Raptor Kickboxing

HAPPY 60TH BIRTHDAY GRAND MASTER ANDREW HENNESSY

Today, the International Combat Organisation comes together to celebrate a very special milestone — the 60th Birthday of our World President, Founder and Grand Master, Andrew Hennessy.

For more than four decades, Andy has dedicated a huge part of his life to martial arts.

From a fierce competitor and multiple champion, through to instructor, coach, mentor and ultimately one of the most respected leaders within our sport, his journey has been one built on determination, passion and an unwavering belief in martial arts and the people within it.

His competitive years helped shape the leader he would later become. Andy understood what it meant to step onto the mats and into the ring, to train, sacrifice, compete and win — but also what it meant to pass that experience and knowledge on to the next generation.

In 2009, Andrew Hennessy founded the International Combat Organisation, with a vision of bringing martial artists from different disciplines and backgrounds together and creating genuine opportunities for fighters, coaches, instructors and officials around the world.

What began as a vision has grown into an international martial arts family now represented across more than 55 countries worldwide.

But perhaps Andy's greatest legacy isn't measured by the number of countries, championships, titles or events.

It's measured by people.

The fighters who were given an opportunity.

The coaches who were trusted to lead.

The officials who were encouraged to develop.

The countries and organisations that were welcomed into the ICO family.

And the thousands of martial artists whose journeys have been influenced by what he created.

There are people within our sport today who first trained under Andy almost 40 years ago and who have gone on to become champions, coaches, instructors and Masters in their own right.

That is a legacy very few people ever achieve.

Today, Andy continues to lead the International Combat Organisation as its World President and Founder and is recognised as an 8th Dan Grand Master.

However, those of us fortunate enough to know the man behind the title know there is much more to Andrew Hennessy than Grand Master, Champion or World President.

He is someone with an enormous heart.

Someone who genuinely cares about people.

Someone who will do anything he can to help others, often without expecting anything in return.

And someone whose love and passion for martial arts remains as strong today as ever.

So today, from everyone within the International Combat Organisation — our World Executive, National Presidents, Directors, coaches, officials, fighters, families and friends across more than 55 countries around the world — we simply want to say:

Thank you, Sir.

Thank you for your leadership.

Thank you for your friendship.

Thank you for the opportunities you have created.

Thank you for believing in people.

And most importantly, thank you for creating something that so many of us are incredibly proud to call our ICO family.

🥋 43+ YEARS IN MARTIAL ARTS
🏆 FIERCE COMPETITOR & MULTIPLE CHAMPION
🌍 FOUNDER OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMBAT ORGANISATION
🌎 MORE THAN 55 COUNTRIES WORLDWIDE
🏆 ICO WORLD PRESIDENT
🥋 8TH DAN GRAND MASTER
❤️ MENTOR • LEADER • TEACHER • FRIEND

Happy 60th Birthday, Grand Master Andrew Hennessy.

We hope you enjoy this very special day surrounded by your beautiful family and those closest to you.

You have spent decades creating opportunities, memories and friendships for others across the martial arts world.

Today is about you, Sir.

From your entire ICO family across the world...

HAPPY 60TH BIRTHDAY ANDY! 🎂🌍🥋❤️

With our greatest respect, gratitude and friendship.

THE INTERNATIONAL COMBAT ORGANISATION
The Home of Combat Martial Arts

Following on from yesterday’s post… here’s another one 😂 really made me chuckle but also so true 🙄

“My child has decided they want to quit kickboxing.”

They’re SIX 😭😂

Last week they wanted to be a YouTuber.

Yesterday they had a complete meltdown because you gave them the wrong colour cup.

This morning they decided they’re never eating vegetables again.

And now, somehow, they’ve made a calm, rational, long term decision about their martial arts future 😂

So we ask…

“What’s made them want to stop?”

“Well… their friend doesn’t come anymore.”

Ahhhh.

There it is 😂

So after months, sometimes YEARS, of building confidence, discipline, fitness, resilience and learning not to give up when things get hard…

We’re now putting the final decision in the hands of another 6 year old who probably wants to be Batman when they grow up 😂

Of course, sometimes children genuinely stop enjoying something. We should listen to them.

But other times?

They’re tired.

They’d rather be on the Xbox.

Their mate stopped coming.

They had a harder class than normal.

They got corrected by a coach.

Or, shock horror…

Their instructor actually asked them to concentrate and do kickboxing… in a kickboxing lesson 😭😂

There’s a massive difference between a child genuinely not enjoying something anymore and a child simply having a wobble.

Sometimes parenting is listening.

Sometimes parenting is…

“That’s absolutely fine mate. Get your kit on, we’re leaving in 10 minutes.” 😂🥊

Because confidence, discipline and resilience aren’t built by quitting every time we don’t fancy something.

Parents and martial arts coaches…

What’s the funniest reason you’ve ever heard for wanting to quit? 😂👇

Again stolen for Carl Denne 🙄🤣🙏

Luckily in this situation, they can be a dinosaur and a kick-boxer with

Parents…… Don’t let a 5 year old be the boss of you!? 😳🙄🤣

“My child is shy.”
“He lacks confidence.”
“He doesn’t listen.”
“He gives up too easily.”

Okay… so martial arts sounds pretty perfect then.

But PLEASE stop letting a 5-year-old make the final decision on whether they should try something that could actually help them 😭

He said no to broccoli yesterday too.

Book. The. Trial.

www.raptorkickboxing.co.uk

Borrow from a friend (Carl Denne)

So true…

2 dates for squad training sessions prior to the upcoming competition season in September.

Try not to do this…

Yesterday one of my students brought in an actual Raptor tooth!!!

Congratulations to Cayson who is our kick-boxer of the month for July 2026!!! Cayson never misses a lesson and just gets on with whatever is asked of him.