Plenty of pain but glory just reward for kick-boxing Lee

Sep 10 2008 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

ELITE Martial Arts chief instructor Lee Charles will soon have to buy a new trophy cabinet after adding another two world titles to his collection and earning a place in the Guinness Books of Records.

But fame and glory came at a hefty price for Charles, who is the current World, European and British kick-boxing Champion.

Earning his way into the record books for the most rounds sparred in a single day resulted in him losing more than a stone in weight, sustaining broken ribs, concussion, dehydration, internal bruising and swelling.

Then just a few days later, he competed at World Martial Arts Championships in Ireland for Great Britain – despite being told by doctors to get complete rest for eight weeks.

Lee said: “This was without doubt the hardest thing that I have ever gone through in my life. It was just a case of being physically fit but also mentally fit.”

Previously set at 161 rounds, Lee managed to smash the world record by sparring for 167 rounds over eight hours against UFC star Jason Tan and 10 times World Kick-boxing Champion Robbie Hughes – all in aid of Claire House Children’s Charity.

Lee added: “The mental preparation was the most important for me. If I had one single doubt, then I possibly wouldn’t have completed or surpassed the current record, but I did and now it’s mine.

“No-one in the world has ever completed that amount of rounds before and in order for them to break my record, they are going to have to put themselves through the same hell I have. But if I do, I’m ready to go again.”

After the setting the new record, Lee was taken to hospital for a full check up and was advised to rest for eight weeks – after all, he had just pushed his body to its limits.

But after smashing the record on the Saturday, Lee was unable to walk until the following Thursday.

Despite his doctor’s, he joined the Great Britain team at the World Martial Arts Championships in Ireland still struggling to walk the following Friday.

He then went on to fight in two different categories, coming away with yet another two world kick-boxing titles.

Lee said: “I knew that I had to compete at these World Championships and I really wanted to add to my run of recent successes – did I expect to win? Not really.

“I just put my mind to where it needed to be at the time and thought about what would get me through each fight.”

The Wirral kick-boxer also got the chance to fight alongside his students – Adrian Hartley (silver), Roscoe Foley (silver), Alex Duncan (silver), Steven Culshaw and Stephanie Pryce – for Team GB.

Lee added: “I feel so lucky to come back this year and it was also great to be fighting on a GB team with my students, who all fought exceptionally well – some achieving world medals. We are lucky to be producing such a high standard of students at my academy.”