A FORMER martial art champion is set to compete against the world's best bodybuilders after outmuscling rivals in a national competition.

Austin Williams, of Ripon, said he was pleased to have secured second place at the UK Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation British Championships held at the Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham, following third places in the classic bodybuilding class in 2013 and 2014.

The silver medal follows the former tae kwon do international being placed sixth in the Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic in Ohio, first at the Bodypower Expo at the NEC and Cumbrian Classic at Workington, and second the English Grand Prix, High Wycombe, earlier this year.

The wins qualified Mr Williams, who has been bodybuilding for eight years, to enter the Arnold Classic Bodybuilding Contest in Madrid in September where he was placed in the top 15, and the two-day British Championships.

Aheading of competing against the world's top bodybuilders at the Amateur Olympia in Liverpool on November 1, he said he was adopting a positive attitude.

He said: "I am going to make it tough for everybody, I am going to improve everyday for the next three weeks and bring the best I can be.

"Half the battle is always the one that goes on inside our heads with the self belief we can achieve something that seems out of reach."