A winning combination for Autism Awareness. Adam & Ayub Mumin interview Professional Welterweight Boxer Sajid Abid

In today's Fighting For Autism blog,  two young and inspiring brothers with a love for boxing have accepted our challenge to interview someone from the sport or martial art that they take part in or that they are passionate about.

Fighting For Autism has been so incredibly fortunate to have some amazing ambassadors and gyms from the boxing community have actively become involved in helping us to raise some much needed autism awareness around the globe but also strive for inclusion and acceptance for those living with autism, at the beginning of the COVID 19 lock down period in the UK some of our junior ambassadors, coach ambassadors and fighter ambassadors were put through an online training session with former W.B.C world champion, Olympic and Commonwealth games medallist Wayne "Pocket Rocket"McCullough,  where Wayne put everyone through their paces and took time to show the medals and belts hes won over his illustrious career and then answered questions at the end, the session featured people of all abilities including some who are on the autistic spectrum, again a massive "Thank You" to Wayne and Cheryl McCullough for being absolutely amazing, everyone had a fantastic time.     

The video of the workout can be found on YouTube at the following link.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=3GdrTyaZom4&feature=youtu.be

Allow us to introduce Adam and Ayub Mumin, to say these two rather amazing young gentlemen are interested in boxing would be an understatement, boxing also strengthens their brotherly bond and allows the traits to shine through that makes them champions in their own right.

Adam is a superstar of the autistic spectrum and despite the challenges he faces with the loving support of his family, his love of boxing and some gentle encouragement from Ayub, Adam is going from strength to strength. 

To say the Mumin family are boxing fans would be an understatement, with both Adam and Ayub's Instagram accounts featuring them practising their boxing skills, but also sharing important messages on initiatives like knives down, hands up which aims to combat knife crime show wisdom beyond their years and the champion mindset they have,  the bond that they have is a amazing to watch.        (Although everyone at Fighting For Autism is a bit envious of Ayub having his picture taken with boxing royalty and three weight world boxing champion Vasiliy Lomachenko)

The rather remarkable Adam Mumin

We asked Adam and Ayub if they would like to interview  professional welterweight boxer and Fighting For Autism Fighter Ambassador Sajid Abid.

 

Sajid Abid is a professional welterweight boxer, who trains and fights out of Gym City Boxing in Derby, United Kingdom with an impressive 9-1-0 professional record to his name, he is renowned for his pace, work rate  and endurance when he competes.

Sajid has been amazing in helping to raise autism awareness and acceptance, Sajid himself offered assistance to young gentleman named Daniel who is on the autistic spectrum, Daniel had been subjected to some pretty nasty bullying that made the attention of the local newspapers where Sajid lives.

Not only did Sajid offer a hand in friendship to Daniel, he also offered him the chance to come and try his hand at boxing, which gave the chance for Daniel to rebuild confidence, get healthy, make new friends as well as learn some boxing skills too.

Adam and Ayub Interview Professional Welterweight Boxer Sajid Abid

  Introducing today's interviewers Ayub and Adam Mumin

 Ayub asks - How long have you been boxing?

" I've been boxing since the age of 12! Only took it seriously when i was 19, turned pro at 20 and now I'm here as a professional with 10 fights at 26 years old".

Ayub asks - What got you into boxing?

"I wasn't ever the most confident or fittest but I loved my sport!my asthma use to play up a lot so i found my ability was hindered. So i decided to go into boxing with the help of my uncle to try battle that and its been the best thing ever for me".

Ayub asks - How much do you train?

"I train twice a day. Morning strength and condition and evening boxing work followed by a run".

 Sajid Abid in competition

Adam asks - Whats your favourite punch in boxing?

"My fave punch has to be a right uppercut, love the feeling when you catch a sweet connection"!

Adam asks- Who is your favourite boxer?

"My fave boxer is Mohammed Ali. The man, the legend, the greatest"!

Adam asks- What dream fight would you like to see?

"My dream fight would be to watch Goku fight Superman, I love my anime and superheros haha! But boxing wise... being able to watch any of Mohammed Ali's fight live would be a dream."

On behalf of everyone at Fighting For Autism, we wanted to say a massive "Thank You" to Sajid  for taking part in this interview and also to Adam and Ayub Mumin and their family.

You can follow Sajid on his Instagram account at  www.Instagram.com/sajidabid 

If you would like to share a positive story from the autistic spectrum, or perhaps you'd like to find out more about autism, please get in touch  at www.fightingforautismeurope.org.

#DareToBeDifferent #ShineThroughTheSpectrum #AutismAwarenessAndAcceptance

Fighting For Autism. Coaches and Clubs join in the Fight for some much needed Awareness

 

One of the most amazing things has begun to develop over the past few months with Fighting For Autism, we are starting to work together with many martial arts and boxing clubs from around the world in a bid to raise Autism Awareness together, the response has been phenomenal, each of them has been so supportive and truly embraced the message of what awareness is all about, and the exciting news is that many more are stepping forward to embrace the challenge and their open hearts and minds in welcoming some amazing youngsters and adults on the Autistic Spectrum to their clubs, with some looking into running Autism Friendly classes and others already doing so.......how cool is that?

 

Pete Holmes,Ross Hanratty, Aaron Stevens, Cesar Silva, Chris Jones, Simon Martinelli, Christy Dunne, Danielle Joyce, Tony Bailey, Joe Worden, Rodney Moore, Pete Lavery, Neil Kirkland, Damien Mulgrave, Deano Wade, Andy Ryan, Tom Lamont, James Mulroy, Alfie Lewis, Sean Davitt, Walton Hart, Mark Spence,Mark Epstein, Stewart Francis, Steve Lloyd, Karl Butcher,Jason McCabe, Tony Pillage, Chris Brown, Paul Bentley, Lucci Del Gaudio, Kain Royer, Gaz Collins



Each affiliate club has had a set of Autism factsheets that are designed to take a lot of the jargon away and concentrate on getting everyone actively informed about understanding a bit more about Autism, each and every coach and club we have asked has been absolutely phenomenal in their response, and equally so have their students.

Fighting For Autism have had the privilege of talking to some amazing people involved in Martial Arts that either have a good understanding or are very keen to learn about autism, one of each journey is different although you hope to all get to the same destination.

Each person is different and learns at their own pace, one of the amazing things that we have been so fortunate to be able to tell are the success stories of people who have overcome adversity and despite their diagnosis have blossomed through Martial Arts or Boxing, not just as martial artists or boxers but have improved both academically and socially as well, from a personal level and as a Dad to a child on the spectrum it leaves you speechless at seeing how powerful that message is, not just to those on the Autistic Spectrum but to their families and loved ones too.

The Ambassador and club programme that Fighting For Autism has, includes professional athletes, Martial arts and boxing clubs, coaches, junior ambassadors and promotions affiliates all working to raise Autism Awareness Together.

Can Martial arts or Boxing make that much of a difference? 101% yes, not just through the training of these disciplines, but importantly the message that is portrayed through them, these clubs are where role models and champions are made, strangely enough the response from the martial arts and boxing communities has been incredible, sadly politicians aren’t so quick to take up the invitation.

 

 

The message of Martial arts and boxing as well as the fantastic clubs and people that teach them, from a parents view it gave me hope that for my sons future there are people out their willing to go the extra mile to bring the best out of someone (my son is severely autistic, seeing first hand a coach have the patience go over a basic technique with a Lightsabre which was made fun and easy to understand, until my son felt confident in it, and standing and watching my little boy interact with another child and laugh while he did it, Pete Holmes, Beth Holmes, Steve Lloyd, Alan Apsden and Karl Butcher from Immortal 365 in Peterborough, I never got the chance to say Thank You from the bottom of my heart I am doing that now.)

 

 

 

 

 

Matthew under the watchful eye of Immortal 365  Instructor Alan Apsden

Immortal 365 have gone on to make the light sabre classes at their club a permanent fixture at their club in Peterborough UK, where 5 of the class are on the Autistic Spectrum, the classes have proved so successful that the parents ( I mean Dad’s) have asked for a class of their own.
Immortal 365 have also gone on to host their very own Fighting For Autism Seminar, that saw different martial arts instructors from around the United Kingdom raise their hand in wanting to help raise awareness and also get their students involved too.
Also seeing coach/fighter ambassador Paul Bentley and Cut man Ambassador Steve Riley start their very own Autism Friendly classes at FPTS in Liverpool this past weekend.

also Chris Jones, a Martial Arts Instructor and Coach Ambassador  from Knaresborough, United Kingdom was sent an amazing message from the parent of one his students whose son is progressing in so many different ways, these are the positives that people want to hear, and why its an absolute privilege to write about, such awe inspiring people who are actively making a difference.

 

The success stories are becoming more and more frequent, with amazing clubs stepping forward to enlighten there students about the autistic spectrum, Fighting For Autism has developed a Junior Ambassador scheme which has seen  nearly 30 youngsters from around the globe, from a multitude of different backgrounds, some are on the Autistic spectrum and are thriving through boxing or martial arts, others are pulling out all the stops to raise as much awareness as they possibly can.

Each individual in this picture is on varying levels of the autistic spectrum, and each one of them is an Ambassador for Fighting For Autism, some are starting their journey in their chosen sport, some have become not only established but are respective Champions 

 We truly believe to Fight for Autism, you have to include those on the spectrum,  these amazing people along with so many others are raising their hand to volunteer in making a brighter day for others, and inspiring them to try something new, make a new friend and also help people to understand what Autism is.

 

 

Fighting For Autism Fighter Ambassador Lewis “Twitch” Daykin a boxer and Muay Thai fighter who trains out of Ludus Magnus and our friends at Almighty Fighting Championship, carried out a fundraiser at an event, that funded 27 Junior Ambassadors from around the globe with their own Fighting For Autism hoody and either a Gi Patch or a baseball cap, Lewis who is on the Autistic spectrum himself and is inspiring as they come is one of so many success stories not just as a competitor in his chosen sport, but has gone on to become a much loved coach and as a gentleman always wears his heart on his sleeve, which is an amazing quality to have.

The Junior Ambassadors are future champions in their respective disciplines from around the world who through martial arts are raising Autism Awareness with Fighting For Autism from the mats, these amazing youngsters know a thing or two about Autism as they are either on the autistic spectrum themselves or have a close family member or friend who is on the Autistic Spectrum, in the UK alone 9 of the the 10 junior ambassadors are on the spectrum themselves and are actively competing in either a martial art or boxing, with the 10^th having a sibling on the spectrum and truly wants to raise awareness, to say we are proud of each and every Ambassador we have would be an understatement, we cannot thank Lewis, as well as Steve and Ray from Almighty Fighting Championship as without them this would never have been possible.

 

We wanted to say a very special Thank you to each and every Ambassador that has raised their hand to become a Voice for the Voiceless, and encourages those to dare to be different and to live without labels, these are the very people that make Fighting For Autism what it is, around the globe a collection of amazing people who it is a privilege to write about.

 Over the past few years since Christian Mitchell set up Fighting For Autism in Australia, the response from clubs and coaches is often hard to put into words, particularly when you are the parent of a child on the spectrum, the number of top athletes, coaches and clubs from around the world that are working together with Fighting For Autism to raise as much autism awareness as possible is humbling and heart warming, and for that to each and every person who has done so much, to everyone who reads these blogs, or likes a facebook status, Instagram post or Retweets a Tweet, We Thank you all as you are the ones that make the positive change to people and bring the very best out of them. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fighting For Autism- Paddy "The Baddy Pimblett" Helping to raise Autism awareness through Mixed Martial Arts

Patrick "Paddy The Baddy" Pimblett is a Champion Mixed Martial Artist and who fights for Cagewarriors Mixed Martial Arts promotion.

The awe inspiring performance's being displayed in the cage by the Lightweight fighting out of Next Generation Mixed Martial Arts in Liverpool are touting Paddy to be one of the shining stars on their way to world stardom in the sport, and has definitely gone on to seen him as one of the hottest properties of Mixed Martial arts in Europe, This gentleman has the ingredients of being a truly remarkable fighter.
Paddy who started his Professional Mixed Martial Arts Career in 2012, and has 11 Wins with his last bout seeing him crowned as The Cage Warriors World Champion at his home city of Liverpool on what was an electrifying evening, along with team mate Chris Fishgold who was making the first defence of his Cage Warriors Title as well ,both train with the widely respected and renowned Next Generation MMA Gym in Liverpool under the guidance of coach Paul Rimmer.

 

Paddy's performances outside of the cage are also becoming the stuff of legend, this is a gifted young fighter who is extremely vocal and defensive of his home city Liverpool and is becoming recognised as a fan friendly fighter, who always goes the extra mile to put a smile on someone else's face.
The team around him are like a family, they train together, eat together and socialise together it really is a fantastic thing to see, as each one brings the other on to the next level, I've been privileged enough to be in their company and are among some of the nicest people I've met in Mixed Martial Arts.

Next Generation Gym currently has Chris Fishgold and Paddy Pimblett as Cagewarriors Champions, and Molly McCann-Pearson who also is alumni from Next Generation and also trains with the widely respected Ippon Gym in Bournmouth is also Champion with Shock n Awe Mixed Martial Arts.
All 3 of these amazing martial artists along with so many other across the globe have become Fighting For Autism Ambassadors, and the amount of positive feedback has been incredible, from parents/carers to a loved one on the Spectrum, but also from people on the Spectrum themselves who are beginning to find their voice and confidence, getting parents to talk about Autism can be quite hard, especially with the males, but when Martial Arts are used as an ice breaker, people are beginning to open up, share experiences  and begin to investigate what Autism is, this is also the trend with youngsters who see a role model speaking about Autism and will investigate what is meant by the word Autism.
And people are beginning to come forward, a huge amount of people who have an interest or who are martial artists have a link to someone on the Autistic Spectrum.

Paddy is also a Fighting For Autism Fighter Ambassador, who together with Fighting For Autism is assisting in raising Autism Awareness from the Mats, Paddy was also the first Ambassadors to nominate one of his students as a Junior Ambassador a superstar in the making called Connor Orford, who's influence and friendship has brought Connor on in leaps and bounds over the past few months.
Connor who is on the Autistic Spectrum is thriving through the sessions with Paddy, and this is now a gentleman who cannot wait to get to class to train and in our view Connor is very much a champion in the making too.
We issued Connor a top secret mission to present Paddy with his very own personalised Fighting For Autism Cap, and Connor passed the test with flying colours. as the pictures shows.

Paddy and Cage Warriors Owner/ President Graham Boylan  in September placed a bet with Paddy Power Bookmakers for Paddy to beat UFC champion Connor McGregor by the year 2020, the bet in itself was massive, to which we are so grateful and to which we can only ever say thank to you Graham Paddy Power Power book makers

 and then this morning Paddy put up on his Instagram feed that he had put up tickets for auction for his upcoming bout, these tickets are not for sale to the general public, with the proceeds going to Fighting For Autism...

Paddy we will never forget the kindness and generosity you have shown towards us, that makes you every part of the champion both in the cage and in life itself, we can never thank you and everyone at Next Generation MMA enough and we wanted to say a special Thank You to you all and Graham Boylan from Cage warriors too.

Fighting For Autism Ambassadors, clubs and promotions around the world are very much the driving force behind making a brighter day to so many people on the Autistic Spectrum and their families too,  they are becoming the Voice for The Voiceless, collectively working alongside clubs and coaches we are being able to make students aware of what Autism is, and also working to wards creating autism friendly classes around the word, as well as being to highlight success stories of Athletes on the spectrum and raise some much needed Autism Awareness, we wouldn't be able to do what we do without these amazing people.

Paddy can be followed on Twitter www.twitter.com/PatrickPimblett
or over on  Instagram  www.Instagram.com/PaddyTheBaddy



Children on the Autistic Spectrum are more likely to suffer from being bullied.
No two people on The Autistic Spectrum are the same and the symptoms of each particular persons Autism differ often massively.
Autism is one of the fastest growing developmental disorders but is the most underfunded.
If the Statistic of 1 in 100 is on the Autistic Spectrum in the UK is to be believed ( we believe it is more than 1 in 100 and more in line with the USA statistic of 1 in 68) , and the population in the UK is 65,000,000 that means that 650,000 people reside in the UK who are on the Spectrum-enough to fill Wembley Stadium 7 times over.
For more facts on Autism please check out our website www.fightingforautism.com

we can be found on twitter  www.Twitter.com/FightForAutism and over on Instagram too www.Instagram.com/FightForAutism and Facebook www.Facebook.com/FightingForAutism