A Cumbrian 16-year-old has been crowned kickboxing world champion for his age group.
Tom Johnston, of Seaton, fought for England and scooped the gold medal at the WKU World Kickboxing Championship in Cardiff.
Tom, a Keswick School Sixth Form student, said: “It was a good fight in the final and I loved every second of it. This couldn’t have been done without the best team behind me, it looks like an individual sport, but you can’t do this on your own.”
But the win is just one of many for Tom, who has been involved in several forms of martial arts since a very young age.
His dad, Frank, 45, said: “Many years ago when he first started he did karate and jiu-jitsu as a really young child. He was four when he first started and he picked up a karate black belt at 10 and he has continued with his main coach Trevor Cunningham at Tapout Knockout in Workington since.
“He doesn’t train formally in kickboxing, but because of his training in jiu-jitsu he entered a British championship in 2018. I drove him to championships in Birmingham but we didn’t know what would happen and he ended up coming away with the title belt and winning it. Because he won that, he got an automatic entry into Athens and as a 13 year old he won the worlds the too.”
Since then, Tom has continued training in MMA and spent months travelling to Birmingham to train in kickboxing with the England team in preparation for the Cardiff championships.
Competing against fighters from America, Scotland and England, Frank said Tom remained calm and collected during his final fight for the title.
Frank added: “During his final he fought a really experienced lad from London and beat him. The fight really went the distance so it was in the hands of the judges and from watching he looked in control but did take a big shot near the end where his gum shield was kicked out of his mouth. He was overall really pleased with his win and had the England coach in his corner and he was delighted to step up for the celebration.
“He is just 100 per cent dedicated and has been for years and years. He trains six days a week, two hours an day and does a strength and conditioning programme with the same coach who also trains UFC fighters Paddy ‘the baddy’ Pimblett and ‘Meatball’ Molly McCann.”
Following his win, Tom gained automatic entry into the 2023 championships which will take place in Canada. He will also be fighting to defend his English kickboxing title in December and has been selected for the England MMA youth team.
Tom also just started sixth form at Keswick School, where he is studying PE and psychology. He aims to go into MMA fighting full time in the future.
Head coach Trevor Cunningham said he was ‘very proud’ of the start the young fighters have made to their careers.
