'The world isn't big, bad and out to get you'

Self defence coach Steve Scott has released a book based on his life experiences called 'Lessons Learned without a school'

A self-defence coach turned author who has written about the life lessons he has learnt says "fear keeps us small".

Steve Scott, 57, from Weston-super-Mare, has released a book called 'Lessons Learned without a school' this month.

Mr Scott said he experienced a life of "chaos" and wished he had the principles he had now when he was 25.

The author said: "This book is about fear and being brave enough to step outside."

'Fear stories'

The martial arts coach said that the main principle he had learnt was to "not let fear dictate my life."

Mr Scott, who runs Real Combat System South West, said he was "fed fear stories" by his mother which led to him being quite aggressive when he was younger.

He said he was expelled from school permanently aged 15 and was "written off" by most of his teachers.

"It was just awful," he said. "I built this massive wall around me and was like - 'don't mess with me', kind of thing.

"I look back at the way I lived and it was exhausting."

The author details his battles with drink and violence in the book

He said that the main thing he would tell his 25-year-old self was that "everything will be okay."

Mr Scott, who has been writing all his life, said: "What I've learnt is there are nasty people out there but most people are actually decent, nice people.

"I don't profess to have the answers to anything, I'm not trying to preach to anybody, but what I have got is a lot of experiences and that's what the book is about."

'It'll be okay'

The coach, who now lives and works in Bristol, said the main thing he would tell his 25-year-old self is "everything will work out fine.

"The world isn't big, bad and necessarily out to get you," he said. "It'll be okay."