An 18-year-old kickboxer from Mitcham has been put forward for a Sporting Achievement Award.

At the age of five, Anthony Bravo was introduced by his parents to the martial arts club, Holistic Fitness Studios in Wimbledon and he has not looked back, writes Joel Weller.

Now Mr Bravo is a paid martial arts teacher, a volunteer assistant and has won British and European titles in kick boxing.

While studying Sport Science qualifications for two years at Carshalton College, Mr Bravo, who lives in Mitcham, has dedicated a great amount of time into his passion.

This year alone he has won six British and European championships from two of the governing bodies for kickboxing, WAKO and Cimac.

The teenager also works full-time at Better Gym in Morden and in Epsom.

Mr Bravo paid tribute to the help he had received over the years from his family, friends and instructors including sponsoring him to travel across the country to compete.

He aspires to continue to teach and inspire young people about martial arts and said that picking up a sport will “help you through hard times.”

He added: “Training, competing, winning and losing is all part of it.”

Mr Bravo was nominated by Dickie Wilkinson, who said: "Anthony has made his own success and is an exemplary sportsman, and an inspiration to old and young."

Nominate someone by voting online at www.wimbledonguardian.co.uk/mca or fill out a form in the Wimbledon Guardian newspaper