Dunfermline Press | Sport | Scott’s world titles were a Shaw thing

Tuesday, 6th January, 2009

Published: Thursday, 30th November, 2006 12:00

Scott’s world titles were a Shaw thing

By Sports Desk

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Pic by: Dunfermline Press

AS a boy, Scott Shaw wanted to be Bruce Lee.

He’d watch all his films, hoping one day he could emulate the Kung Fu master.

Now, a decade on, he’s living the dream after returning from the martial arts world championships in Malta with two world titles under his belt.

Scott (21), of Lauren Street, Kelty, struck gold in Kung Fu categories Chinese forms and continuous fighting under 85 kilos out in Malta.

He’s described Bruce Lee as his “religion” and Scott told Press Sport, “I always watched the Bruce Lee films and really enjoyed them and I wanted to be like Bruce Lee really.

“Just having the physical ability and the skills he possessed. Then I found out there was a club in Dunfermline at the Carnegie Leisure Centre where I could do Kung Fu and I’ve been going there five years now.”

Scott won the men’s continuous sparring (advanced) title at under-85 kilos at the Scottish Martial Arts Championships 14 months ago and was then runner-up at the Europeans a year ago in Worcester.

“I was pretty confident and was really happy when I won,” he said.

“I’ve been refining it since Worcester and I’ve been practising at the club.”

Scott, who’s a member of the Great Britain squad, was one of just three Scots in a Brit contingent of around 200 at the championships and the only competitor from north of the border to win anything.

Chinese forms is non-contact and sees competitors simulating moves made when under attack and then counter-attacking.

“I have always enjoyed doing that form and I seem to pretty much win everything I do with that form,” Scott explained.

Continuous fighting is contested over two-minute rounds and involves kicks and punches above the opponent’s waist.

“It’s a war but my fitness was really high as I’ve been training since September up to three times a day. It’s the fittest I’ve ever been.”

After making his way through the rounds, Scott won the final on points against his English opponent.

“It’s not completely sunk in yet that I’ve won two world titles but it probably will in another week or so,” he said.

Now Scott, who has just completed a degree in sport and exercise science at Napier University, is considering switching to mixed martial arts, which is a more physically punishing discipline.

“It’s something I’ve always been interested in and I’m thinking about it,” he concluded.