‘I’m a martial arts expert – it’s impossible to fight off American Bully XL dog’

Fighting off an XL bully is nearly “impossible,” according to a martial arts expert.

Self-defence tycoon Matt Fiddes, 44, has called for a ban on the beasts and said that if anyone finds themselves confronted by one then do your best to run away.

The black belt in taekwondo, kickboxing and kung-fu is the former bodyguard of pop star Michael Jackson – but that isn’t enough for him to fancy taking one on.

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''Even if you're Bruce Lee, you're screwed,'' he said.

Calls to ban XL bullies in the UK have reached new heights after shocking footage that showed one mauling a girl on the floor before chasing a man around a petrol forecourt.

Matt, from Swindon, Wiltshire, said: "The trouble with a breed like that is that honestly, even if you're Bruce Lee, you're screwed.

''If you're fighting them with your bare hands, you lose.

"They're so tenacious, they'll fight you like a tiger.

''Your only option is to run or to call for help. It's not worth the risk going anywhere near them.

"If you ever are confronted by one of them and you cannot escape, you can try and fight the animal with items in your surroundings.

"Sometimes even larger animals like this get scared off if you actually fight back.

''You can use objects like a table to block it, or a chair, or even a handbag.

"The best option though is to maintain self-awareness.

''You've got to be aware of your surroundings, recognize a danger well in advance and avoid it.

"That is always the best option for other threats, whether it's a gun, a knife or just someone acting strangely on a train, you should just avoid the situation.

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  Daily Star Guide to fighting off an XL bully dog from gouged eyes to fingers up bum

"The kids we teach at my martial arts school are taught to be aware of their surroundings.

''If you see these animals, or someone suspicious, you should get out of their way.

"The real danger here though is that little kids just don't understand this.

''They see a dog and want to pet it but this breed can go from fine, to attacking you in seconds.

"My four-year-old wants to stroke everything, but it takes just one second for the animal to switch and tear your arms off."

He reckons that, under the law, they should be treated like wild animals and slammed them as a “status symbol” for blokes with “ego trips”.

Matt continued: "Since the lockdown it just seems like the latest status symbol.

''Men want to own these dangerous dogs, the latest bulldog, as an ego trip.

"When I was younger it was all about pit bulls, this is just the latest in a long line of dangerous breeds that we should ban.

"Owners have a responsibility to make sure these animals do not attack people.

''The government desperately needs to change the rules to protect people from these breeds."

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