He might be small, but he packs a punch – or kick.
Aidan Lennan is a black belt kick boxer and has his sights set on big things.
The 10-year-old from Inverness is aiming to reach the top and become the world’s number one this year.
Aidan currently holds an array of accolades including WKA Scottish Champion, WKA British Champion and WAKO Junior European Champion, however his dream is to win the world title at the WKA World Championships in Italy in October.
Training four nights a week with Raijin Martial Arts Club, Aidan has a gruelling programme of competitions coming up including the European championships, the Scottish championships and the British championships in May.
Aidan’s mother Diane admits the cost of success does mount up as her son goes from “strength to strength” and is continuing to fundraise and appeal for additional support.
She said: “It’s really tough because it does cost. We calculated up the cost of all the competitions we went to leading up to the World Championships in 2016, plus travel to seminars with Michael Venom Page, the MMR fighter. He has done kick boxing with American kick boxer Jadi Tention and one of the biggest guys in Britain Chris Aston. They all cost lots of money, as it’s all the food, fuel, the hotel stays so we reckon we spent about £10,000.”
“We have a competition next Saturday down in Perth for the WKA Scottish Championships, so if he medals there he will qualify for the world championships, which again will be held in Italy. He would love to be able to go back this year and get the world champion title.
As well as having dreams of winning the title of world champion, he also wants to compete in the Olympics as a member of the GB team – an accolade he may achieve if he wins the WKA British championships in Birmingham.
Aidan said: “I would feel really good to go back to the World Championships. I enjoy the training as it’s fun and it keeps me fit.”
Mrs Lennan says her husband Ricky and Aidan’s little brother Ciaran, seven, are all immensely proud of what he has achieved.
Mrs Lennan added: “We are really really proud of him because he just loves his sport. Kick boxing is his life.
“It would mean the world. It’s not just about kickboxing it’s about the club as a whole, they are like a family. They are all the best of friends. He loves being a team and going to competitions.”
