Workington martial artist Pat Carr has achieved a 20-year-old dream – after being awarded his 3rd Dan in jiu-jitsu.

The 43-year-old was inspired by his instructor Trevor Cunningham at a young age.

After watching Cunningham, a 3rd Dan himself at the time, he set himself a goal, that he too would achieve that accolade.

“I can remember watching him and he turned everyone’s heads, he was just phenomenal at every move,” said Carr, now an instructor at Cunningham’s Tapout Knockout Club.

“So to get my own 3rd Dan was quite an emotional thing for me.

“I texted Trevor afterwards saying ‘I’m truly grateful for my chance to become a 3rd Dan as the first time of seeing one was yourself.

“A person that turned everyone’s head every time you demonstrated any move, the person I had been waiting for my whole life to teach me.

“You have made me everything I ever dreamed of and more'.”

The father-of-five has now introduced some of his own children to the sport as well after teaching youngsters and adults since he was a green belt himself.

Carr began his martial arts career with kickboxing from an early age, being introduced to the sport by an instructor at the Sea Cadets, then he went into jiu-jitsu and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

He has won three world titles, plus five British and international titles.

Added to that, he has three medals from the World Martial Arts Games and many more over a long and varied career.

Carr has also suffered a number of injuries throughout his time but that has never turned him away from his goal.

“I broke my arm in a fight but had to carry on for three-and-a-half minutes,” he recalled.

“And I broke my ribs once and fought on for five minutes to win the fight.”

Carr was unaware he was about to go through the rigorous testing required for his 3rd Dan on the day he passed.

The volunteer lifeboatman was helping the lads who were training for their black belt and was unaware he was also being watched.

“I wasn’t expecting anything else and then I was put on the spot,” he laughed.

“But it is a build up of taking classes, and how you teach moves, training someone up to black belt, and how you demonstrate techniques, as well as knowledge of moves and the discipline.

“I was just so pleased, a really emotional day.”