Saturday 16th August saw the ICO Team England squad back in action at the USKA Fight Factory in Birmingham for another high-energy training session.
Despite the summer holidays, and with the oppressive, muggy heat adding an extra layer of challenge, the work still had to be done. The ICO World Championships in October are fast approaching, and the team knows preparation is everything for what promises to be the toughest World Championships to date.
This was a physical, demanding day on the mats, with ICO Head Coach and USKA Chief Instructor Neil Kelly leading a relentless three-hour session packed with fitness, strength, and conditioning drills. Designed to replicate the intensity of championship bouts, the session pushed everyone out of their comfort zone. The squad responded brilliantly, meeting the pace head-on and embodying the mindset: the more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in combat.
With Swansea now just over two months away, these sessions are about sharpening not just technique, but also fitness, discipline, and mental toughness.
Over 50 committed fighters from clubs across the UK made the trip, proof that the hunger for gold runs deep.
The next, and penultimate, open squad training session is set for Saturday 13th September. This will be a vital opportunity for the squad to fine-tune their skills, welcome new faces eager to gain experience, and complete pre-championship medicals, a milestone that will make the reality of the upcoming Championships feel very close indeed.
At this stage in fight camp, there’s no room for half-measures. Every session counts. Every rep matters.
Massive respect to Coach Kelly for another top-class day of preparation, and to every athlete who turned up ready to put in the work. Swansea is calling, and Team England are answering loud and clear.
The road to gold continues…
