Martial arts ace receives prestigious award

Michael Jackson’s former bodyguard, Matt Fiddes, a 7th degree black belt, who runs martial arts schools in Exeter, has received a prestigious martial arts award and has been inducted into the Martial Arts Hall of Fame.

Fiddes, 35, is the youngest person to ever have been awarded a Martial Arts Superstar award currently run by the renowned magazine, Martial Arts Illustrated.

Previous winners of similar awards include legends Bruce Lee, Jean Claude Van Damme and Chuck Norris.

Fiddes took to the stage alongside Expendables actor, Scott Adkins and Elvis Presley’s former karate trainer, Bill ‘Superfoot’ Wallace, who were also presented with the Hall of Fame’s Martial Arts Superstar award. The Hall of Fame is seen to be the ‘Hollywood Stars’ of the martial arts industry.

The Martial Arts Superstar award is the most honourable award in the industry, and is recognised world-wide. The award is sanctioned by a committee headed by co-organiser Paul Barnett.

Matt Fiddes, and his close friend Uri Geller, convinced Michael Jackson to attend St James' Park to raise money for children suffering with Aids in 2002.

Fiddes said he was unaware that he was being given the award. He commented: “It is such an honour to receive such a prestigious martial arts award. I’m over the moon!”

The awards were presented to Matt Fiddes, Scott Adkins and Bill Wallace by Bob Sykes, editor of Martial Arts Illustrated at the superstar lined, invite-only event, at the National Brewery Centre, on 18 May 2014.

450 people attended the event.

Bob Sykes, editor of Martial Arts Illustrated said: “It was honour to present Matt Fiddes with the Martial Arts Superstar award and induct him into the martial arts Hall of Fame. He is the most well known martial artist in the UK without doubt.

“His presence at the event was well received and it was amazing to see the other martial arts stars and legends from past and present mobbing him for pictures all night. He was a gentleman and gave everyone time.

“As editor of the biggest martial arts publication in the world I get asked more questions about Matt Fiddes these days than Bruce Lee. He does so much for people behind the scenes that he never speaks about. He is an amazing martial artist and is leading the industry.

“It was such an honour to be on stage with three living legends.”

Fiddes has six martial arts schools in Exeter, and has been teaching with local franchise owner, Ian Hooper for years.