Lee Matthews wins World Championship title

BMMA founder scoops WMKF accolade

Lee Matthews was named world champion at the WKMF World Championships in Italy last week.

The Telford-based athlete, who has previously won the WAKO British champion and Pro-European Champion titles, competed in the Full Contacts Points Sections, winning the finals with a knockout.

His success was followed up by a tremendous medal haul for the WMKF England squad who secured 67 golds, 38 silver and 32 bronze, a record haul in the competition.

On the WMKF World Championship success, Lee said: “I’m delighted to have won the world title, and I’ll be adding it to the British and European championships I won previously. These types of personal successes also help us to put the British Military Martial Arts on the map, and the sheer number of medals we returned with – including 67 golds – showcases the tremendous effort all of our students and staff put in throughout the year. I’d like to say a massive well done to all involved.”

Lee is one of the most respected fighters and entrepreneurs in his field, frequently lauded for his business nous. He is founder of the British Military Martial Arts (BMMA), the largest organisation of its kind that enlists former military servicemen and women to teach in its centres across the UK, offering the opportunity to eventually run a franchise of their own under his tuition.

Lee was inspired to set up BMMA in 2008 when he identified a lack of opportunities for people leaving the armed forces to use the expertise they had acquired in their next line of work. The 34-year old spent seven years in the 3rd Battalion of the Parachute regiment himself, undertaking operations in Northern Ireland and Kosovo, and upon founding BMMA, brought in some of the most highly-trained individuals who have served with the British military forces.

Each session combines the martial arts syllabus – including boxing, karate, Kung-fu, Tae Kwon Do, Ju-jitsu and MMA – with fun and structured sessions, aiming to encourage former servicemen and woman to use their experience to inspire adults and children.

Lee himself received training from the likes of former boxing world champion Richie Woodhall, Brazilian Ju-jitsu world champion Bralio Estima, and world kickboxing champions Drew Neal and the Winsper Family. BMMA has grown dramatically over the last 12 months, with 80 centres now operating across the UK, whilst the original centre run by Lee in the West Midlands teaches over 1000 students each week alone, as well as tutoring nine world champions.

Earlier this year, Lee unveiled two time world boxing champion Nigel Benn as an official ambassador for BMMA at the organisation’s Telford HQ, and the legendary boxer will return on 19th November to lead training sessions for coaches and students.