Olympic kickboxing dream for Telford's Jayden Windsor, 7

But despite weighing in at about 22kgs and only taking the sport seriously for about 12 months he was today travelling to Spain for the European Kickboxing Championships – just a few weeks after securing a world crown in Florida.

Jayden, from Dawley, has flourished after initially being a little reluctant to try the sport.

He is following the footsteps of his mother Joanne, who has been kickboxing for 18 years and runs JBS Martial Arts academy in the town.

Jayden said he dreams of performing in the Olympics and is hoping the Games will adopt kickboxing into its itinerary by the time he is old enough to compete.

Joanne, 29, said: "It's his ultimate dream."

She said it had been about a year since Jayden managed to get over problems with his confidence and stopped just running off the mat as soon as a fight began.

But in the time since, he has become British champion, and has managed to take the world title in a championship in Orlando, Florida.

The Old Park Primary school pupil really took to kickboxing when Joanne opened her academy, JBS Martial Arts, on Heath Hill Industrial Estate in Dawley.

She said: "I took him to a few clubs beforehand, but he was always quite shy. He lacked the confidence to try new things, but he's definitely getting better at that.

"I've been kickboxing for 18 years, and I've always thought he was a natural talent. Because I train him, I make sure he's putting the effort in as well.

"He's also helping to teach the three to five-year-old classes alongside me. He'll fill my boots, when he's older, with teaching.

"The younger children look up to him because of what he's achieved. They want to be just like him.

"At first we did it as a bit of fun for him and when he started competing it was very hit or miss. He'd step onto the mat and walk straight off and refuse to do anything. It just took the one time to realise he was good at it and he just went from there. He used to be a nightmare."

"I always knew he had a talent. It makes me really proud how far he has come."

In September, Jayden travelled to Orlando, Florida to take part in the WKU world championships.

He returned with a number of awards, including third place in the England team event, second place in full contact k1 and second place in points fighting. He was named World Champion in light continuous.

Joanne said: "We're all so proud of him.

"It's not just the trophy though, it's the trip over there as well.

"He took part in seven fights altogether, and he won all seven.

"He just pushed his way through it. There were a few challenges, but it's different counties. They've all gone there to win. He had to work really hard to get to what he got."

Jayden regularly takes place in full contact bouts, but Joanne said she isn't worried.

With her experience fighting, she knows what her seven-year-old should expect.

She said: "I'm not like a normal parent. I know what it's like to be in the ring.

"If I was a new parent watching for the first time, I'd be anxious, but I've been there doing it myself.

"I know what to expect from a fight. You've got to take the bad with the good. I know that one day he's going to get a bit of a kicking, and I know that he'll learn from it.

"He knows that when he loses, the person who he loses to is going to make him better."

Although Jayden represents his country when he plays abroad, the family have to find the funds to send him.

Joanne said: "I would never take that opportunity off him. Even if I had to go without food for a week, he'd come first.

"You just have to do it. You cut things out so your child can do what they want to do. As parents you go without so your child can do things."

Today,, they are heading off to Spain for the European kickboxing championships. Jayden could also become European champion.

And after that he'll keep on training with the aim of one day making his way to the Olympics.

But for the time being he'll be defending his titles and working to improve.

Joanne said: "He's got a fair few local competitions coming up, but next year his calender is full. We've got a few trips abroad next year as well.

"He's got to defend his title next year and that will be his main challenge. He'll want to defend his title.

"He has said that one day he'd like to fight in the Olympics, but kickboxing isn't currently a sport there. But that's his ultimate dream."