KB Member Spotlight: Neil

This month’s KB Member Spotlight focuses on Neil, who has trained in the martial arts at KB for an incredible 18 years. His long term training journey shows commitment and a deep connection to the school.

In June 2023, Neil (on the far left in the picture) achieved KB Black Belt standard in Kickboxing. The determination and grit required to attain this standard is a testament to Neil’s perseverance, and an inspiration to other martial artists.

Over the years, Neil’s training at KB Fitness has taken place alongside major life changes and periods of injury that tested his resilience. Rather than stepping away, he continued to adapt and stay committed, showing how long-term training requires patience and persistence as much as physical ability.

“Training at KB has done so much for me, in so many ways,” Neil says. “The most obvious is in terms of fitness – before I started, I didn’t do much exercise except for some rather half-hearted visits to the gym. Once I started at KB, however, I very quickly improved my fitness, strength, and flexibility, and that’s something that has increased and continued through to the present day. I found myself being able to do things physically that I would never have been able to do before.”

Training at KB Fitness has also significantly boosted Neil’s confidence. “Before KB, I was very shy and socially anxious. Training in martial arts has made me so much more confident, not just in the dojo itself but in my life outside it. I can do things like give a speech or a presentation at work to dozens of people, or negotiate for a pay rise, which I don’t think I would have been able to do before,” he says.

Moreover, Neil credits his training for instilling in him a greater sense of discipline. “It has made me a more disciplined person, too – where before I might have given up on things, KB has given me the discipline to keep going, whatever happens.”

Neil’s journey to KB Kickboxing Black Belt was not something he initially anticipated. “I didn’t have any real idea of grading when I first started, and certainly didn’t imagine ever getting to Black Belt. I mainly just saw it as exercise,” he says. However, as he progressed through the grading process, his perspective changed. “Once I started the grading process a couple of years into my training, I rapidly became hooked on it. It always feels like such a huge achievement to earn your belt and certificate and really gives you a huge sense of pride.”

The journey was not without its setbacks. Neil faced injuries that required him to pause his training for months at a time. Yet, these challenges only fuelled his determination. “As a tenacious kind of person, those setbacks actually made me even more determined not to give up, and to get KB Black Belt,” he explains. “Over the years, I know a lot of people have left KB at different belt levels, and I think that’s a shame. I feel like the grading process is a real journey, and I personally felt like it would have been a shame if I didn’t continue with that journey and reach the goal of Black Belt.”

Achieving the KB Black Belt is a significant milestone, but it also marks the beginning of a new chapter. “When you get to Black Belt, of course it’s a huge achievement to be proud of, but it’s not the end of the journey – it’s the start of a new one. I would never want to stop training at KB.”

Through his training, Neil has become more self-confident, self-disciplined, and fitter, taking more pride in himself. “I’ve become an all-round better person. I’ve realised I can achieve things I maybe didn’t think I could through working hard and never giving up, and having the ‘Yes I can’ belief that Kelly instils in us. I feel like I’ve become a member of another family in KB and met people who I think I’ll always be friends with.”

Neil’s story is a powerful reminder of the transformative impact of martial arts training. His journey from being a shy and socially anxious individual to a confident KB Black Belt is a source of inspiration for all members of KB Fitness.

Did you find this article by searching for ‘kickboxing classes near me’? Do you want to challenge yourself and excel, like Neil? It all starts with the decision to try. Book your first KB Kickboxing class today.