Alex Wasinowicz: From Fighter to Educator to Storyteller – A Life of Strength, Discipline, and Imagination
Alex wasinowicz is more than just a name—it’s a testament to resilience, transformation, and creativity. His journey spans from humble beginnings and military discipline to international sporting achievement, a distinguished teaching career, and a blossoming literary life. This article dives deep into his multifaceted life, chronicling the remarkable phases that shaped “Mr Waz” into a living legend.
Early Life and Military Foundation
From School Dropout to Soldier
Leaving school after just the third year, Alex entered adulthood with limited prospects and aspiration. However, his life path shifted dramatically upon joining the British Army. His role as a Physical Training Instructor (PTI) placed him within the Black Watch regiment and later the Royal Army Physical Training Corps. Over an eight-year military tenure, Alex earned the General Service Medal—recognition for commendable service on demanding assignments.
The Making of a Warrior
During military service, Alex honed both mental toughness and physical prowess. He consistently encouraged discipline, resilience, and leadership in himself and peers—principles that stayed with him long after military life ended.
Athletic Triumphs: From Kickboxing to Boxing Glory
International Kickboxing Standout
Upon returning to civilian life, Alex surged in the world of combat sports. He became Aberdeen’s only internationally ranked kickboxing champion, representing Scotland on the world stage during the late 1980s and beyond. Holding a 4th Dan black belt in kickboxing, he also ranked competitively in boxing, grappling with legends like Antonio Tarver and Jean-Yves Theriault.
Boxing Success and National Representation
From 1997 to 2015, Alex competed in light-heavyweight boxing, earning multiple titles. Notably, he held championship belts from esteemed organizations like the WBA, WBC, IBF, IBO, and The Ring magazine. His martial excellence earned him invitations to spar and train with world-renowned fighters, cementing his reputation within Scotland’s competitive boxing community.
Education and Teaching Career
Academic Pursuits and Qualifications
Determined to rewrite his academic story, Alex returned to education later in life. He achieved a First-Class BA (Hons) in Sports Studies and obtained numerous certifications: Higher National Diploma in Sports Coaching, HNC in Health & Fitness, and credentials in mental health and pedagogy. He holds General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) registration and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in England.
A Distinguished Teaching Journey
Over 40 years, Alex served schools across Scotland and England as a physical education teacher. His approach—rooted in martial arts—brought a unique flavor to PE classes, blending combat discipline with reinforcement of resilience. His commitment to youth extended beyond sport; he was later invited to speak in the UK House of Commons about managing aggression in children through martial arts.
Personal Training and Fitness Thinker
Building Lives Through Fitness
Transitioning seamlessly from teacher to fitness entrepreneur, Alex ran a personal training service known as “Mr Waz” in Aberdeen. He held certifications from CIMSPA as a Level 2 Gym Instructor and Group Exercise Instructor, plus a Level 5 Personal Trainer qualification. His one-on-one and group sessions emphasized harmony between mental strength and physical readiness.
Overcoming Physical Challenges
Even into his mid-60s, Alex battled osteoarthritis—a challenge he confronted proactively. In 2022, he announced plans for ring return, stating that retirement revitalized his health and deepened his desire to re-enter competitive fitness. His life, he said, demonstrated that age need not define ability—only discipline mattered.
Retirement: Rediscovering Life’s Passions
The Gift of Time
Alex officially retired from full-time teaching and personal training around 2021. Retirement enabled him to savor life in unexpected ways—traveling through Italy, deepening self-care, and rekindling old ambitions . He described retirement as a “product” of decades of planning, discipline, and vision—a life far from idle.
Commitment to Lifelong Learning
Far from slowing down, Alex dove into new studies post-retirement: sports therapy, Spanish language, and preparing to open a sports rehabilitation clinic. By age 69 (around 2029), he plans to maintain his professional development, including continuing part-time teaching .
The Literary Awakening: Children’s Adventures
The Birth of The Tickle Treacle Gang
Alex’s post-retirement energy found expression in writing. He created The Adventures of The Tickle Treacle Gang, a children’s series set in 1960s–70s Britain, chronicling imaginative exploits of rowdy youngsters. With main titles like “The Mert & The Scary Mop” and “Sweety Man,” Alex blends humour, heart, and teen empowerment in themes accessible to children and adults alike.
Publication Journey
Launching in July 2021, the first edition is already available online; print releases followed through 2022–2023. He anticipates mainstream publication deals for three stories by 2025 . Sweety Man (Book 2) and Bonkersville High Skale & Erchie (Book 3) dive deeper into coming-of-age narrative with empathy and inclusiveness.
Themes of Friendship and Redemption
Storylines explore camaraderie among marginalized youth, life lessons, and the redemptive power of adult kindness (e.g., Sweety Man’s bond with children). Alex deftly transforms childhood nostalgia into timeless life messages, influenced by his own experiences overcoming hardship.
Legacy of Discipline, Character, and Vision
Fostering Youth Development
Alex’s life stands as a blueprint of character building. As a military PTI, sports champion, and teacher, he guided countless youth toward discipline, physical fitness, and mental resilience. His teaching legacy includes hundreds of students carrying life lessons learned in his gym and classrooms.
Financial Literacy Vision
Beyond books, Alex intends to teach financial strategy. Having achieved elite financial stability through disciplined savings, martial arts earnings, and pension planning, he aspires to mentor others in financial independence .
Inspiring Transformations
His journey from dropout to author demonstrates that transformation is possible at any age. A committed advocate of lifelong learning, Alex proves that self-reinvention is a matter of mindset, not circumstance.
What’s Next for Mr Waz?
Training and Teaching Continues
Despite formal retirement, Alex plans to maintain personal training and occasional teaching roles. His next goal is establishing a sports rehabilitation clinic that combines fitness and therapeutic care.
Literary Horizons Expand
The third and possibly fourth books are underway, and Alex hopes to expand his brand into children’s merchandise and possibly youth mentorship events. His creative potential grows alongside his academic and athletic pursuits.
A Cultural Ambassador
Dividing time between Scotland and Italy, Alex embraces multi-cultural living. His writing, travel ethos, and business ventures position him as an informal cultural ambassador rooted in community impact.
Conclusion
From early adversity to athletic achievement, academic excellence, devoted teaching, and literary creativity, “alex wasinowicz” embodies the power of reinvention. His life story— marked by discipline, adaptability, and empathy—resonates far beyond bilateral success; it speaks to the promise of personal evolution across decades.
His children’s books, fuelled by nostalgia and buoyed by compassion, now invite new generations into his world. Meanwhile, his vision for financial literacy and sports therapy plant seeds for wider societal influence.
