A NEW martial arts gym opened in Inverell at the back of the Inverell Boys Club on March 26, by local Muay-Thai (kick boxing) champion Darren Finn.
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What makes the opening more remarkable is the fact that following a bad car accident in 1995 Finn was told he would never compete again.
Before the accident, he had won three regional kick-boxing championships. A year after the accident Finn went to the ISKA World championships at the Homebush Centre in Sydney and won the gold medal.
“Ian ‘Powerhouse’ Jacobs, the world champion, saw me and invited me to live with him for a year,” Finn said.
“I had 18 wins and in that time won two Australian titles in kick boxing and Muay-Thai and had taken out some of Australia’s best at that point.”
Finn said his subsequent career took him onto the world stage as he competed against some of the kick boxers in the world.
He said his school offers training in kick boxing, Muay Thai and boxing.
“I came into boxing late, but I have experience everything first hand. I’ve been open for four weeks and we’re taking in new clients each week,” Finn said.
He said he has 50 registrations so far.
“We’re starting off with kinder kids and our oldest clients are in their 50s, so it shows you the interest we have,” Finn said.
“It’s an amazing, tough sport, but the thing about it is it teaches discipline.
“We work really well with the Boys Club and they’re doing everything they can to help us and vice-versa.