Karate kid Sam Warren has kicked his way to world glory.

Sam, nine, won silver and bronze medals at the Funakoshi Shotokan Association event in Las Vegas.

He said: "I saw the Grand Canyon and we flew over Las Vegas Strip but the competition was my highlight.

"I'm really excited to have done so well in a world championship.

"It was hard but worth it. I love my karate. I started doing it four years ago because I wanted to learn about self-defence."

The Sussex ace, already a black belt, is trained at Crawley Leisure Centre by Ron Silverthorne, 70, who has taught the martial art for 50 years.

Sam said: "Ron is excellent. I've learned such a lot from him."

Silverthorne was a pupil of Shihan Funakoshi, whose father invented karate, and he believes his rising star can one day compete in the Olympics.

He said: "Karate may be introduced to the Games in 2012 and I think he could make it. He has a lot of potential and is developing quickly.

"His success in Las Vegas doesn't surprise me. He is a very good student, disciplined, has good technique and is dedicated.

"He travels with his family, mum Toni and dad Steven, three days a week from Uckfield to attend my school.

"He took his black belt grading in front of Shihan Funakoshi, a ninth dan, who visits Crawley to grade my students.

"I told Sam to treat the world championships like he treated his gradings - as a moment of truth.

"That may sound too deep for a nine-year-old but I believe in treating my young students like grown-ups and Sam responded.

"It must be frightening for someone of his age to be in such a big competition but he faced up to the challenge."

The Manor Park (Uckfield) student won a silver medal in the fighting and a bronze in the kata.

Johnny Reigate, 11, from Crawley, another Silverthorne student, won a silver medal for fighting in his age group.

Silverthorne said: "He proved himself a very good student. I'm proud of both the boys."