What an incredible week for North Staffordshire Kickboxing at the 2026 ICO World Championships in France!
Representing ICO Team England, Ash and Ewan took to the international stage against some of the best competitors in the world, returning home with an outstanding seven medals: three golds, three silvers and one bronze.
For everyone at NSK, seeing our athletes compete at this level and achieve such fantastic results is something to be incredibly proud of. Behind every medal are hours of training, dedication, sacrifice and determination, and this championship was a fantastic reflection of the hard work both athletes have put in.
🥊 Seven medals on the world stage
Ash — Two consecutive years as a World Champion! 🏆
🥇 Gold — Inclusive Kata
🥇 Gold — Inclusive Pad Blast
🥈 Silver — Low Kick
Ash returned to the world stage following their success at the 2025 ICO World Championships, where they became World Champion in Inclusive Kata. In France, Ash continued that achievement, becoming a World Champion for the second consecutive year.
Retaining a world title is a remarkable accomplishment and reflects the consistency, dedication and determination required to compete at the highest level.
Alongside their two gold medals, Ash also stepped into a World Championship fight for the first time, earning silver in Low Kick. This was an important milestone in Ash’s competitive journey, providing valuable experience and a new challenge to build on as preparations begin for 2027.
From starting kickboxing in 2023 to becoming a two-time World Champion, Ash’s journey continues to demonstrate what can be achieved through commitment, perseverance and the right opportunities.
Ash is proudly sponsored by My Mortgage Wizards.
Ewan — His first ICO World Championship title! 🏆
🥇 Gold — Mat Continuous
🥈 Silver — Light Continuous
🥈 Silver — C1
🥉 Bronze — Low Kick
For Ewan, the 2026 championships marked a huge milestone as he became an ICO World Champion for the first time, taking gold in Mat Continuous.
Ewan’s competition was made even more challenging by an injury sustained early in the event, which held back his performance. Despite this setback, he showed determination and resilience throughout the championships, returning home with an incredible four medals across his disciplines.
Winning his first world title is a fantastic achievement and a moment to be proud of. His additional silver and bronze medals demonstrate the breadth of his competitive ability, while the experience gained in France will provide valuable lessons as he continues to develop.
With plenty to work on and new goals ahead, we’re excited to see what Ewan can achieve as we build towards the 2027 season.
Ewan is proudly sponsored by Pivotal Sec Plus.
More than medals
While seven medals are an incredible result, this championship represented much more than success on the podium.
Competing at a World Championships demands commitment long before the first bell rings. It takes countless training sessions, discipline, preparation and the determination to keep going when things don’t go to plan.
Both athletes faced their own challenges in France, but they returned with achievements worth celebrating and valuable experience to take forward.
At NSK, we’re proud not only of the medals Ash and Ewan have earned but also of the perseverance they demonstrated throughout the competition. Their journeys are different, but both reflect the dedication and fighting spirit we strive to develop within our gym.
We’re incredibly proud to see our athletes representing ICO Team England and North Staffordshire Kickboxing on the international stage.
Looking ahead to 2027 🔥
There is little time to rest, with Ireland our next focus before the Christmas season!
The hard work continues as we look towards the next competition, taking the lessons learned in France and turning them into motivation for the season ahead.
For Ash, the challenge is to build on two consecutive years as a World Champion while continuing to develop in competitive fighting. For Ewan, his first world title provides a fantastic foundation to build upon as he works towards the next chapter of his competitive journey.
Both athletes have more to give, more to learn and more goals to chase.
Seven medals. Two athletes. Two incredible journeys. One very proud gym.
Congratulations to Ash and Ewan on an outstanding World Championships. Everyone at North Staffordshire Kickboxing is proud of what you’ve achieved, the determination you’ve shown and the way you’ve represented our gym and ICO Team England.
The journey doesn’t stop here — Ireland is next, and we’re already looking forward to what 2027 will bring!
North Staffordshire Kickboxing — building confidence, developing champions and creating opportunities for everyone. 🥊❤️🏆