THE latest kickboxing prodigy learning his craft with an Okehampton training centre is on the road to success, thanks to support from Okehampton Lions Club.
William Shaw, aged eight, trains three to four times a week, and is the current British International Kickboxing Martial Arts (BIKMA) champion. He will be joining the British Superleague in April, and will be competing in the British Championships in May.
The Lions have donated £100 to help sustain William's early success. Success has come quickly for William, who only started competing in matches in January 2012, starting training with the gym four months previously at the Chaos Muay Thai Fitness and Competition Training Centre in Okehampton.
The school's coaches have a great pedigree of their own. Steve Pender has 18 years of experience in Thai boxing coaching, while Christi Brereton turned professional aged 15, and is a WPMF World Champion.