A BLACKBELT martial arts expert is to compete on the national stage as he pursues his Olympic dream.
Undefeated in the past two years, student Max Ebbage will compete at the Olympic Park in London in the Taekwondo National Championships.
Incredibly, Max, who goes to Trinity Academy, in Thorne, has been practising the Korean martial art for the past eight years even though he is still only 11, after being encouraged by his mum and inspired by his grandfather Gordon Anderson.
His bouts have taken him all over Europe, including Belgium and Holland, and he hopes to join the GB development squad next year when he turns 12.
A member of All Stars Taekwondo, Doncaster, Max fights in the 48kg category and has been a black belt for three years. He trains three times a week and competes most weekends.
He has met Team GB Olympians Jade Jones and Damon Sansum, who both encouraged him in his endeavours.
“I’m unbeaten in two years and feel I am fighting better than ever,” he said. “My strengths are my reach and power and I’m aiming for the 2024 Olympics.”
Max’s tutor Gerard Dixie said: “Max is incredibly focussed and genuinely talented, as his fight record so far proves. I have every confidence in him continuing his development and achieving his dream of Olympic glory.”
