Donington martial arts hall of famer immortalised in new song

A martial arts hall of famer-turned actor has now been immortalised in song.

Donington’s John Stephenson has lived a colourful life, competing as a martial artist and bare knuckle boxer, breaking world records and becoming a published author.

Over the past year, he has also landed his first film role and become something of a social media sensation with car pulls of iconic motors including the A-Team van and Love Bug Herbie.

But now his lively life has been put to music by USA singer-songwriter Andrea Harkins.

The country and western tune Legends, written specifically about 49-year-old John, will be released on multiple platforms - including Spotify, Tidal, Amazon Music and iTunes - today (Friday June 13).

“I listened to it and, I’m not going to lie, it brought a tear to my eye,” said John, who admitted hearing his daughters mentioned in the song caught the everyday tough guy off guard.

“I’m very happy with it.”

Andrea, who is also a top karate expert, decided to write a song about John as a thank you after she was featured in one of his almost-20 books chronicling the lives of people at the top of their game in combat sports.

“She’s a top martial artists but I didn’t realise she was a singer and songwriter,” John said.

“When I put her in the book it kind of elevated her in America a little bit more and she started getting in Halls of Fame from that side.

“So she said to me she wanted to return the favour.”

John is no stranger to being entered into martial arts Halls of Fame himself, having recently been inducted into the UK Martial Arts Show’s hall in the Superstar category.

“It was only last month I got my sixth hall of fame. I got the high-ranking one this time. I was well chuffed,” he added.

John and pal Mark Valliant have also been continuing their attention-grabbing car pulls.

Having previously used their strength to drag such iconic vehicles as the Dukes of Hazzard’s General Lee and Kit from Knight Rider.

In recent weeks they have pulled a car from hit TV show Suits, which was sat in by Meghan Markle during her years as a cast member, as well as the US police car which was the first on the scene to rescue Elizabeth Smart, who hit the headlines in 2003 after the 14-year-old was rescued in Utah nine months after her kidnapping by Brian David Mitchell.

They also took on a car pull at Channel 4’s Brookside Close, a show John used to enjoy watching during its run, while working with a cab from the Deadpool movies saw the guys aided by a gang of excited kids.

“It was surreal pulling a car knowing Meghan Markle had been in there,” added John, who describes car pulls as ‘pretty easy’ having pulled ambulances, lorries and a fire engine over the years.

“Just to get up close and personal to those cars is amazing.

“And the police car was crazy.

“It’s completely different to sitting in UK police cars, it’s all bars and cages. They don’t mess about.”

John is still in talks about an upcoming movie role having made his screen debut in supernatural horror flick The Guardian.

“If you told me this a year ago I would have laughed and said ‘not me’,” he joked.

“It’s amazing how things can spiral.”