Ryan kickboxes his way to unique treble
Shropshire teenager Ryan Marlow has created a slice of kickboxing history - by holding all three versions of the junior world title at the same time.Shropshire teenager Ryan Marlow has created a slice of kickboxing history - by holding all three versions of the junior world title at the same time. The 13-year-old, a pupil at the Phoenix School in Dawley, won the WKA crown in Spain at the start of the month. That follows on from success in the ISKA and WAKO versions last year, with Lee Matthews - his coach at the Lee Matthews Blackbelt Academy - believing him to be the first junior ever to do the treble. Ryan's latest golden moment came in Andalucia, where he triumphed in the junior under-55kgs semi-contact division. His achievement was all the more remarkable as he was fighting in the 13-to-17s age group and, as such, was one of the youngest competitors. "Ryan's really worked for it," said Matthews. "Success like his does not come easily and he trains every day. He puts in as much effort as a professional athlete and he's getting his rewards." Fighters from 20 countries were taking part in Spain, Ryan coming up against entrants from Italy, America, Canada, Greece, Wales and Ireland in his category. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star
Shropshire teenager Ryan Marlow has created a slice of kickboxing history - by holding all three versions of the junior world title at the same time.
The 13-year-old, a pupil at the Phoenix School in Dawley, won the WKA crown in Spain at the start of the month.
That follows on from success in the ISKA and WAKO versions last year, with Lee Matthews - his coach at the Lee Matthews Blackbelt Academy - believing him to be the first junior ever to do the treble.
Ryan's latest golden moment came in Andalucia, where he triumphed in the junior under-55kgs semi-contact division.
His achievement was all the more remarkable as he was fighting in the 13-to-17s age group and, as such, was one of the youngest competitors.
"Ryan's really worked for it," said Matthews. "Success like his does not come easily and he trains every day. He puts in as much effort as a professional athlete and he's getting his rewards."
Fighters from 20 countries were taking part in Spain, Ryan coming up against entrants from Italy, America, Canada, Greece, Wales and Ireland in his category.
The young teenager saw off rivals from Northern Ireland and Germany to set up a meeting with a strongly fancied 17-year-old Canadian.
Ryan was giving away four years and a considerable height advantage to his opponent but did not let it faze him, controlling the bout from start to finish to win 13-3.
He met a second Northern Irish opponent in what proved to be an extremely tough final.
The scores were level after the first two-minute round, but Ryan's speed and stamina came to the fore in the second as he landed several penetrating counter side-kicks and reverse punches to win 18-13.
There was further success for the Lee Matthews Blackbelt Academy, with another of their students - Marc Hudson - coming home with a bronze medal.
Twelve-year-old Marc, a pupil at the Lord Silkin School in Stirchley, was competing in the 12-and-unders section.
Matthews himself hopes to add to the club's roll of honour later this month when he travels to Italy to compete in the senior edition of the WAKO world championships.
