03-10-26 - 2026 Team England Squad Training Complete... France Here We Come!

After ten months of preparation, countless rounds, thousands of punches and kicks and plenty of blood, sweat and hard work, today marked our 10th and FINAL ICO Team England Squad Training session ahead of the 2026 ICO World Championships in France.

Hosted at the USKA Fight Factory in Birmingham, the squad came together for one final opportunity to train alongside each other before making the journey to France.

With the Championships now almost upon us, there was no need to reinvent the wheel. Today was about one thing: one last big push!

ICO Head England Ring Sports Coach Neil Kelly took charge of the session, putting the squad through a predominantly pad-based workout delivered at a high intensity from start to finish.

Throughout the session, Kickboxing strategy was entwined into the pad drills, challenging the fighters to do more than simply throw combinations. They were encouraged to think about their positioning, shot selection, movement, reactions and decision making while maintaining a strong work rate under pressure.

The pace was high, the rounds were demanding and the expectation was simple. Stay sharp, stay switched on and make every second count.

At this stage of the preparation, the hard work has already been done. The fitness has been built, the techniques have been sharpened and hundreds of rounds have been completed both at squad training and back at the fighters’ own clubs.

Today was about putting another quality session in the bank and leaving the squad feeling sharp, confident and ready to perform.

It has been an absolute pleasure working with this Team England squad over the past ten months and watching the fighters develop session by session as we have moved closer to our ultimate destination.

From those early squad sessions when France seemed a long way off, through the hard training, kit sizing, Fit to Fight medicals and final preparations, we have now reached the point we have all been working towards.

There are no more squad sessions.

The preparation is complete.

Now it is time to cash in all of those hard work chips in exchange for Gold Medals and Podium Places!

To every fighter travelling to France to represent themselves, their clubs and their country, enjoy the experience, trust the work you have put in and give absolutely everything when your opportunity comes.

The next time this team comes together, it will be at the ICO World Championships in France.

TEAM ENGLAND… IT’S TIME!

WATCH SOME FOOTAGE FROM THE SESSION HERE