5 Newfoundland athletes are kicking their way from Paradise to Budapest

In an industrial park off Kenmount Road in Paradise, nestled between the area's MHA office and a dance company, sits an unlikely spot for a kickboxing training ground.

Inside, through, the grey exterior gives way to padded blue mats on the floor lying just below red and green punching bags taking a beating at the hands — and feet — of athletes honing their skills.

For the past three years Warrior Elite Kickboxing has been slowly, but not so quietly, growing its membership — currently more than 60 students — and reputation. 

Kickboxing coach and longtime student of martial arts Fred Holloway is the driving force behind the gym.

"It's been growing into being a really big sport here in Newfoundland. There are multiple clubs here," said Holloway.

It's loud when the large legs of the athletes crush the hanging bags. They show off massive bruises on their legs, talk about healing broken noses, and laugh when asked if it's fun to hit someone.

In late April, 10 athletes from the gym — Warrior Elite's biggest team yet — travelled to Ontario to take part in 14 events in the 2024 Canadian national championship. Holloway ticked off their accomplishments: "Four national titles, five silver medals and five bronze."

• Once facing uncertain future in Canada, this kickboxer just won a championship for N.L.

Warrior Elite Kickboxing is the result of Holloway refocusing on the sport after a cancer diagnosis in 2012. 

"I had melanoma back in the day and fully recovered, but have had a couple of bouts since," he said. "Everything's been good, so I keep doing this for the health reasons alone." 

Holloway teaches the students but he also leads by example: one of the bronze medals won at last month's national event in Niagara Falls is his.

• Yellowknife kickboxing coach guides Canadian youth team to best finish at world championship

In late summer, the most talented kickboxers on the planet, including five athletes from the gym in Paradise, will be heading to Budapest, Hungary, for the 2024 World Association of Kickboxing Organizations' youth world championships.

It's Conception Bay South kickboxer Anna Snow's second kick at the tournament, having come second in her event in Italy in 2022.

WATCH | Kickboxers prep their skills for youth world championships: 

‘Give them hell’: N.L. kickboxers set sights on world junior championships in Budapest

6 months ago

Duration 2:07

Students from Warrior Elite Kicking in Paradise proved they’re a force to be reckoned with, coming back from the Canadian championships with four gold, five silver and five bronze medals. As the CBC’s Jeremy Eaton reports, the athletes are now gearing up to take on the best in the world later this summer.

Snow will be joined by teammates Braden Evans, Leah Quinton, Isabelle Quinton and Caden Stock.

Quinton and Stock took home golden belts as top competitors in their divisions at the national championship in Ontario. During a break at a recent practice, Stock said they're ready to represent Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada in Hungary.

"We're going to go give them hell up there."

The 2024 youth world championships run from Aug. 23-Sept. 1.

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