Miles Martial Arts is celebrating again after what is turning out to be a summer to remember for the local Taekwon-do & Kickboxing club. Following the exciting news last month that the Crockham Hill and Woldingham instructor Benn Fillinham from Biggin Hill, Kent has been picked to represent Great Britain at the European Kickboxing Championships this November and at the World Championships next year.
It has now been announced that a second instructor from Miles Martial Arts has been chosen. David Cross, 30, who heads up the kickboxing division as well as being a full time Taekwon-do instructor in Hildenborough, fought off stiff competition to be picked to represent Team GB in the 69kg and under category. After months of gruelling training sessions up and down the country, the good news was finally broken following a weekend tough training camp involving over 100 kickboxers.
Having taught Taekwon-do for over 10 years, David Cross used his previous boxing experience to venture into the kickboxing arena early last year. He obtained his first kickboxing black belt at the end of 2022 after a one to one grading under the WAKO GB (World Association Kickboxing Organisation) President, 8th Dan, Mr Peter Edwards . It was his impressive display of technique, skill and ability that prompted Mr Peter Edwards to suggest David’s entry into the kickboxing championship trials.
Come November, students, friends and family will be cheering on these two Team GB contenders who have shown exactly what hard work and dedication can achieve, with kickboxing now recognised as an Olympic sport, (the 2028 Olympics being the first kickboxing will be entered). In further good news for the club, a weekend of Taekwon-do competitions last month proved fruitful in the medal department.
Peter Lines, 14, from Sevenoaks, won gold at the UKTA championships in London, whilst the Impact competition in Guilford produced nine medals across patterns, sparring and technical performance categories. A special achievement for several of the students of whom this was their first ever competition.
• Miles Martial Arts is a family friendly club runs classes seven days a week in Hildenborough teaching ages three to Adults. There are also classes at Crockham Hill, Woldingham, Kent College and Hillview School for Girls. For further information or for a free two week trial please visit www.miles-martial-arts.co.uk.
