In a year when so much was on the line, two karate students of the Cochrane's Ippon Dojo medalled at the largest ever Canadian junior national karate championships. Both were also top five finishers.

Earning a silver medal in kata, Carter Dawood, 17, will be representing Canada at the Pan-Am and World U21 karate championships.

This will be his third consecutive appearance on the national team at the Pan-Americans, but his first Worlds. He's looking forward to having the opportunity to compete at the highest junior level.

Ippon sensei Adam Wackershauser is thrilled to see Dawood make the world stage.  

"It's a really exciting thing for Carter," says Wackershauer. "He will be the first one I've train right from the beginning to go to the worlds."

Dawood, 17, won silver in kata and because the gold medallist will age out before the international competition will be stepping up for Canada.

Susanah Fallis, 18, won bronze in kimite. It's her second medal in five years of competing at the national championship. She previously won silver, also in the kimite discipline.

A karate student for 10 years, originally in Calgary, it was her first year competing at the U21 level and she looks forward to future competitions.

"I'm going to keep training, keep going and hopefully move up the podium," says Fallis.

Wackershauser says she has been training with Ippon for a couple of years now and continues to hone her skills.

"She has climbed amazingly high. She's very tough on herself and I don't think she needs to be because she's super talented. She's a great athlete and we love having her here. One or two little things and she could have been the national champion."

Dawood won't be alone at the international competitions. Ippon sensei Adam Wackershauser is part of Team Canada's junior coaching team at both. Guayaquil, Ecuador is hosting the Pan-Americans, Aug. 27-31, and the World Karate Federation Worlds is in Santiago De, Chile, Oct. 23-27.

Wackershauser had a successful career as a competitor and enjoys watching his students experience that same success.

"I'm there to help to support them, but it's their hurdles to get over and their mountains to climb. To watch them climb to the podium is amazing to watch."

Ten Ippon students competed at the nationals, hosted by Edmonton, May 3-5.  

"Everybody there just put it all out there. They did everything they could."

"We've sent people every year since 2005 and we've returned with medals every year as well. I really believe our winning streak will continue but you never know what's going to happen in a championship."

Several Ippon students are expected to be competing at the next senior nationals being hosted by Calgary in January.