Here at NETA Training, we love to hear about our learners’ success in and outside of the classroom.

As it turns out our current pipefitting apprentices are a force to be reckoned with.

We currently have three of the group at the top of their game in their respective sports.

Among them kickboxer, Paddy, who scooped the International Combat Organisation (ICO) Northern Area Final Title in April, and brought home the Kickboxing (Full Contact) English Title 16-17 years at the 2025 WKO English Open Championships early this year.

“I started kickboxing when I was five or six,” said the 17-year-old from Normanby.  “Back then it was just something that was good to learn.”

He clearly had a talent for the sport as he brought home several titles, even fighting in the World Championships in Germany and England and winning gold at the five nations, but by 12 he decided to take a break.

“That was something that I regretted, and I always planned to take it back up, but I kept putting it off,” he said.

At 16 he eventually returned to the ring, and he hasn’t looked back.

Now training with Impact Martial Arts in South Bank, he is back on form, even travelling to Austria last year where he won two bronze medals at the World Championships.

Taking two gold medals and a silver at the 2025 WKO English Open Championships, he was offered the chance to fight for a title and while it was a tough match he won.

Training at the gym six days a week, as well as running most mornings, he is well and truly committed to his sport.

For him, he said, kickboxing not only builds his physical strength, but it is great for his mental wellbeing too.

When he was competing as a child, Paddy admits he became quite blasé about the belts and the silverware, but he said: “Now I have got the buzz for it.  When you are in a fight there is so much to lose but when you win, it is a mint feeling.”