Jenson Kelly World Champs 2024

It's the 12th of August 2012, myself and Jo are sitting watching the London Olympics. Jo is 4 months pregnant with our first child (Jenson). Inspired by the Olympic athletes, I said to her “one day our child is going to be a world champion”…Fast forward 12 years, that’s 625 weeks and 4391 days and I am here writing this page out to ask for help in making my son Jenson’s dreams come true in becoming a world champion, in potentially 4 separate categories in Kickboxing/Boxing, in Frankfurt (Germany) October 2024.

Jenson’s story began when he first stepped through the doors at Bailang kickboxing, Telford in 2017, when he was just 4 years and 9 months old. I wanted him to learn the martial art of kickboxing to help with fitness and skills, to channel his energy and most importantly, discipline. He was already showing signs that he was naturally gifted in physical activities, so it was a natural move for him to focus on a physical discipline.

Through the years he has trained consistently 3-4 times a week in a hectic schedule with the support of his family, working through various belts, always staying at the top of his age range and becoming a junior coach at the age of 10 years old, under the supervision of Lee Whitfield.

Like with all sports, he has had lots of ups and downs, and this has conditioned him mentally to be able to be in the strong position he stands today. In May 2024 he finally made that jump to put his name on the map under the watchful eye of his new club AW Kickboxing (Wolverhampton) under coach Amie Weaver at the British Open championships, which was hosted by the WKU/ICO here in his hometown at Telford International Centre.

Storming through all of his weight category of -35kg to take gold on a very emotional day, even after picking up an injury to his Achilles/calf during a fight, the officials tried to call it off. Showing pure grit and determination Jenson continued throughout the compeition. Quitting was not an option and he fought through the injury getting that gold he craved for so many years. Achieving this has now automatically qualified him to step up to the biggest stage in the world, in Germany to face the best in 4 different categories to be world Champion.

Jenson prepares and trains like an adult professional athlete. His attitude and mindset are pretty incredible for a child of 11.5 years old. He trains kickboxing and boxing 5 days

a week and also completes runs, conditioning and monitors all of his food intake to keep at the required weight of -35kg all year round.

With the world championships being in Germany, we have flights to cover for myself and Jenson, entrance fees to the tournament, his England kit, accommodation and transfers to the sports stadium for 4 days (October 10th-14th 2024), alongside regular training sessions in Birmingham with the England squad. This opportunity will come to a total cost of approx £1200.

Jenson isn’t academically skilled and struggles with concentrating in school, so kickboxing is his chance to shine, and physical sports/competition is where his passion lies. All kids are different in their strengths and weaknesses and wherever he has lacked talent he made up for with effort and hard work. His new senior school have granted special permission for him to miss school in October to hopefully come back and celebrate him in his sporting achievements.

All help towards this is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your help.

Team Kelly.