Kick. Punch. Strike… My journey to Full Function

I’ve always loved martial arts. Inspired by Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan, I threw myself into Praying Mantis kung fu as a teenager, later expanding into Shaolin kung fu, judo, fencing, and weapons training at university. But like many people, I quickly got caught up in “real life”. A deskbound career in web development took over, and training fell to the side.

The pain crept in slowly – a nagging lower backache, sharp pain in my sacrum, discomfort that made even walking difficult. Years at a desk made it worse, and I was finally diagnosed with non-radiographic axial spondylarthritis (a precursor to Ankylosing Spondylitis). I spent years on anti-inflammatories, but my health continued to decline. Moving hurt. Fatigue was constant. I felt stuck – and far older than my years.

Then one particularly painful day, I made a choice: ‘Fight’ back.

I returned to kung fu, just to get moving again. But before I knew it, I was deep in training, pushing through the belts, rebuilding my strength, and moving better than I had in years.

Then, just months before my black belt grading, I hit another wall. My condition flared up hard, making work and training almost impossible. But the warrior spirit I had rebuilt refused to back down. After working with specialists, I switched to a different medication, and the impact was life-changing – chronic fatigue lifted, and for the first time in years, I had ‘normal’ levels of energy.

I wasn’t going to waste it.

I doubled down on training, earned my black belt, and later began teaching at classes. I added kickboxing to my fitness journey, followed by various Tai Chi and Shaolin forms – ultimately rediscovering what it felt like to be strong, mobile, and powerful again… Deeply committed to this journey for a lifetime, I knew that I had to keep on moving – and that I was in a perfect position to help others do the same.

Fight for YOUR Fitness

I became a qualified Gym Instructor and Personal Trainer, founding Full Function to help others fight their way to fitness – whether they’re martial artists looking to build strength, or everyday brawlers battling fatigue, excessive weight, stress, and self-doubt.

The truth is, progress isn’t about being the strongest or the fastest – it’s about showing up, pushing past limits, and refusing to quit. Every missed rep, every tough session, every setback is part of the journey. Growth comes from challenge, not comfort.

At Full Function, I don’t train for aesthetics – I train for function, movement, and real-world strength. Whether you’re a martial artist looking to build next-level endurance outside of classes, a fighter at heart who wants to hit pads and sweat, or someone battling against lethargy, stress, or chronic issues like mine – I see you. I’ve been there. I step into that ring daily, too.

Through a mix of martial arts, padwork, and functional strength training, I help people build bodies that move well and feel strong – but more importantly, I also help them develop the mindset to keep growing, adapting, and fighting forward.

It’s YOU versus YOUR limits, YOUR struggles in a lifelong fight for YOUR growth, YOUR fitness...