KANE ACADEMY took three gold medals, three silver and two bronze in their first kickboxing tournament – from only four competitors!
Over 100 fighters from West Yorkshire clubs took part in the Doncaster Invitational, which also featured taekwondo.
Everton Thomas of Paddock, the ‘veteran’ of the group at 44 (he’s a youth worker for Kirklees), only started when the kickboxing section was launched in January, but he has already attained his yellow belt and, fighting against competitors more than half his age he cruised through to win two gold medals in point stop and continuous fighting.
He originally started for fitness but soon stated that he wasn’t getting any younger and wanted to win some medals – and what a way to do it on his first attempt after nine months of training.
Adam Farmer, 25 from Halifax, won a silver in point stop, as did Eve Gatenby, 20, of Illingworth.
Timothy McKnight, 29, won the two bronze medals in point stop and continuous fighting.
He is now training towards representing the club’s mixed martial arts team early next year.
Their coach, Rebecca Kane, also entered the tournament in the adults black belt category. She won gold in continuous and silver in the point stop category against men twice her size and weight.
The club is training on Mondays and Fridays at Beaumont Park Visitors Centre but are soon moving to a much larger purpose-made training facility.
For information about training with the club, contact Rebecca on 07732 801847 or email info@kaneacademy.com
