5 /5 Anna-Jane Stilwell: Back in late 2022, I weighed almost 14 stone (Im 5’4 1/2"), was size 20 and obese. Id trained kick-boxing somewhere else years before and I wanted to get back to it. My KCKB adventure started that very year and what can I say... it still continues to this day. Except that now Im size 8/10, my resting heart rate is in the regions of 48-55 and Ive never been this fit in my entire life!
The training Rob puts us through is intense. I remember thinking for the first few months that I wouldnt survive the warm-up! Now I love it! If you come regularly, you will be astounded at how quickly your body adapts to this intensity of exercise. Despite what I said, Rob is lovely. Well... unless hes sparring with you.
Apart from full-body conditioning, we work on techniques and we spar. Here, Id like to debunk the myth about boxing and kick-boxing perpetuated by TV dramas. The stress release doesnt come from punching things and people, like every non-(kick-)boxer seems to think. It comes from being 100% in the moment. Its practically mindfulness.
Apart from the quality of training, what makes this club stand out is the passion and dedication of its chief instructor. Robs love for this club and its members permeates its every facet and its what makes people stay or come back after time away. Its not just a club. Its a community and a way of life.
Kick-boxing isnt just a sport, a martial art or exercise. Its so much more than that. It conditions your body, challenges your limits and builds character. For me, KCKB and kick-boxing have been, and continue to be, a life-altering experience.
