Karate kid Adam Davidson is a true champion after winning a title fight and dedicating it to his brother who cheated death in a machete attack.

It is the second year the 13-year-old has won the Southern Open Series Championship for under 5ft continuous fighting.

He told his brother Rikkie: "I won this for you."

Last year, he dedicated the crown in memory of his late father Ian, who died of cancer three years ago, aged 50, after suffering brain damage in a car crash.

Adam, a member of the Zen Ch'uan Club and a pupil at King's Manor School, Shoreham, is spurred on by his family.

He said: "I always think of my dad when I compete but this win was more for my brother. He got surrounded by a group of youths and was stabbed.

"He nearly died and told me it was the martial arts skills, like karate, he learned at the club, that saved him."

"My family has had some bad luck."

His brother Rikkie, a biological sciences degree student at Woolwich University, narrowly escaped death in January when he was stabbed with a machete in a street attack. The blade missed his heart by a fraction of an inch.

His family said he is only alive today thanks to his karate skills which gave him the focus and confidence to stay in control and not become an easy target.

Rikkie's karate kicks were so powerful in defending himself police had to investigate whether he had used excessive force but they brought no charges.

Rikkie said: "I still get a tingling feeling in my chest sometimes but I think it was more traumatic than painful."

The 21-year-old said he gave his brother a hug when Adam dedicated his championship title to him.

He said: "I was chuffed to bits. It almost brought me to tears.

"He is amazing, he really is.

"I had expected him to win because he wins everything. He has got a string of other trophies.

"He is going to be famous, you can really see that in him.

"He is brilliant."

Rikkie said he owes his life to their trainer, Graham Hosken.

Their mother, Alison, said: "Adam and Rikkie are very close. Rikkie would do anything for his younger brother.

"It has been a nightmare for the family with Ian passing away as well as what happened to Rikkie but moments like Adam's win help to keep a smile on our faces."

Mr Hosken said: "Karate certainly helped Rikkie.

The code is that you can use reasonable force if attacked."