Barnsley kickboxer celebrates medal haul
Barnsley’s teenage kickboxing champion Max Emeny recently added two golds and a silver to his medal collection having won his bouts at the WKO World Open Championship held at Metrodome.
Max then added 12 kilos to his weight as he posed for photos wearing all the medals he’d won since starting to compete in the sport aged nine.
"I’ve trained as a kickboxer as far back as I can remember," said Emeny, who turned 17 in June and who lives in Worsbrough with mum Steph, stepdad and two siblings.
"I guess I’ve done well to sport 12 kilos of medals plus quite a few trophies. But it’s what I love. It’s made me who I am. Such success as I’ve had is down to high quality teaching and training from my coaches at The Combat Academy or TCA and particularly Mick Crossland and Gasan Gindra as well as the mutual support that all us fighters offer each other.
"I started at TCA at the old premises in Wombwell as one of the original ninjas and now we’re based in top quality state of the art facilities at Claycliffe Business Park. It’s often said but it’s nonetheless true that we’re a family."
A family whose many members are busy fundraising to send a cohort as part of Team England to the ISKA world championships in Brisbane, Australia in October.
Said Max: "There’s lots of sanctioning bodies in combat sports but for kickboxing ISKA is arguably the most prestigious. This will be my third time at the event. I went to Vienna, Austria in 2024, Munich, Germany in 2023 and Kema, Turkey in 2022 where I won medals at all three events.
"Last year I did a sponsored skydive. This year it’s been a bit more down to earth with long and quite gruelling sponsored spars in the gym. Getting the chance to travel and meet competitors from different countries and cultures is an important part of it. But nothing comes close to the exhilaration of winning. This autumn it’s my chance to win gold on the world stage down under."
"No one works harder than Max," confirmed Mick Crossland. "Everything he’s achieved has come from consistent concentration and application of what he’s been taught.
"He’s always been dedicated and a good listener and he’s at the gym at least twelve hours a week. Max is a role model both for children his age and for the younger children who look up to him including his cousin Jacob who’s recently qualified for our fight competitor team aged 10.
"Max is also intellectually gifted. Proof that it’s possible to combine academic ability with physical prowess. He’s a very tough, resilient person both physically and mentally."
"I don’t feel I’m missing out on anything," agreed Max. "I have the social life that suits me in a welcoming, friendly and positive community. The truth is I enjoy the art of fighting. It’s exhilarating. There can be a beautifully brutal brutality to it.
"Although I’ve hurt some opponents there’s no cruelty. Fighters expect to be tested and challenged and relish rough and tumble. That’s what makes it fun. I no longer have enhanced protection in a bout. I mainly fight K1 kickboxing which allows upper body knee strikes and kicks to legs, body and head. All boxing techniques to head and body are legal."
A former student of Horizon High School, Emeny starts year 13 at Greenhead College near Huddersfield next month.
He said: "I’m studying Philosophy, Psychiatry and Art. I’m hoping that philosophy will allow me to study law at university. But I’m good at art so why not an apprenticeship in tattoo artistry? I’ve a thirst for knowledge. I read. I write. I draw. I’ve sold some drawings. The worst thing a person can be is ignorant. I’m frightened of being ignorant and complacent. Hope that makes sense.
"I like to have full knowledge of what’s going on, what I’m doing. Kickboxing has helped me grow in confidence and allows me to control my autism. There’s nothing I’d change, although it’s time to update my photo on the TCA Hall of Fame’ I’ve said goodbye to that young boy. I’m enthusiastic for what the future holds including hopefully becoming a national amateur kickboxing champion. But why stop there?"
Individuals or companies potentially willing to sponsor Max should contact Steph Rowett at [email protected] .