Few would choose to celebrate their 21st birthday thousands of miles away from family and friends and on their way to school, but Andrew Spink has done exactly that.
Travelling more than 6,000 miles to China to take part in Sky One's new series Fight School,
Andrew left his home in Dawlish last Wednesday, the day before his 21st birthday.
Not the usual way of acknowledging a milestone birthday and not such a usual school either for Fight School promises to bring us the ultimate in martial arts fighting contests with edited highlights of round-the-clock filming.
Andrew's coach Paul Drury said: 'It's like Big Brother, with constant filming, there are no luxuries, no mobile phones or TV. They were only allowed three personal items and Andrew took a photo, a book and some hair gel.'
Selected with nine others from 4,000 hopefuls he will undertake a punishing schedule of challenges, each designed to stretch the 'pupils' to near breaking point. If he does well he could be there for three weeks.
Paul said: 'He was a bit nervous, but he prepared well, I've been training him hard.'
With his interest in gymnastics, Paul thinks that Andrew has an advantage but is proud of him for being selected.
'To be chosen from 4,000 hopefuls is quite an achievement,' he said.
Andrew, a second degree black belt, was part of the British squad who fought in Ireland in 2000, trainer Paul Drury is fourth degree black dan.
The series is scheduled to be televised in the autumn.