A young 12 year old boy from Oldbury is showing real promise in the worls of martial arts after coming back from Barsnley with a hoard of medals. He plans to compete in Italy too in the near future. We caught up with him and his mother/ coach where he trains in Oldbury.
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00:00SMWS martial arts in Albury and we've got Andre sporting a few medals there
00:05bit of bling how you doing Andre and we've got with you your mom also your
00:10coach I mean that's a first I've not come across that yeah that's great so
00:15just talk us through what are these medals Andre you went to compete where
00:18in Barnsley yeah and what did you pick up then so what we got we got it so
00:24let's start with a silver we've got a second place four points scored is that
00:27right what's the gold there for buddy and then the gold was tag teams points
00:32fighting nice one and the bigger the big blingy belts what's that for the grand
00:36championships must be very proud mom you're doing something right in the in
00:41the coach so talk us through then Andre you're how old now 12 and how old were
00:47you when you got into the sport well I started when I was five five years old
00:52yeah wow okay I started competing when I was like nine ten yeah so I said to
00:58switch what was it kind of in you because you know a lot of people get to
01:01martial arts and it's a hobby and they you know do the training bit what was it
01:05that switched at nine and you thought I want to start competing then so I don't
01:10know I just thought it would be cool yeah yeah I think because he likes to
01:15watch like a lot of UFC fighting and that as well yeah so you'd like to where
01:21do you want to go with this is it kind of just a bit of fun for now or you
01:23would you like to you know would you like to be one of them fighters on the
01:25telly at some point I'm not too sure yet but maybe one day you've obviously got a
01:31bit of a talent for it as an if he's you know he's coming back with stuff like
01:34this at 12 must be very proud of him mom was you there in Barnsley watching him
01:39yes so is it biting nail stuff yes yeah so what is he what is he's great he's
01:44kind of assets and strengths then as a fighter that you've seen him as a coach
01:48I think he listens to what he's being told to do and because you caught when
01:54you're fighting you can't always see even though you are the fighter you can't
01:59always see what's going on in front yeah and so he does it does listen and he
02:05likes to learn new kicks punches yeah what what type of because there's many
02:12disciplines isn't in martial arts and what type is it that you're competing
02:16in what do we call it kickboxing or sports karate okay cool and you say
02:23who's your kind of star then we've got a few martial arts stars kind of training
02:26Birmingham haven't we and stuff that from the black country so yeah yeah cool
02:34and what's what's your kind of training regime then how often are you training
02:38train about three times to four times a week Wow okay and if some of that kind
02:45of if you've got a mini little set of weights in a gym at home is there a bit
02:47of that going on as well yeah actually yeah you have to be a certain age I used
02:53to do the weights and stuff yeah and so at the moment it's just like training at
02:59the gym and that's it all right and what do you your mates in here which actually
03:03good which school do you go to Phoenix collegiate oh yeah yeah and they know
03:08about what you've achieved yeah so what do you mates in your school say they
03:13yeah it's a big commitment in it four times a week you know I mean that's the
03:18you know it's a good good healthy thing to kind of focus your energy into yeah
03:22so what's any particular sites or tournament you've got your eyes on
03:26coming up that you're training for what's in April I'm going to Italy to
03:31fight in the World Championships Wow what represent in the country then so
03:35it works yeah in Italy Wow okay you going on that one mom yeah
03:38yeah you got to go on that one haven't you if you went to Barnsley you got to
03:41do the Italy one haven't you yeah so how you gonna how you feel about that is
03:45that because it's a different country is it kind of it's a bit more nerves kick
03:49in or you just you up for it or yeah good stuff as you Italian I think as
03:56long as you say hello goodbye and thank you those are the first things to learn
03:59aren't they well we wish you all the best matey I mean you're obviously a you
04:03know a rising star 12 years old and coming back with medals like this and so
04:07good luck to you in the future bus cheers mate thank you
04:16I'm great I can just pause you there for a sec what's I've got a check what's
04:20this on the uniform what's he say GM to LF what's that all about
04:25all right okay well a date that's all be then isn't it yeah yeah as in lion farm
04:34yeah so they sponsor you a little bit yeah what we should add you know a trip
04:38to Italy it ain't cheap so anyone that wants to help me sponsorship you'd be
04:43much much obliged much welcoming to it yeah cold get in touch guys