Everything must have a beginning and the Ultimate Sport Kickboxing Association was born of an ambition of just one man .......
Neil “FLEX” Kelly. What the association stands for is held within it’s ambitions and ideals, a principle of excellence in practice embodied within the philosophies of the Martial Arts. Striving to promote and further the development and profile of this dynamic sport and equally it’s participants.
It was in 1986 that at the tender age of just 11 that Neil Kelly first took up the sport under the instruction of E.C.K.A. ( English Contact Karate Association ) supremo Andrew Hennessy and it was after only two years of dedicated and rigorous training that he successfully passed his 1st degree black belt ,attaining top honours and in doing so becoming within the history of the association one of the youngest ever Dan grades.
The sport has many facets and appeals whether it be the fitness aspect, ring experience, the attainment of a black belt or the acquisition of confidence or the ability to defend ones self there is something for everyone. Whilst the young Neil Kelly was competent in all of the above it was the sparring aspect of the sport that was the highlight of his training, attending competitions and tournaments all over the country on a weekly basis fast developing a very successful fighting style and earning him many junior championship honours in both semi contact and light continuous systems as well as in freeform competition.
At this point not only did Neil continue his Karate training he also began to take instruction in Kung Fu from the well established midlands Sifu instructor Micha Hudson. Micha helped him develop a dynamic kicking style, one that is most prevalent within the make up of all accomplished U.S.K.A. Fighters and is now a trademark of the gym. As well as this Micha exposed him to new training methods and styles that would ultimately help him compete with any style of martial art he may encounter on the open circuit, and compete he did achieving tremendous success on all fronts.
In 1990 Neil continued his climb up the grading system with yet again top marks in achieving his 2nd Degree Black Belt still aged only fifteen years.
Neil’s hunger for Knowledge was insatiable and at this time he started to travel to the clubs of other instructors for extra tuition including “Solid” Colin Treasure and Winston Gordon. These two top E.C.K.A. Instructors whom had also been trained by Andrew Hennessy and E.C.K.A. Chief Instructor Howard Brown were to leave a lasting effect on Neil, not only in the help they gave him to develop as a fighter, but moreover in the way they brought out a confidence and character that would later be most evident in the unique teaching style that was to become Neil Kelly. It was late in that same year that saw Colin Treasure, Winston Gordon and professional boxer Justin Clements along with Neil Kelly open a gym in Birmingham City centre which was to be known as AEROKICK. Aerokick was an amalgamation of the knowledge and experience of all four of it’s instructors each bringing to it their own style of teaching thus offering students the best of four worlds, and for the immediate time after, Aerokick became the dominant force in every discipline they chose to compete in.
1992 saw Neil being offered a senior Instructors role with Anthony “Sparky” Arkinson who was at the time British Full Contact Champion. Sparky himself had decided to take a back seat in the running of his clubs and Neil saw this as a natural progression for his ambition, now having more say in the day to day running of the association and also for the first time having a little input in the content of the syllabus. Arkinsons kickboxing schools under Neil’s direction blossomed, and grew into a great success, whilst all the time Neil was himself still learning and developing as an instructor in preparation for the day when he would front his own gym and be calling all the shots.
Even though by now Neil was exclusively Sparky’s kickboxing instructor he continued his personal training Karate training under the auspice of his original mentor Andrew Hennessy at E.C.K.A.. It was in 1994 E.C.K.A. Underwent a major reshuffle in it’s top ranks, and in an attempt to reinvent itself and return the association to it’s former glory days and once again establish itself as the biggest contact Karate association in the country, they invited back all it’s former top name instructors and fighters to teach for them. Neil believing strength was in numbers duly transferred all his clubs back over to the E.C.K.A. organization. During this period Neil again graded with top honours for 3rd Degree black belt in 1995 continuing his climb through the ranks to the dizzy heights saved for all but the very few. He also stepped up his own competitive career and along with the E.C.K.A. British team captured the W.K.A. European Team Championship in Germany, and the I.K.K.C. World Team Title in Holland. This infectious success soon siphoned back through to his own gym with his Hall Green Club based in Birmingham taking the
British Team Championships Two years running. This provided Neil with proof enough that through his success as both a fighter and instructor the time was now right to realize his life long ambition and in 1996 with the backing of his three Birmingham based clubs formed his own association, one that now is U.S.K.A. ( Ultimate Sport Kickboxing Association. ) The coming of a new force within kickboxing had been born.
With total control over all elements of this new association Neil developed a more competitive orientated style to his syllabus whilst still incorporating a strong street and self defence ethos. Taking a little from all his former instructors and incorporating his vast knowledge and at the same time adding his own blend of distinctive magic he has today effected an unmistakably effective and unique fighting system, which students today can now benefit from. With his own softly spoken and yet very powerful presence a lesson from Neil in U.S.K.A. Kickboxing stays with students long after the session is over, with the emphasis being on the understanding and application of technique. The Association grew rapidly gaining tournament success at a tremendous rate and it’s reputation as a highly regarded gym spread quickly. Another land mark in the associations development was in 1998 when then Lau Gar practitioner Phillip Richards joined U.S.K.A., This is a man Neil regards as his final instructor. Bringing a totally unorthodox and flamboyant style to the ring Phillip notched up an amazing fight record winning numerous professional titles which has accumulated in him capturing the W.A.K.O Pro British Welterweight Title. Phillips other obvious talents as a full contact coach was also harnessed by Neil with Phillip always managing to bring out the best in him as a fighter and helping maintain Neil as unbeaten as a full contact fighter over a 13 year period, during which time he has gained W.K.A. Midland Area Title at Super Middleweight. The W.A.K.O. Pro English National Title at light Heavyweight. The I.S.K.A. British Light Heavyweight Title and in 2002 the I.SK.A. Commonwealth Light Heavyweight Title.
Another of Neil’s coaches and U.S.K.A. Senior instructor Allan McDonald has proved himself invaluable in preparing Neil for the full contact arena, when it comes to pushing Neil to the limits and getting that extra mile or round out his charge there is no one quite like him, he is someone Neil has come to have ultimate respect for, as both a coach and a fighter in his own right. Allan has himself amassed a handsome haul of silverware including 4 Amateur E.C.K.A. And W,K,A, British full contact Championships, and the professional W.A.K.O. Pro Midland Area Super Middleweight Title.
For his part Neil in total has gained 17 national titles in semi contact, light continuous free from and full contact competition. He has won numerous International, European and World Championship Medals in W.K.C,/ W.K.A / I.S.K.A./ I.K.K.C. Competition, and as to this date still remains unbeaten as a professional kick boxer. Throughout his years as a teacher he has coached his students to nearly 100 national titles and 20 International medal successes, Making him one of the most competent and successful fighter/Instructors in the U.K Today. It is a much widely accepted fact that success breeds success, it is little wonder then that students of Neil Kelly’s U.S.K.A. Gym are so prolific within all aspects of competition. A old proverb states “that to know the Master you have only to look at the student” the reverse is also true, and who would not want to emulate the career of this gladiator supreme, and master technician.
Achieving his 4th Dan in 2000 his technical ability remains unsurpassable and his U.S.K.A. Gym is continuing to grow and go from strength to strength, with the new breed of U.S.K.A. Champions coming through as we speak This is merely the beginning as for the middle and the end well that is yet to be written, who knows maybe you might be the one to help write it, but as for now.
THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT……THE FUTURE IS U.S.K.A!