John Stanley is already well-known in CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 combat sports circle, so much so that last June he was named one of four individuals who make up the coaching staff for CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 national team program in the World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO).

The co-owner of Stanley Boxing and Fitness in Yellowknife just wrapped up his first in-person camp as a member of the coaching staff in Burlington, Ont., last weekend, prior to a big event later this year.

Stanley and his three coaching colleagues were on hand to help select the Canadian team that will be heading to Ireland in September for the WAKO Junior World Championships. A total of 59 hopefuls from around the country descended upon Burlington for the two-day camp, with 31 of the contenders making the final cut.

SA国际影视传媒淲e put everyone through a mixture of athletic and sport-specific training, 10 to 12 hours per day,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e were very clear on what we expected from everyone and there were some cases where a little more of a push would have gotten someone onto the team.SA国际影视传媒�

This was the first in-person camp for Stanley and the coaching staff. He was part of two virtual training sessions prior to the camp in Ontario.

The event in Ireland will feature such disciplines as light contact (no low-kicks to the leg) and point-fighting, something seen more in karate, where itSA国际影视传媒檚 a stop-action form of sparring. StanleySA国际影视传媒檚 focus will be on K1, the full-contact version of kickboxing, which he describes as similar to Muay Thai without the elbows.

He said he liked what he saw from those in K1.

SA国际影视传媒淲e werenSA国际影视传媒檛 expecting everyone to make the team but everyone performed really well and everyone had a great attitude all weekend,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淎s I said, the testing was very rigid and everyone worked their butts off.SA国际影视传媒�

There will be forms and weapons demonstrations included in Ireland but Stanley wonSA国际影视传媒檛 have any part in that.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 ring sports only,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

The 31 fighters will be divided into their various disciplines among eight different weight classes for Ireland, and Stanley said the team members are expected be working on what theySA国际影视传媒檝e been told to do until the next camp, which is scheduled for July.

SA国际影视传媒淭heySA国际影视传媒檙e back at their own gyms working with their coaches and they all have the curriculum weSA国际影视传媒檝e given them,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淎fter the camp in July, itSA国际影视传媒檚 off to Ireland in September.SA国际影视传媒�

Being a part of the K1 discipline is a big deal to Stanley because itSA国际影视传媒檚 the form recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The IOC has also recognized WAKO as the official governing body of kickboxing, meaning itSA国际影视传媒檚 been granted official status as an international sport federation and is the first step on the way to becoming a part of the Olympic program in the future.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 really cool to be a part of something that is on the way to becoming an Olympic sport,SA国际影视传媒� said Stanley. SA国际影视传媒淔or this team, ISA国际影视传媒檓 hoping we can go over there, do our best and get some good results.SA国际影视传媒�

His tenure as a coach with the national program will run until 2024.