A TOP martial art expert has revealed it is almost impossible to fight off an American Bully XL dog because they are like tigers.

Self defence pro Matt Fiddes, 44, has urged anyone who is confronted by one of the large animals to take one of two options.

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Top martial arts expert Matt Fiddes says that it is nearly impossible to fight off an XL BullyCredit: SWNS

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The former bodyguard has joined in for calls on a ban on American Bully XL dogsCredit: Alamy

Matt, former bodyguard to pop star Michael Jackson, founded the largest martial arts school in the UK.

He has a black belt in taekwondo, kickboxing and kung-fu - but says the breed are "like tigers" and impossible to fight off.

Matt says that even if you were as skilled as martial arts icon Bruce Lee, you'd be in trouble trying to brawl with the dogs.

He has joined calls for a ban on the American Bully XL dogs after a horror attack on an 11-year-old girl in Birmingham.

The vicious beast pounced on Ana Paun after lying unleashed in a bus shelter as she walked past to buy sweets from a corner shop.

Matt, from Swindon, Wilts, says that people's best option is to "stay away" from the animal.

He said: "The trouble with a breed like that is that honestly, even if you're Bruce Lee, you're screwed.

''If you're fighting them with your bare hands, you lose. They're so tenacious, they'll fight you like a tiger.

''Your only option is to run or to call for help. It's not worth the risk going anywhere near them.

"If you ever are confronted by one of them and you cannot escape, you can try and fight the animal with items in your surroundings.

"Sometimes even larger animals like this get scared off if you actually fight back.

''You can use objects like a table to block it, or a chair, or even a handbag."

But he said it is always important to be "maintain self-awareness" and stay vigilant.

He continued: "You've got to be aware of your surroundings, recognise a danger well in advance and avoid it.

"That is always the best option for other threats, whether it's a gun, a knife or just someone acting strangely on a train - you should just avoid the situation.

"The kids we teach at my martial arts school are taught to be aware of their surroundings.

''If you see these animals, or someone suspicious, you should get out of their way.

"The real danger here though is that little kids just don't understand this.

''They see a dog and want to pet it - but this breed can go from fine, to attacking you in seconds.

"My four year old wants to stroke everything - but it takes just one second for the animal to switch and tear your arms off."

XL Bullys are bred from a combination of dogs, predominantly the American pit bull terrier which was made illegal in Britain in 1991.

Campaign group Bully Watch UK has recorded 351 attacks by the breed this year alone.

They say 43 per cent of all maulings by dogs come from large bully animals, despite the breed being a tiny proportion of all UK dogs.

And Matt says that the breed and other dangerous dogs should be treated like wild animals under law.

He says that owning the pets seem to be a "status symbol" for young men with "ego trips".

Matt added: "Since the lockdown it just seems like the latest status symbol.

''Men want to own these dangerous dogs, the latest bulldog, as an ego trip.

''The Government desperately needs to change the rules to protect people from these breeds."

Some 22,000 dog attacks causing injury were recorded in England and Wales last year, up by more than a third since 2018 saw 16,000.

Jack Lis, 10, died after being attacked by an eight-stone American bully called Beast in November 2021 in Caerphilly, south Wales.

Meanwhile, much-loved father Jonathan Hogg, 37, was mauled to death in May this year by an American bully XL in Leigh, Greater Manchester.