John Stanley has been involved in combat sports for much of his adult life and has taken several athletes to major competitions around the world.

But his upcoming venture will see him get the chance to mould not only athletes here at home but around the country.

The co-owner of Stanley Boxing and Fitness has been named as one of four individuals that will make up the coaching staff for WAKO (World Association of Kickboxing Organizations) CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 national team program when the next training cycle comes around in January 2022. Stanley received confirmation of his selection on June 2 from WAKO Canada.

Stanley said his selection was an exciting piece of news.

SA国际影视传媒淚 had a brief term with Boxing Canada as a coach but this is a big honour for me,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 big for Yellowknife, big for the North overall and hopefully, people will see me as an inspiration and see that just because youSA国际影视传媒檙e from the North doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 mean you canSA国际影视传媒檛 make it.SA国际影视传媒�

Stanley applied to WAKO Canada for the role and he figured he was one of dozens from around Canada who put their name in the hat.

SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 know how many people I was up against but there are hundreds of WAKO-affiliated clubs around Canada so ISA国际影视传媒檓 sure there were a lot,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Stanley is familiar with WAKO and what it does, having travelled to Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina for the World Senior Kickboxing Championships in 2019, serving as coach for Grey Patino.

The Canadian delegation didnSA国际影视传媒檛 exactly light it up in Sarajevo that year and Stanley said one of the big reasons was down to hand speed among some fighters.

SA国际影视传媒淥ne of the things they mentioned to me in their offer was my strong experience with boxing,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淗and speed is becoming a big thing at the international level and (Grey) did really well with that but we struggled a bit overall with the hand skills. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 something ISA国际影视传媒檇 like to work on improving with whoever I work with.SA国际影视传媒�

With the new position will come travel, both domestically and internationally. Where that will be is still up in the air as training schedules havenSA国际影视传媒檛 yet been released.

Stanley said he knows there will be trips to Ontario and most likely in the west for regional camps.

SA国际影视传媒淚 will have to attend national camps in Ontario and out west, it will probably be Alberta,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭here are also lots of regional competitions, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 events in the Americas, some in Europe, some in Africa. I donSA国际影视传媒檛 know where yet because of Covid-19 but weSA国际影视传媒檒l wait to see what happens. All I know is that I will be making multiple trips to wherever they need me to be.SA国际影视传媒�

StanleySA国际影视传媒檚 term will be for three years, wrapping up in December 2024, and he said he plans on making sure everyone knows that he was the right choice for the job.

SA国际影视传媒淚 felt I had a good chance of being selected and this solidifies the fact that ISA国际影视传媒檓 at that upper level,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 exciting and ISA国际影视传媒檓 going to make the most of it.SA国际影视传媒�