Wrestling champion opens school for kids

EDDIE OPENS ACADEMY TO TRAIN NEXT GENERATION

- WILLIAM TELFORD

PLYMOUTH has a new school - for wrestlers.

Wrestling champion Eddie Ryan has opened a training college in his home city and aims to produce the next generation of grapplers.

The Lions Den Pro training school only opened last year but already it is proving a forearm smash hit and head trainer Mr Ryan, a 19-time heavyweight title winner, is already planning a huge expansion.

Next month he will relocate the ring and equipment to an even larger room at the business units in Harbour Avenue, Camels Head, and he has plans to extend the training starting children's classes too - and to even begin staging full-on wrestling shows in venues around Plymouth.

Mr Ryan, who has wrestled professionally on TV and for the USA's famous WWE NXT, said Lions Den Pro already has 30 members spread across classes from beginner to advanced, and even a "wrestle well" session to boost people's mental health.

The academy is open every evening from Monday to Friday and equipped with a 16ft professional sprung and padded ring, plus matting, fitness equipment and a TV to deconstruct classic wrestling bouts.

"From April we will have a kids' class in the bigger unit, probably for eight- to 13-year-olds," said Mr Ryan. "The younger you start the more chance you have of success."

Ryan trains the slammers along with coaches Josh Knott and Jake Phillips. He said the academy is one of only two in Plymouth - and they are the only ones in the entire South West.