Success breeds success for geniuses of Genesis (From Bucks Free Press)

Wycombe club hopeful of world title hat-trick

3:24pm Tuesday 29th January 2013 in Sport By Alan Feldberg

THREE kick-boxers from Bucks are hoping to fly the flag for Wycombe by winning a hat-trick of gold medals at the world championships in Greece – if they can raise the money to get there.

Louise Birkett, Archie Thompson and Kieran Johnson have a string of British titles between them and Thompson also won a world crown at his only appearance on the biggest stage of all three years ago.

Now, the trio are planning a trip to Athens in May with the intention of bringing more silverware back to their club Genesis Martial Arts.

Instructor Matt Jackson said: “They’re the trailblazers, the cream of the crop and we’re all really proud of them “Archie has won everything. He’s a very intelligent fighter and he’s extremely determined.

“He just wears people down and at his weight he is very difficult to beat.

“Louise has never been before but she’s just getting to the level where she’ll be competitive at a world championship and she is definitely going there with medal chances.”

Johnson is the unknown quality, but he’s emerged from Thomson’s shadow recently to earn the confidence of his coaches.

Jackson said: “It’s difficult to say if they’re favourites because you don’t know who their opponents will be, but they’re all top fighters in the UK and they’re all going there with good chances.”

Getting three members from one club to this level of competition is quite an achievement.

But, with five of their eight coaches winning golds at national level or higher, Genesis is living proof that success breeds success.

Now, just two years after being formed, that expertise is beginning to filter down to its students.

Jackson said: “You might get a club where one coach was a top fighter, but this is absolutely unheard of.

“I’m a former British champion, some of the other coaches are former world champions...we’ve got a wealth of experience that we can pass down to the kids.

“We know what work ethic is required, we know what the kids need to do technically and as a club we’re always striving to achieve more and to do better.”

For details about training times and venues or to sponsor any of the world championship hopefuls go to www.genesis-ma.com or email jacksonkickboxing@yahoo.co.uk