Kim & Bess Take the Podium

After five years of training at KB Fitness, mother and daughter Kim and Bess have achieved an impressive milestone in their kickboxing journeys. Competing at the British Open last month, Bess took first place and Kim secured third place, putting their dedication and training to the test against competitors from outside the school.

Both Kim and Bess are dedicated members of KB Fitness who bring kindness and encouragement to those around them. Bess, in particular, has always enjoyed sparring and competing in our in-house Kickboxing tournaments. Her passion for competition inspired her to seek out external events, giving her more opportunities to compete, develop her abilities and experience a different competitive environment.

Preparing for the British Open involved plenty of hard work, with guidance from Chief Instructor, Kelly (KB), and additional sparring practice with fellow students. As Bess explains:

“The training process for competitions for me involved a lot of advice and fine tuning from Kelly and the opportunity to spar extra with Lloyd and others. And a lot of pointers from Sonya too.”

So, what motivated her to compete outside KB Fitness?

“I decided to compete externally because I love the competitive environment of KB tournaments and I wanted to compete more frequently.”

Bess appreciates meeting martial artists from other schools and testing her skills in a different setting.

For her, winning is about more than the result. “When I win I feel grateful for the opportunity to compete and happy for the chance to showcase Kelly’s training outside of our school.”

She is keen to compete again, and her results demonstrate how consistent kickboxing training can help students develop their technique, fitness and confidence in competition.

Bess credits Kelly’s classes with helping her recognise opportunities to score points and deliver clear techniques. She also highlights the importance of fitness, explaining that the adrenaline of competition can leave her feeling more tired and sluggish, making cardio essential to keeping her moving.

Kim was equally grateful for the support she received, sharing this message with fellow members after the competition:

“I’m so grateful for Kelly’s training, support and belief in me and for everyone who did extra sparring with me. Huge thanks to Sonya for being an amazing resource and encouragement.”

The achievement is a proud moment for Kim and Bess, and a wonderful reflection of their commitment to training, the support they have received from fellow students and Kelly’s teaching.

Interested in trying Kickboxing in Central London? Whether you’re completely new to martial arts or looking to develop your skills, KB Fitness welcomes adults of all experience levels. Book your free KB Kickboxing trial class and discover what you could achieve with regular training.