Talia Iris was eight years old when the kung fu movies captivated her. Soon she was bouncing off the furniture at home as she imitated the stars on the big screen, not knowing that in less than 10 years she would be a star in her own right, winning world titles in 1998 and 2000.

The 17-year-old Bermuda College freshman is respected by her peers, not just for what she knows about the art of self-defence, but also for what she has become as a result of the training under her Sensei, Skipper Ingham.

The self-confidence comes through as she speaks about how karate has transformed her since the first time she walked into Mr. Ingham's dojo. Now she cannot imagine life without the martial arts.

"When I was younger my sister and I used to watch the old kung fu movies and I used to fly off the furniture and stuff,'' she explained.

"When I went away on vacation I saw a tae kwon do school and told my nana I wanted to do karate and she said I needed to talk to my momma and daddy. A couple of months later they went to look at Skipper Ingham's school and decided I could go there. When I first went training I loved it.'' The rest, as they say, is history, with Talia rising to the rank of world champion in her age group in sparring in 1998 in Orlando. Earlier this year she went even better, winning three titles in Venice, Italy to make her mark on the international stage once again.

"When I was younger it had to grow on me -- I went through those stages when I wanted to back off and just hang with my friends,'' she explained.

"But when I got older I started training more often. Sensei Skipper, Sensei Kristina (Ingham) and Sensei Kent (Simmons) saw talent in me so they kept pushing me.'' As a result of the martial arts, Talia has her self-professed `bad temper' under control. And if a situation threatens to get out of control she knows how to handle that, too.

"Usually when people want to challenge me it's always a joke, I haven't come into contact with anything serious,'' the teenager explains.

"It hasn't come down to that so I'm happy for that. I'm not the type of person who likes to fight anyway.'' The karate training has given the soft spoken student tremendous self-belief and it's something she would recommend for any young person.

"I think it's good for young children to get involved in martial arts, it helps build up your self-confidence,'' she says.

"I would say to try it out for a week or so, and if you like it, keep at it, keep a level head and have fun.'' Talia has been a black belt about four years and a couple of months ago was promoted to the level of second degree.

"The people I train with give me a positive vibe and it's a good experience when you are in that type of environment,'' she says.

"Sensei Kent and Sensei Skipper said that if they get into an argument that looks like it's going to end up in a fight they just walk away.

"I take that advice, too, and don't get into any heated arguments because it might lead to a fight.''