Brief

Simon Morrell grows up bullied and afraid but learns to conquer his fears and becomes a top martial artist. Along the way he overcomes betrayal from friends and his father, financial ruin, threats from criminals, panic attacks and finally alcoholism that nearly costs him his family and his life.

What We Liked

British Warrior has a nuanced and realistic take on the problems of substance abuse, family dysfunction and gaining self-belief. It shows that life is neither one rise or one descent, but many.

Film: British Warrior shows the grit and drama of surviving life in the so-called ordinary world. A struggle that exists deep in the mind is played out in karate matches, in the circle of thugs at his drug-dealing neighbor's house, in the pool cue his abusive father swings at him, in the gun wielding toughs that accuse him of theft and in the trembling hands from alcohol withdrawal. This story shows what it means to overcome fear.

TV: The story of Simon's life is naturally episodic, with each experience dramatic and unpredictable in it's own right, but all coming together to form the story of a larger struggle against a common enemy: fear. With each new challenge his life explores new ground in the struggle to overcome fear that exists in all corners of life.

Key points: Fight scenes. Family drama. Real life crime drama. Uplifting message. Happy ending.

Synopsis

Simon gets bullied on his sixth birthday, by teachers, at his new school, on his way to soccer. When you can't stand up for yourself the torment follows you everywhere.

He takes up Karate as a teen and finds success and confidence for the first time. At 19, his life is looking up, he's playing in a band and got a new girlfriend, Julie, but his life is quickly by a sudden onset of panic attacks. As he begins treatment he begins to understand that fear is not something to be avoided, but to overcome.

He continues to build a life with Julie, with a proper home and a new daughter, but he is still searching for an elusive control and purpose. He finds purpose in the desire to open his own karate gym under the banner of World Champion Alfie Lewis and with the help of new friend Geoff Thomas gains his black belt. It normally takes someone five years, it took Simon fifteen.

He wants to open his own gym. Tries to sell his rental business but is betrayed by his neighbor Nick, a fraud on his way to becoming a drug dealer. People, including his dad, urge him to resort to violence but he won't do it. He goes for the next level of blackbelt, second Dan, and gets knocked out cold. He gets back up again and finishes. He has a final confrontation with Nick, surrounded by Nick's thugs, but none of them will fight Simon. Nick is soon arrested and flees. Everything should be fine again.

But he started drinking heavily to cope with the stress of the past few years. He sleeps on the floor of his gym after a fight with Julie then tries to quit cold turkey. The hallucinations start. When he sees dancing chimneys Julie calls the police and they take him to hospital, one officer has to tie Simon's shoes because his hands shake too badly.

The rise to glory hasn't been as straightforward as it seemed.

His dad was always a wannabe gangster. A father who bought him the best drum set and ridiculed his dreams of success. Who hit and screams at his son to assert dominance.
The more contempt Simon gets, the more he craves respect.

At 38, having achieved a third Dan, Simon left a burgeoning career in Martial arts to buy his father's factory, but the business is a dead duck. Simon deals with gun wielding toughs and the IRA, both of whom his dad ripped off. In a situation where fear and intimidation are everything, Simon cleans up that mess but the business itself cannot be salvaged.

They have 1000 pounds and a decision to make as a family. Simon Morrell's Black Belt Center for Excellence is born. As they try to rebuild Simon deteriorates. He can see through the booze how his own kids are starting to work around their own dad's erratic behavior. Julie has enough, she can handle all they've been through, but not losing him to drink. Then comes hallucinations and the hospital.

At rock bottom he decides to go up, to get his fourth Dan. On his first day of training again he falls off a bike because his feet hurt too much, and he laughs. Thirteen years after his first black belt test and six months after being in the hospital he passes the test, only the latest in a life filled with them. He has his family, he has a purpose in a now successful gym, he has nobody after him. He is a warrior.

About The Author

Simon Morrell grew up bullied at school and at home, but found strength in martial arts and support from his love Julie. With these he found the ability to overcome his fears and survive threats from criminals, financial ruin and intimate betrayals to become a successful trainer, speaker and author.