Andy Melville, achieves his 1st Dan in Kickboxing

The long journey and losing the door on basic training has been achieved my Andy Melville of the South West Kickboxing Academy (SWKA). Andy has been training with the SWKA for 3.5-4 years and finally hit the level where he has mastered the basics and now starts on the path of his real learning. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to achieve the level of 1st Dan in any Martial Art.

They say out of every 10,000 people who take up Martial Arts only 10 people get to 1st Dan. It is also a very special achievement for the SWKA club and head coach 4th Dan Steve Lilley. As it is Steve’s and the clubs first ever student in its 8.5 year history, that they have taken a student who hasn’t transferred in from another club and reached the level of 1st Dan.

Andy’s grading took place up at South West kickboxing, where 2nd Dan Mike Rowling successfully passed his 3rd Dan in kickboxing in a joint session between the 2 Martial Arts Clubs, which have a long history together between head coaches 4th Dan Steve Lilley and 3rd Dan Mike Rowling, going back to 2003/04 when Steve and Mike both trained as part of Kicksport UK. Gareth Banner-Taylor also successfully passed his 1st Dan to.

Anyone wishing to take up kickboxing, or has been inspired by Andy’s achievements, they should contact Steve on 0777386358, email sculpting_fitness@hotmail.com, or visit the SWKA website www.swkickboxingacademy.com for more details.