Martial arts champion and instructor Tony Dias talks to TONY KELLY about the pursuit of his sporting passion. THERE’S an unyielding steel allied to a calming reserve about Tony Dias – qualities which have served him so well for nigh on three decades of competitive combat. Those self-same traits he showed in abundance on the martial arts world stage and they are the same characteristics which he consistently tries to convey to his pupils. For the last three years Dias has dazzled at the highest level and for the last 17 years he has helped a posse of youngsters and adults shine in a variety of disciplines at the United Martial Arts College he runs in Malton.