KHOVAN Hussein is going from strength to strength in martial arts – the sport that changed his life!

The 19-year-old from Dallam is passionate about Brazilian jiu-jitsu and continues to grow his reputation in the sport after winning two competitions over the past few weeks at ticketed events.

Khovan, who attends Ascent College at Wargrave House specialist autism school in Newton, triumphed at Grapplewars in Llandudno which was followed a week later by his success at an invitational competition in Liverpool.

The eight-minute super fight on the main card in North Wales lasted only 3mins 34secs thanks to Khovan, who has nicknamed himself ‘The Autistic Grappler’, forcing his previously undefeated opponent into submission by inside heel hook.

And then in Liverpool Khovan defeated his opponent by heel hook in less than two minutes.

His mum Shireen said: “I am so proud of how far he keeps coming on. He’s making everyone who knows him so proud!”

Khovan currently trains in jiu-jitsu six days a week and has started to train in MMA weekly. These sessions are at the Game Fight club in Manchester and Hardwire Fitness and MMA in Latchford.

He won the Rotary Clubs National Young Citizen Sports Hero Award in 2022 and then in March he took home the Sportsperson of the Year prize at the Warrington Guardian Inspiration Awards.

Khovan’s previously spoken about how he has ‘overcome disabilities’ and ‘worked hard’ to get where he is today.

He was diagnosed with autism when he was two years old, and then at the age of six he was told he had ADHD and then Tourette’s at 17.

When he was 15 he turned his ‘obsession’ with WWE into a passion for Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Before then he struggled to socialise and communicate with people.

So he acknowledges that taking up martial arts has changed his life, showing that no matter what your troubles sport will help you find a way through.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Khovan was told he needed to shield so he decided to film short exercise videos to send to his teacher and fellow students to keep fit while the country was in lockdown.

The nomination for Khovan’s Inspiration Awards success revealed how he became an assistant coach for martial arts at college and secured a gym placement, where he comes up with circuit plans for gym-goers.

When he started his Brazilian jiu-jitsu classes his confidence grew and he started to communicate with other people, socialising in class and at home.

As his confidence grew so did his desire to compete in the sport and he has won gold, silver and bronze medals across the UK, fighting hard against his own anxieties as well as challenging sensory stimuli.

When Khovan received his Inspiration Award he said: “I’ve worked hard to get where I am.

“My disabilities held me back more than others but my mum and the rest of my family helped and made things much easier.”