9-year-old martial artist wows "Britain's Got Talent"

Nine-year-old martial artist Jesse McParland wowed "Britain's Got Talent" judges after she showed off her moves in the TV program on Saturday night.

Most girls of her age would be playing games with their friends or practising things they have learnt in school, but not for this Irish schoolgirl, who prefers playing with swords.

Despite her young age, McParland is already a world champion kick boxer, with an astonishing 117 martial arts titles under her belt.

Her first movie Martial Arts Kid, also starring Cynthia Rothrock and Don "The Dragon" Wilson, will be released this year, and in July she will start filming a film called Awakening with teen heartthrob Zac Efron.

Now she is hoping to add Britain's Got Talent winner to her trophy collection after impressing the judges and audience with her incredible sword-wielding audition.

You wouldn't guess it coming from the slight, blonde-hair girl, who appeared on the BGT stage to a chorus of "ah"s from the audience.

McParland's performance, featuring armless cartwheels, back flips and incredible talents with sword, won her a standing ovation and praise from all of the judges. Hundreds of the 8.19 million viewers who tuned in to watch BGT on Saturday took to Twitter to share their surprise.

McParland has been practising martial arts since the age of three, after deciding she wasn't interested in the more traditional pastimes her mother wanted her to try such as ballet.

Last year she added sword work to her list of skills including kickboxing, kung fu and taekwondo, with which she has competed and won awards all over the world.

She trains with her coach Sensei Gary Kelly in Ireland four times a week, as well as master Jeff Scott in Britain. McParland is the World Association of Kickboxing junior world champion. Endi