Medal success for first-time competitive kickboxer

Saturday 09 February 2019

A local fighter has won big at a national kickboxing tournament by taking home two medals - despite it being his first ever competition.

Michael Conway was one of a trio of local fighters from Tae Kwon Do Jersey Club and Graccie Barra MMA Jersey Club, who recently shone in the Watford Open Nationals kickboxing tournament.

He was awarded a gold and a bronze medal, while Jennifer Taylor gained a silver one and Eddie McCann nabbed two bronze.

Michael had to fight heavier opponents in plus 75kg division but managed to take the upper hand. Depsite it being his first competition, he won all of his fights by unanimous decisions. He also fought in minus 75kg, but lost a very close match on a split decision, winning a bronze medal.

Speaking after the fight, Michael said that as much as fighting is an individual sport on the mat, he wouldn’t have been able to win without a “a strong base of coaches and team mates”, which include Monika Markowska, the head instructor of Tae Kwon Do Jersey Club, Rob Staples, the head coach at Gracie Barra and boxing coach Lucas Wawrzyczek.

Pictured: Michael Conway scored big in what was his first competition.

“As the competitor you need the drive, willingness to learn and dedication to the sport, but without help from everyone else, I would have got nowhere on competition day,” Michael added. “For me, the medals were just recognition that I’ve had the best preparation from the people surrounding me. Even though it was my first competition, my mindset on the day, was to win. This wouldn’t have been possible without the people mentioned above.”

Jennifer said that attending the Watford Open Nationals was a great experience. “The atmosphere and the support make it the kind of event you want to attend time and again,” she explained. 

After winning the semi-final, she gave everything she had in the final of the ladies 65kg division. Despite a very strong performance, she had to settle for a silver medal.

Her coach, Monika, who travelled with the fighters, said: “The split decision was very controversial as for everybody - including the main referee she has won this battle.”

Pictured: Jennifer Taylor won a silver medal.

“As a team we had some fantastic fights with our coach Monika always there to encourage us and give advice throughout,” Jennifer said. “Although I lost the final on points, I couldn't be happier with my performance - when all the hard work comes together you can really see how far you've come. Though there's still plenty of room for improvement, I hope I made my coaches and all my training partners proud and I'd like to thank them for their continued support. Onto the next one!”

Finally, 54-year-old Eddie McCann won two bronze medals in the Veterans plus 75kg, and Colour Belts plus division. Both of his fights were very close but he eventually lost on split decisions.

Eddie commented: “The "light-continuous" discipline in kickboxing is a relatively new discipline to me, having previously in my younger years only competed in karate competitions both in England and Guernsey. 

“It's only been in the last three and a half years since turning 50, and since taking up kickboxing with Monika; that I have taken part in two boxing matches and one K1 kickboxing match. I have some wins and some losses under my belt to date.”

Pictured: Eddie McCann took up kickboxing just over three years ago.

Eddie says that the older he get, the more he tries to temper his expectations, but he's still pushing ahead. “I certainly think that there are still many personal victories ahead for me and hopefully some more wins to be had as well.”

He also thanked his coach, Monika, “for all the endless hard work that she puts into our training,” adding that none of the team’s victories would have been possible without her “ongoing support.”

Monika said she was “mega proud” of her team, regardless of the colour of the medals they won. “Actually, I would be even with no medals,” she added. A fighter herself, she is familiar with the ups and downs of training, but she says that it’s amazing to watch the fighters she coaches “improving from training to training, to watch them push themselves and each other.” “It is just priceless and the word "proud" can't really describe it,” she said.

The team has now gone back to training ahead of the Irish Open, which will take place in less than four weeks, the first weekend in March.