With his scrawny, bony frame, people often underestimated Fred Burton. But when two East London thugs took him for an easy target – they got a nasty surprise in the shape of a punch, kick and wallop from a Chinese sailor experienced in the art of Shaolin Kung Fu.

After that, Fred became obsessed with martial arts, even travelling to Singapore to train in the Far East. But 1942 was a dangerous time to be in Singapore, and the Japanese Army was closing in…

Story: George Low

Art: Keith Page

Cover: Janek Matysiak