ALEXANDRIA, Ky. (WKRC) — Eight Northern Kentucky martial artists are making ready to take their abilities to the world stage, representing Group USA at a world competitors in France.
Athletes from McClendon Martial Arts in Alexandria have certified for the ICO World Fight Martial Arts Championships, scheduled for Oct. 14–18 in Thonon-les-Bains, France.
Athletes from McClendon Martial Arts in Alexandria have certified for the ICO World Fight Martial Arts Championships, scheduled for Oct. 14–18 in Thonon-les-Bains, France. (WKRC)
The native group ranges in age from 11 to 47:
- Lilian Newman, 11
- Trent Baker, 13
- Skylar Dill, 14
- Michael Richeson, 15
- Mason Prieshoff, 16
- Addi Venneman, 17
- Amanda Richeson, 37
- Tony Baker, 47
The athletes will compete in a number of disciplines on the championships, together with karate level combating, K1 kickboxing and MMA, towards rivals from international locations world wide.
For the athletes, the journey is a chance to symbolize not solely Northern Kentucky, however the US on a world stage.
McClendon Martial Arts proprietor and head teacher Michael McClendon may also make the journey as considered one of Group USA’s coaches for Gentle Contact, K1 and Kickboxing. McClendon has in depth expertise competing on the world stage himself and stated he now will get much more satisfaction from serving to his college students develop.
“Working with the athletes right here and my college students, that is what I really like most. I really like that greater than competing,” McClendon stated. “I like to see them get by struggles, get by challenges, and develop.”
McClendon Martial Arts blends karate, kickboxing and MMA, with athletes coaching for all the pieces from native occasions to worldwide competitors.
The Alexandria health club is not any stranger to worldwide competitors. Its athletes have beforehand competed in Wales, Eire, Portugal and Canada, in accordance with the health club. In 2025, McClendon athletes introduced house 21 medals — together with seven golds — from the separate World Karate and Kickboxing Fee World Championships in Niagara Falls. A number of of the athletes headed to France this yr had been amongst these medalists. ([McClendon MMA][1])
McClendon stated, nevertheless, that the teachings he desires college students to take from martial arts prolong properly past successful medals or studying how one can battle.
“It teaches them confidence, teaches them how one can focus, teaches them to get by challenges and obstacles,” McClendon stated. “As a result of by life, we’re gonna face a lot of challenges, obstacles, whether or not it is work, life, and martial arts is gonna assist us get by that.”
The Worldwide Fight Group promotes competitors throughout a number of martial arts disciplines, with athletes from international locations world wide collaborating. McClendon can be listed by ICO America as considered one of Group USA’s coaches for Gentle Contact, K1 and Steady competitors. ([ICO America][2])
The eight Northern Kentucky athletes can have the prospect to place months of coaching to the check when competitors begins in France subsequent month.
