A teen Jiu Jitsu champion has set up his own gym teaching children how to defend themselves - after going viral for taking down an ear-biting thug. Alex Williams was on his lunch break on Guisborough's Westgate when a man "threatened to stab him" a year ago.
But unbeknownst to the man, he had picked on a world champion fighter. Alex, who was 16 at the time, calmly delivered a signature double leg takedown to restrain him, reports Teeside Live.
The video of the altercation went viral with hundreds of thousands of views. Alex, now 17, has teamed up with Serenity Scott - another martial arts champ - to set up NXT Generation MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) Teesside.
In a few short months, the sessions at Stockton's Skinner Street see more than 20 girls and boys attend regularly. Now Alex wants to build up a team to compete "nationally or internationally - as far as the kids want to go".
Alex's encounter with the man last year left him bloodied after his attacker bit a chunk out of his ear. "It wasn't the greatest experience," he said.
"I'm just glad that it wasn't someone else he did it to. I didn't really know who he was at the time, or what could have happened. I want to teach people how to defend themselves, how to be aware of situations on the street.
"I competed a lot as a kid, it taught me discipline and it's kept me off the streets. I'm not just sitting on my Xbox all day.
"It's also good exercise and keeps you fit. The kids all love it - we had a summer camp not so long back, it was the same as school hours and parents dropped them off.
"We thought the kids would think it was as drag, but it flew by - the kids all enjoyed it. It's also getting the kids to socialise with each other, experience different things.
"We will take the training as far as the kids want to go - it would be good to take a team abroad to represent the country, that's the end goal. We'll start small and work towards it."
Serenity, from Thornaby, an instructor in three martial arts, said: "Alex and I have both trained in martial arts from a young age. We met when we trained at the same club. We've got more than 20 kids that come every week, girls and boys.
"The majority of them are getting bullied at school. We're very passionate about it, we want to help them, build their confidence and make them feel like they're safe and they have a safe place to train."
The sessions not only teach "anti-bullying" but "avoidance techniques" as well, the 20-year-old adds. "One little boy in my neighbourhood was getting picked on by a gang of people at the shop.
"They were stood outside waiting for him - he was terrified, crying his eyes out. We sponsor him now at the gym, he trains and he learns how to defend himself against bullies - and he's building so much confidence."
