HE MAY be unable to get on the big rides at theme parks, but who cares when you’ve just become the UK’s youngest karate champion?

Joseph Calvert, from Snodland, is only eight-years-old and stands just 3ft 6in. But he has already achieved the 1st Dan Shotokan Karate black belt on his first attempt, making him the youngest in the UK by four months to receive the accolade.

Joseph, who trains at Ditton Community Centre, near Maidstone, said: "I didn’t think I would pass. We had a barbecue the night before and I was really tired."

His mother, Tina Calvert, is a brown two-stripe belt – one less than the black belt – while his sisters Chloe, 12, and Natasha, 11, are already black belts.

Mrs Calvert said: "I’m so proud of him. Karate just seemed to come naturally to him."

Sensei Colin Dalmeida, said when Joseph is 16 he will have to retake his black belt grading to achieve senior status.