SEON McLaren knows his life could have turned out very differently.

“I took up karate for the same reason lots of kids from my kind of background take up karate - I was being bullied,” he says, frankly.

“Where we lived in Milton, it could be a bit rough. There were older boys on our street and they could be a bit rough too.

"One day, my dad had had enough and sent me and my wee brother to karate classes.

“It wasn’t about throwing punches and kicks so much as teaching us how to get out of trouble - how to defend ourselves.”

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He adds: “That was 25 years ago, and I’m lucky, I have never been in an altercation myself, but thanks to karate I know I’d have the ability and the confidence to get out of it.

“There’s so much more to karate than the punches and kicks. It’s about strength, stamina, discipline and respect.

"It helps teach these kids the skills to find out who they are, what they can do and how to enjoy themselves.”

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Seon, who now teaches karate across Scotstoun and the north west of the city, won the Sport Award at the Glasgow Community Champion Awards last year.

Nominations for this year’s event, run by the Glasgow Times in partnership with Glasgow City Council, Wheatley Homes Glasgow and Trades House Glasgow, are now open.

You have until September 28 to tell us who deserves to be recognised for the impact they are making on your community.

READ MORE: The search is on to find Glasgow's Community Champions of 2022 - here's how to nominate

There are nine trophies up for grabs - Team Award, Individual Award, Public Service Award, Uniformed Services Award, Senior Award, Young Award, Health and Wellbeing Award, Sports Award and School Award - and a public vote will decide regional winners in three areas of the city – the North East, the North West and the South.

You can nominate online at newsquestscotlandevents.com/events/glasgowcommchamps or by emailing linsey.hunter@localiq.co.uk.

Tell us why they should win and remember to include lots of detail and photographs to support your entry.

For more information call 0141 302 6019.

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A shortlist will then go to a public online vote to determine the winners in each area, who will progress to the Grand Final at Glasgow City Chambers on December 7.

A judging panel made up of representatives from the award partners will decide the winners.

Seon says it was "fantastic" to be involved.

“We didn’t even know we had been nominated when we got the phonecall to say we had made it on to the shortlist,” he says, smiling.

“I found out some of the parents had got together and put us in for the awards which was amazing.

“Then on the night, to actually win the Sport Award at the Grand Final - it was huge for us. It was just surprise after surprise.”

He adds: “The event in the City Chambers was a lovely evening. It was great to meet up with other groups and network and socialise.

"Winning a Glasgow Community Champions Award has also given us a lot of recognition. It is great for the parents and kids who support me in what I do. Without them, this would not exist, after all.”

Seon smiles: “I’d urge everyone to get involved in Community Champions. It’s a great event for the city.”

The small but fierce Ninja Turtles in Seon’s Wednesday class at Heart of Scotstoun Community Centre are excited to be part of JKS.

“I love it because we learn how to do really cool moves,” says Sonny, aged six.

“Seon is great,” announces Daniel, who is five.

Robyn, who is also five, agrees.

“We like having fun here," she says.

READ MORE: 'I was lost': Glasgow volunteer on how kicking drugs and joining Maryhill charity saved his life

This class, aimed at four to six-year-olds, is one of 21 sessions for all ages that Seon runs across the north west of the city, reaching around 330 people (his youngest student is four, his oldest is 62).

It’s a one-man operation, but Seon is quick to point out he gets lots of support from parents and young helpers - like his daughter Layla, who is 13.

“I like karate because it teaches you about discipline and it’s fun,” says Layla, who has been doing the sport since she was three.

“I enjoy helping out with the wee ones, they are great.”

Seon admits he never intended to teach karate.

“I thought if I was teaching, I was losing out on time training, and training was my passion,” he explains.

“It started, really, when I was asked to cover for my instructor, and I really enjoyed it.

“I started doing it more regularly, and loved the sense of pride I got from seeing people get their belts. So I decided to start my own classes on a part-time basis at first.”

Seon worked breakfast shifts and nightshifts to allow him to spend time training and teaching.

“I was doing anything I could around the classes - factory work, restaurant breakfast shifts, you name it,” he smiles.

“Eventually, I took the leap and went full time in 2019. And then, lockdown happened.”

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It was a huge blow but Seon was determined not to let his young students down and during both lockdowns, he kept the classes running.

“At first, we did them online, and we did quizzes and fun stuff too, and then it was outside - karate in the rain,” he laughs.

“I wanted to give the kids something fun to do, to keep them motivated and it was good for the parents too. For that hour, they could have a break, have some time to themselves which was really important.”

Seon and the club also fundraise for local charities – a recent event which saw the club members collectively walk the equivalent number of miles from Glasgow to Okinawa, the birthplace of karate, raised more than £1000 for Radio Clyde’s Cash for Kids appeal.

“Giving back to my community is really important,” says Seon.

“Heart of Scotstoun especially has been an amazing support to us, we wanted to help them out in return.

"So many clubs start up without thinking about how they can benefit the community around them. Even just a couple of streets away from here, people are living tough lives.

“I know - I grew up here. My life could have been very different. Me and my brother were doing karate, when our mates were off drinking.

“I got out of it, and I just want to give as many other young people as many opportunities as possible.”