Little man with a big kick

3:38pm Thursday 8th February 2007

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THAI boxing coach and anti-bullying campaigner Sandy Holt is to appear in a documentary about high-achieving small people.

Sandy, who runs Bolton Thai Boxing Club, is 5ft 6ins tall and will appear in the Channel Five documentary, The Size of the Man.

The documentary follows people who have overcome adversity in their life due to their size and gone on to achieve great things.

Sandy, who was bullied as a child because he was so little, became a professional kick boxer and opened one of the first Thai kick boxing schools in the country.

He turned to kickboxing as a way to increase his confidence and self esteem.

"Sometimes when you are small you have more to prove. I was bullied at school because I was small and that really hurt. But it made me focus and I now I visit schools to try and get the anti-bullying message across," said Sandy, from Deane.

Last year Sandy visited pupils at Masefield Primary School, in Little Lever, to give a martial arts demonstration and speak to pupils about the different ways of dealing with bullying.

He added: "The most important thing is to tell somebody what is happening to you - either a teacher or your parents - and get help. Thai boxing is a great way to build up your self esteem and learn how to protect yourself."

The Size of the Man is due to be shown later this year.

For further information about Bolton Thai Boxing Club call 01204 395807.