When I first started kickboxing, it was just a hobby to begin with. I began purely to get myself fitter as well as to test and challenge myself with a contact sport known to increase not only strength, but confidence and coordination too.
I never thought that kickboxing would become my life.
After losing my Auntie to cancer, as well as losing my job, kickboxing became such a prominent part of my life that the sport gave me the strength and determination to pull through all these hard times. So, as my passion for kickboxing grew, I felt like I owed something to the sport for giving so much back to me, that’s why I started to develop a business in the sport.
In 2010, I started Sidekick with the aim to be a national brand of kickboxing equipment. In order to complete this mammoth task, I started to look at my competitors as well as the leading sellers to beat. By doing this, I was able to develop my brand and consider the advantages which Sidekick had over other businesses.
The brand went from strength to strength, eventually leading to us sponsoring many world champions and leading shows. Sidekick was even sponsoring fighters internationally, which meant that no only had I fulfilled my original aim to be a national brand of kickboxing equipment, but I has surpassed it and become internationally known too.
As a result of this, Sidekick began to have an increasing demand for our products. This meant that I worked around the clock in order fulfill our customer demands. There were even times when I worked past 2AM so that I could get my customers the products they had ordered on time. I believe that in all my years in Sidekick, I have never let anyone down as a result of my passion and determination for the sport and my business. I am, and always have been, a man of my word and I feel that resolve is what has kept my strongly grounded in the sport.
Yet, even with all the success that Sidekick has seen in recent years, there have also been many challenges in which I have had to overcome. A few years ago, I felt like I had lost my mojo and that my heart wasn’t quite as passionate about the business as it once used to be. With hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of stock ready and waiting for the customers, the main man of the company wasn’t driving it. I felt like the challenge was too much to overcome so I was so close last year to throwing it all away.
However, with the unconditional support of my wife and my family, I found my way back to the business, the sport, and most of all, myself. I realised that in order to recreate the success I once had, I needed to rejuvenate Sidekick with a completely new look as well as a fresh start, which is exactly what I did.
We are now less than 6 months into our relaunch and the success that we have now seen is astonishing. The sport and the business are now flourishing, and I feel like I have worked hard to overcome the challenges which tested me only a few months ago. It is as a result of the many good friends I have made in the sport that I keep going as it is an absolute pleasure to say that I have helped them in any way.
It goes a long way to show how much people appreciate how much Sidekick has done to help the fighters as well as to promote the sport itself too.
Although starting a brand is one of the most challenging tasks you could do, it is such a pleasure to say that:

Sidekick is back!

Sidekickboxing.co.uk

Since 2010, our aim was not only to be a huge part of the Kickboxing circuit but to also help it grow. Over the last 7 years we have sponsored some of the biggest names and promotions in the U.K. As you may of seen, we have sponsored fighters on fight promotions like Glory, Bellator, BAMMA and Cage Warriors and your probably thinking unless your a #1 ranked fighter you will not get a chance for sponsorship, but this is not always the case, as we have massively helped our amateur fighters and local shows as these are the roots to the sport. As you could imagine we receive high levels of applications for fighters sponsorships, so we have come up with a guide to help you know exactly what we are looking for. Before you approach us for a potential sponsorship with a proposal, you must understand what you have to offer and know what you would like from us. In order for the sponsorship to work long term the sponsorship needs to work for both parties and that is why it is a very important factor to build a good solid relationship between the fighter and the brand. It is also highly important for the fighter to believe and love the product, as he/she will naturally promote the brand and it will look more real and authentic. You will need to have a high social media fan base and for them to engage in your posts. To get noticed by us, winning your fights is a start but it definitely isn’t everything. We look to sponsor fighters with the following characteristics:

1) You should be exciting to watch. Everyone remembers an action-packed fight. With exciting fights comes more exposure.

2) You should be a good spokesperson to represent our company. As a sponsored fighter, you are also assuming the role of a brand ambassador. Prove that you can positively promote a brand by promoting yourself and building a solid following.

3) Be a role model inside and outside of the ring. It’s easy to get behind someone that others look up to. It’s also easy to work with someone who is respectful and humble.