Two youngsters from County Durham are following in their father’s footsteps by taking up kickboxing.

Wes Fagan, a second degree black belt and three times world champion, now coaches youngsters across the region and has formed his own club.

Torin, who is eight and five-year-old Ailish, have joined the club and are showing promise as potential future champions.

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The Northern Echo: Wes Fagan with Torin and Ailish Wes Fagan with Torin and Ailish (Image: Northern Echo)

Wes, now 41, from Dipton, became interested in martial arts aged ten after watching stars such as Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris and Jean Claude Van Damme on video.

He started off in ju jitsu but took up kickboxing five years later.

He started his own club, North East Kickboxing Academy, in 2009 after realising he had taken the sport as far as he could as a competitor.

Now, three times a week, he trains young people for the belts he once won himself.

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That includes, Torin and Ailish, who are both pupils of St Patrick’s School in Flinthill, near Stanley, who took their first competitive steps this year.

Torin won a silver medal at the South Tyneside Open competition in April winning two out of three fights.

Ailish stepped into the ring in November and won both fights at a competition in Middlesbrough.

Wes said: “I was so proud of them.

“Both were brilliant in all their contests, showing real skill and natural kickboxing movement.

“Torin was only seven at the time fighting, in with nine-year-olds so to win a silver medal and two fights was outstanding.

“I was nervous but confident at the same time seeing them compete because I see them in all sports training hard and they both enjoy doing it.

“They were buzzing getting a medal.”

The Northern Echo: Wes Fagan with Torin and Ailish Wes Fagan with Torin and Ailish (Image: Northern Echo)

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Wes, who has been the subject of a documentary film, Alive and Kicking, would now like to see kickboxing competitions in the Olympics.

He said: “Kickboxing is a great life lesson for all kids, great for the discipline and their work ethic.

“Who knows, in ten years time when kickboxing is well established within the Olympics, then they maybe they will be flying the flag for Britain on the glory trail for a gold medal.”