Ex-karate world champ Aisa Adjaj trains his son to follow in his footsteps

Originally from Algeria, Aisa Adjaj arrived in the UK in the early nineties as an established international karate competitor but in London he went on to win the world title in 2008, the European title in 2018 as well as three British titles.

The 5th Dan karate Shotokan exponent is now hoping to lead his eldest son Yacine to international glory, in a different discipline though.

The 18 year-old student also hopes to obtain a degree in sports science, but has had to put his immediate plans on hold because of the coronavirus lockdown in the UK capital.

Yacine has already climbed to third Dan level in karate Shotokan, but has opted to go into MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) competition, having already won one fight and drawn another.

Father and son have found a way to keep their training going despite the current restrictions - they hone their skills and spar in their back garden and take other exercise in their local park.

Yacine has some way to go before reaching the heights his father achieved in sport however - Aisa is still able to demonstrate he can put his son on the floor.