has performed an important role on a voluntary basis in their own home or the wider community. Maxim will receive a complimentary meal for two plus £100 for the charity of his choice. Maxim chose Dragonflies, which helps children who have suffered from a bereavement. To nominate email jenny@cobbpr.com with full details of who you are nominating and the reasons why.