Northampton trio selected to represent England at World Championships in France

Three members of a Northampton martial arts academy are preparing to represent England on the world stage next month when they travel to France for the 2026 ICO World Championships.

Sensei Shak Ahmed, Sensei Adam Wilson and 14-year-old Oliver Wilson, all from Endurance Martial Arts Academy in Northampton, have been selected to represent ICO Team England at the championships in Thonon-les-Bains, France, from 14–18 October.

For Chief Instructor Sensei Shak, the trip comes with an added challenge – defending not one, but two World Championship titles.

The 46-year-old won two gold medals at the 2025 ICO World Championships, becoming World Champion in both Ring Continuous and Light Continuous. He will return to compete in the same two disciplines in France.

Shak has continued his winning form throughout 2026, adding two more national titles after taking gold in both Ring Continuous and K1 at the ICO English Open earlier this year.

He said: "Winning two World titles last year was an incredible experience, but once you've achieved something like that, the challenge becomes doing it again.

"I'll be going to France as the defending champion in both categories, so there is pressure, but that's part of competing. At 46, I'm still training, coaching and competing, and I want to show our students that you should never put an age limit on challenging yourself."

Joining him will be fellow Endurance instructor Sensei Adam, also 46, who has trained at the Northampton academy for more than seven years and holds the rank of 1st Dan black belt.

Adam came agonisingly close to World Championship gold last year, returning home with two silver medals.

In a remarkable turn of events, Adam stepped into the Ring Continuous division at the last minute when Shak's scheduled opponent withdrew, resulting in the two Endurance teammates meeting each other in World Championship competition.

Adam also claimed silver in Kick Light.

This year the pair will not have to worry about another all-Endurance encounter, with Adam competing in a lighter weight category. He will once again enter Ring Continuous and Kick Light with the aim of going one better in France.

Adam has already enjoyed national success in 2026, becoming ICO English Kick Light Champion after taking gold at the English Open.

The youngest member of the Endurance trio is 14-year-old Oliver.

Despite his age, Oliver is already a 1st Dan black belt and an experienced international competitor, having previously represented Team England at both the ISKA European Championships and ICO World Championships.

He will compete in Ring Continuous and Kick Light in France and will be looking to secure his first ICO World Championship medal.

Oliver turns 15 just one day after the Endurance team returns home from France.

Shak added: "I'm incredibly proud that three people from our academy have been selected to represent England.

"Adam has worked incredibly hard. Two World silver medals last year showed the level he's capable of competing at, and he's already added an English title this year.

"Oliver is only 14 and he's already representing his country on the international stage. Experiences like these at his age are invaluable. The goal is obviously to bring medals back to Northampton, but it's also about his development and giving him experience against some of the best young fighters from other countries."

Last year's ICO World Championships attracted competitors representing nations from across Europe and further afield, with England topping the overall medal table.

The three Northampton competitors will now spend the remaining weeks preparing before travelling to France as part of the 2026 ICO Team England squad.

Their selection also marks another milestone for Endurance Martial Arts Academy.

After years of operating from hired facilities, the academy moved into its own full-time Northampton training centre just over a year ago.

While Endurance prides itself on being an inclusive martial arts academy where beginners, children, adults and families can train regardless of whether they ever want to compete, the development of its competition programme is demonstrating another side to the club.

Shak said: "We're extremely proud of what Endurance is becoming.

"Our job isn't simply to produce fighters. We want to produce good martial artists and good people – people who develop confidence, discipline, resilience and respect through their training.

"But for those who do want to compete, we also want to prove that they can train right here in Northampton and progress all the way from their first kickboxing class to national and international competition.

"Having three of us representing England at a World Championships shows the level we're building at Endurance. Whether someone wants to get fitter, learn martial arts, earn their black belt or one day represent their country, we want there to be a pathway for them."

For now, however, attention turns firmly towards France.

One defending double World Champion, one double World silver medallist and one of the academy's most promising young martial artists will all step onto the international stage wearing the England colours.

And they will be travelling with a simple ambition – to bring World Championship medals back to Northampton.

Endurance Martial Arts Academy is based in Northampton and provides martial arts and kickboxing training for children from age five through to adults.

More information about the academy can be found at endurancefitness.co.uk.