A FORMER Kidderminster student, who has trained stunt performers for Hollywood blockbusters, has shared his secrets of success.

James Boyle, who runs Defence Lab Kidderminster, studied performing arts and music industry management at Kidderminster College, and shared with students how the many skills he learnt during his studies stood him in good stead to run his current business.

Mr Boyle said: “I hope they will all realise their dreams of forging careers for themselves in the music industry. But if, like in my case, they choose to follow a different route, then the attributes and abilities they have developed at the college will open up many alternative career paths for them too.”

After graduating from Kidderminster College, he worked in music retail and guitar tuition, before landing a job at a commercial recording studio. He then went on to work for a leading guitar company, where he was fortunate to meet and work alongside some of his heroes, including Paul Gilbert and Steve Vai.

He said: “I always retained my love for martial arts while following a career in music, which led to me opening up my own self defence and fitness business. The skills I learned at the college in professionalism, customer service, communications and team work definitely helped me to do this.”

Defence Lab have developed a very practical and creative martial art called DNA Fight Science which has been much in demand for modern films featuring fight sequences such as ‘Batman Begins’, ‘the Dark Knight’ and ‘Mission Impossible 3’.

James added: “Liam Neeson who we first met on ‘Batman Begins’ continues to train privately in the DNA system, and Tom Cruise who worked with on ‘Jack Reecher’ personally requested additional training videos so that he could keep up with his training once filming had wrapped.

“It’s really cool to have such star endorsement.”

For more information on James’s Defence Lab franchise visit www.defencelab.com.

The franchise runs classes in Kidderminster, Wychbold, Droitwich and Bromsgrove.