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Page last updated at 08:48 GMT, Thursday, 14 May 2009 09:48 UK

Wiltshire wrestling academy grows

4 Front Wrestling
The 4 Front Wrestling Academy was set up in 2007

Coaches at Wiltshire's 4 Front Wrestling Academy hope new larger premises will lead to a higher standard of fighter being developed.

The club is the only full-time academy in Europe and has moved to a bigger centre in Swindon.

Some wrestlers have relocated to the county purely to join the academy and gain full-time training.

Coach James Dunn told BBC Wiltshire: "I think if the people we've got continue we'll have world famous wrestlers."

The academy started two years ago and, after an increase in membership numbers, moved to a larger unit on the Cheney Manor Industrial Estate.

"We thought we need to expand and take it to the next level. We've got two rings, gymnast equipment and soon to build a classroom where we're going to be doing theory lessons," said Dunn.

Using the WWE brand, the academy's youngest members are aged around nine years old and the juniors train three evenings a week. The gym is used during the day by the full-time fighters.

4 Front Wrestling
The 4 Front Wrestling centre is Europe's only full-time academy

Dunn does not believe enough people around Swindon are aware what the town can boast.

"We try to get the production values of WWE. We get the lights, the stage and the ramp so the kids feel like they're watching a scaled down WWE show.

"We've got something here that people have never tried before and they don't realise that they can make a living and become famous through it."

Youngster Callum Aslantepe fights under the name of Aslam the Turkish Delight and has been hooked on wrestling since seeing it on television.

"Its something different! I come three times a week. We do shows and its something to work towards," he said.

"We all get our own outfit and our own entrance music."



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