Armidale Martial Arts Academy sensei Harrison McWhirter has started his own dojo, and he's only 15.

The martial artist is only 15-years-old.

“I’ve got congenital heart disease, pretty much what that means is that I have a hole in my heart and a narrow windpipe which makes my breathing heavy,” he said.

“With my medical condition I wasn’t exactly allowed to do tackle football or anything like that.

“I thought I’d give martial arts a go, here I am now and I love it.”

Harrison began his training more than nine years ago in Port Macquarie.

Once he had achieved his black belt, he was looking for the next challenge.

Opening his own martial arts centre seemed like a natural progression for the young entrepreneur.

The discipline, pace and control of karate is what he likes best.

“It [his heart condition] makes it a bit harder for me to keep up with everyone,” Harrison said.

“Whereas with karate you can go at your own pace and anyone can do it.

“There’s a lot more thinking to it than going crazy.”

The classes have been running since Term 4 of school last year.

In Port Macquarie, Harrison used to help run classes and occasionally teach his own.

Making the leap to teaching himself has been interesting, he said.

“It wasn’t difficult but it was a change,” he said.

“It’s about respect, every time we start a class we bow to our senior instructors and our fellow students to show respect.

“Before we spar we always bow to each other to show respect and that we aren’t going to hurt the other person.

“It also teaches you self control.”

So far the class has five students and Harrison tries to keep it fun.

“A few people are surprised to see that I’m 15,” he said.

“A lot of them might expect someone that’s 20 but it’s not about age, it’s about experience.”

In March, master of the Mid Coast Martial Arts Academy and senior black belts will come to Armidale to run grading.

Dad, Steve McWhirter said him and mum Angela are very impressed with their son’s efforts.  “We’re behind him 100 per cent,” Mr McWhirter said. Armidale Martial Arts Academy runs classes every Wednesday at the Masonic Hall on Cookes Road from 5:15pm.