A RENFREW schoolboy has become one of the world’s top martial arts exponents at the tender age of nine.

Max Davis won gold in his age group at the Taekwondo World Championships, in Linwood, last November, as well as bronze at the kickboxing equivalent in Killarney, Ireland, the previous month.

He also hopes to compete in this year’s Taekwondo World Championships and aims to retain his title.

Despite being only 4ft 5ins tall and weighing less than five stone, Max competes against boys as old as 17 in some competitions.

The Gazette: Max Davis is helping to put Renfrew on the sporting mapMax Davis is helping to put Renfrew on the sporting map (Image: Newsquest)

He is due to fly out to Florida in October with the Scottish team to compete at the Kickboxing World Championships, where he hopes to win gold.

Before then, his first major contest of the year will be in June, when he competes at the European Taekwondo Championships, in Belfast.

As well as enjoying martial arts, the Newmains Primary pupil plays in midfield for Renfrew Victoria YFC and is a keen swimmer.

Firefighter dad Scott, 43, who is based at Renfrew Fire Station, said his son trains seven days a week.

The Gazette: Max with firefighter dad ScottMax with firefighter dad Scott (Image: Newsquest)

“Max is very careful with his diet, eats all the right foods, no rubbish, and doesn’t take any fizzy drinks – only water, milk or fruit juices,” he added.

“He has been doing martial arts since he was three and seems to have natural ability.

“I chose taekwondo and kickboxing for him because these teach good habits, self-defence and ‘stranger danger’ awareness.

“They are also very sociable sports and Max has made a lot of good friends.”

The Gazette: Max on the podium at the Taekwondo World ChampionshipsMax on the podium at the Taekwondo World Championships (Image: Newsquest)

Max recently competed in kickboxing at the English Open, in Manchester, where he finished in the top eight, and is due to compete in the Scottish Open equivalent at Braehead, in Renfrew.

Both taekwondo and kickboxing are amateur sports and the cost of competing, travel and training is paid for by Scott and mum Andrea Synnott, 44, who is a hairdresser in the town.

Scott added: “There are no grants or funding and the onus is on the parents to pay for everything.”

The proud dad also paid tribute to Robert McCallum, who is Max’s kickboxing coach, and his taekwondo coaches Paul Dylan, Steven Murphy and Andrew Wilson.

Scott said: “They have all played their part in Max’s success, which has been amazing to date.”