John Stanley is back from his first assignment overseas as a kickboxing coach and it was, in his words, an incredible experience.

The co-owner of Stanley Boxing and Fitness helped take charge of Team Canada at the World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO) World Junior Championships in Venice, Italy, earlier this month. As a team, Canada won a total of 22 medals SA国际影视传媒� six gold, seven silver and nine bronze SA国际影视传媒� good enough for 15th overall in the final standings out of 66 countries that sent competitors.

Stanley, who helped look after the ring sports portion of the team, said most of the medals were won on the mat side of things, but the fighters all acquitted themselves very well.

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Muzammal Nawaz, WAKO CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 president, posted his thoughts on the teamSA国际影视传媒檚 performance shortly after returning home and said it was a young team, but there were some incredible performances.

He also highlighted StanleySA国际影视传媒檚 appearance as the first coach from the NWT.

Stanley travelled to Ontario to help oversee a couple of training camps in the weeks leading up to Venice and said not knowing a lot of the athletes helped him in his preparation.

SA国际影视传媒淚 didnSA国际影视传媒檛 have the emotion that personal coaches would have because I didnSA国际影视传媒檛 have any fighters in it,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭hat was a bonus because it allowed me to provide support. The personal coaches could handle the technical side of things and the fighters could warm up the way they normally do. ISA国际影视传媒檓 there just in case they need some support or extra help.SA国际影视传媒�

When it came to scouting the opposition ahead of the trip, Stanley said unless they were well-known, it was difficult.

SA国际影视传媒淪ome of the higher-ranked fighters you can see online, they may have videos on YouTube or something like that,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 tough to put a game plan together when you donSA国际影视传媒檛 know who youSA国际影视传媒檙e up against. The big thing for our fighters was the mental preparedness. A kick is a kick and a punch is a punch, but if you arenSA国际影视传媒檛 mentally ready, thatSA国际影视传媒檚 where things can slip.SA国际影视传媒�

The mental aspect is something Stanley said he was going to implement with his athletes in Yellowknife. He said that was perhaps the biggest thing he took away from his time in Italy.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e been in thousands of corners, but the exposure to that many people was phenomenal,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e got to have sit-downs with people who are experts in psychological training and how to re-frame the mind. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 one thing ISA国际影视传媒檓 going to start doing with our crew here and show them that thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a reason people train that way. A lot of really good programs have a good sport psychology portion already in place.SA国际影视传媒�

The next international duty for Stanley will be the Intercontinental Challenge in South Africa; the date has yet to be determined.