Art of Kicking Ass

My name is Maria Newman. I’m forty-threeyears-old, married with two children – and last year I accidently started training in kickboxing…

Up until 2016, I’d been working for Rolls-Royce as a project manager for seventeen years. But after having my second baby, I decided to take voluntary redundancy and decided what I really wanted to do for a career… Turns out what I really wanted was to start my own business. I now run ‘Mummy on a Break’ – which is about helping busy working mums take back control and create the life they really want through online courses and coaching.

My job wasn’t the only change in my life!

I never intended on starting kickboxing. It was an accident really. I was lucky enough to win a three month pass to a local kickboxing martial arts school at a Christmas raffle. Because I wasn’t fussed, I offered it to my husband but he said I should have a go. I also knew the family who run the club, so it made it easier to go along to the first session.

Initially, I thought I’d go for three months and then leave. But the truth is, after the first session, I knew that I wanted to continue, so I signed up fully for when the three months were over.

The atmosphere at the club is amazing. It’s very inclusive and Sensei makes everyone feel like they can do it regardless of their abilities.

The other thing is, when I was younger I used to have Karate lessons and going to kickboxing must have reignited the enjoyment I had. I enjoy the discipline that kickboxing requires: and also the focus requires you to fully be present in the here and now, instead of running through the ‘to do’ list in your mind. Plus, I get a really good workout.

I now train twice a week, which if you’d told me I’d be going to kickboxing classes a couple of years ago I wouldn’t have believed you. I don’t think I would have had the energy and more importantly, the enthusiasm and passion to exercise once we’d put the kids to bed.

I am currently waiting to hear whether I have achieved my blue belt, which is five belts away from black. It is a great achievement for me, considering I only started eighteen-months ago. I remind myself, despite being driven and slightly competitive, that Sensei wouldn’t have allowed me to progress if I wasn’t capable.

I’ve also started sparring. Something that I don’t want to do competitively. It takes a lot of energy and mental strength to fight.

There are so many benefits to this sport. Since starting, I know that my fitness level has increased and I’m more toned than I used to be. It’s great for my mental wellbeing as well as becoming more supple. Having young kids, this means I can definitely keep up with them. It also means that I’ve got a fighting chance of being able to play with them for as long as they want, which can sometimes feel like an eternity.

FB: @mummyonabreak IG: @mummyonabreak Podcast: anchor.fm/mummyonabreak/

I get a really good workout