Martial Arts Background
From as young as 5 I developed a Passion for martial arts. At the age of ten I took myself to the local Kaigan Judo Club where my journey began, I took part in grading and competed in many Judo tournaments and really enjoyed this but was not completely fulfilled.
I went to watch a Kyokushinkai Karate class and found myself instantly hooked! What a powerfull impact this this amazing martial art had on me! I studied it like a religion for ten years under one of Britain's top fighters and instructors 'sensei Andreas Stavrou'. I competed in both semi and full contact tournaments at Crystal palace and also competed in Kata competitions.
Kyokushinkai still is and always will remain in my blood, it is the strongest form of Karate due to its competition rules.
When I was 20 I moved to Bournemouth, dissapointed as I could not find any Kyokushinkai clubs, I then turned to JKD Kickboxing. I trained under James Cowan, chief instructor at South Coast Kickboxing. Once again I took part in grading and competitions.
This led me to my first big fight at the B.I.C. at the Absolute Adrenaline Show in front of a 2000 strong audience.
That was my first introduction to a Thai Boxer. Although the fight was a loss I was not disappointed, the more experienced Thai boxer demonstrated to me the shear power of Muay Thai. His style and stance were unique! It was after this fight that I turned to Muay Thai.
Muay Thai is the gap that was always missing! For me it is the 'SAS' of all the arts. It's a way of life and without any shadow of a doubt, a mentality in itself.
I trained Muay Thai vigorously and decided to take myself to the origin of the sport Thailand. I trained in various camps in the south, the main camp I trained at was Koh Lanta! I trained there for 122 days and also competed. I achieved my instructor qualifications through Koh Lanta gym.
My second visit to Thailand was at the WMC camp in Koh Samui. I trained along side and had breakfast with the cream of the crop. The top and best leading names in the Muay Thai world were teaching me and training with me such as Runchai and nockweed, Even Alex Daily was training there.
In April 2007 I opened 'Thai Works Gym' a fully equipped, professional Muay Thai/Boxing Gym. It became very popular very quickly and so I became a full time instructor but due to the Dolphin sports centre going into receivership I unfortunately lost my gym. During this time though I gained approximately 150 loyal students, most of which followed me when I took the business to LA Fitness at tower park in Poole. I still currently teach there on Tuesdays from 7.30 - 9.30pm and on Thursdays 8 - 10pm.
I'm not claiming to be a world champion I'm simply sharing a wealth of experience I have gained.
I have an authentic understanding of Muay Thai and consider myself to be humble, nice but quietly confident! My main advice to anyone looking for the qualities of a good gym is to not just look at the instructor alone... A good gym or club is made up of good students that share information, that is the whole idea of having a club. I train people in the same way that I was trained in Thailand making the classes authentic!
One of the funniest things i find is ....Have you ever noticed that whenever u mention kick boxing/ Thai boxing everyone seems to no through their next door neighbours best friends- friend who walks their dog... Well yea the owner of that dog knows a guy whose a world champ! LOL politics are rife unfortunately in this sport and it's sad to say that it's idiots like that that de- value the reputation of the sport and is also quite disrespectfull towards the guys that really are champs! Through blood sweat n tears!!
just coz you beat your oponent today doesn't mean you will beat him tomorrow! The ring sport is a gambling sport as anything can happen and there is always someone better round the corner! But like I said just because they are better this doesn't mean they will always beat you! We can all win and lose and I really only want humble people to train with me so stop Reading now if yr going to tell me about your nieghbor LOL! I assure you that my knowledge is there should you contain the ingredience within to become a title holder! We are all champions in our own rights.
I have competed in every art I've practised and won some and lost some (well I've won more than lost) and am not claiming to be anything apart from a good coach! Some of the toughest guys I know choose not to get into the ring! Anyway, when that bell rings you are alone.
I am a hands on instructor with good technique and a professional manner. I'm sure certain people precieve my niceness as a weakness or maybe it's because they are not confident in themselves! ...(but I know who they are bless ;) ) LOL !!!. My students to me are everything, I have taken their well being and looked after them. I have even been known to cook for the fighters the day they fight to make sure that they are fuelled up properly.
On June the 8th 2008 I was inspired by certain students to fight at the Absolute adrenaline night at the Opera house in Boscombe. It is a big thing at any age top get into the ring in front of a large audience but at the age of 38 it is even harder,especially when all your students are watching the pressure is on even more to win! I fought a bull of a man called John Holdaway, a local business man and boxer! He was an amazing opponent and we both wore our hearts on our sleves that night. The crowd was in a frenzy when we battled it out. Between us we created the fight of the night for the white collar boxing, it was my first boxing bout ever. I won the fight and was also awarded the fighter of the night and won the londsdale challenge title belt.
At the end of 2008 I was introduced to Steven Bendall the current British middle weight title holder whose record, title and experience speaks for itself. We have touched gloves and between us have opened our new gym and it is an honour to be working along side a professional boxer.
I know my heart stops at Muay Thai and all I wish to leave you with is a big thank you for taking the time to read about me and should you choose me to be your instructor you will receive an authentic teaching and my up most attention! The student, instructor relationship is all about respect, in my class anyway!
Muay Thai offers so much to those who practice it! Apart from the health / fitness and self defense attributes it can help to focus you and aid towards a good healthy mind and rich sense of well- being! Im passionate about Muay Thai thats why i teach it, it should be shared it's amazing.
kind regards khru Glenn lewis
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Instructor
