Lilia Selected for the England Team After National Medal Success
We are incredibly proud to announce that Lilia, one of our full-time instructors, has been selected to represent England at the World Championships in Spain this October following in the footsteps of Chief Instructor, Digger Barnes, who represented England at the World Championships in Greece back in 2023.
At just 16 years old, Lilia has stepped up in a big way.
Over the past month alone, she has competed at three national-level tournaments, earning Silver and Bronze medals against some of the best competitors in the country. Her performances didn’t just win medals — they earned her selection onto the England Team, where she will now join squad training throughout the Spring and Summer before flying out to Spain in October to compete on the international stage.
This is a huge achievement. But more importantly, it represents exactly what we stand for at Storm.
We Don’t Just Teach Techniques — We Build Experience
At Storm Family Martial Arts, we believe instructors should lead from the front.
It’s one thing to teach combinations, sparring tactics and ring strategy.
It’s another thing entirely to have lived it — to have felt the nerves, the pressure, the adrenaline and the responsibility of stepping onto a national stage.
We challenged Lilia to compete not just to win medals, but to grow.
To understand:
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What it feels like to perform under pressure
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How to manage competition nerves
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How to analyse performance and improve
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How to win with humility
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How to lose with composure
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How to come back stronger
That real-world experience now feeds directly back into every class she teaches.
When she speaks to students about courage, resilience and preparation — she’s speaking from lived experience.
Developing Champions For Life
Our children’s programme isn’t just about belts and badges. It’s about character.
Each month we focus on themes like Confidence, Determination, Respect and Courage. Lilia’s journey over the past few weeks has been a masterclass in all of them.
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Confidence – stepping into national competition
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Determination – training consistently at a high level
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Resilience – pushing through tough rounds
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Teamwork – earning a place on the England squad
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Courage – committing to international competition
This is what “Developing Champions For Life” looks like in action.
Leading By Example
As a young instructor, Lilia is showing our junior students what is possible when you commit to the process.
She trains.
She competes.
She studies.
She coaches.
She improves.
And now she will represent her country.
That sends a powerful message to every student who walks through our doors:
Hard work gets noticed.
Consistency compounds.
Standards matter.
What Happens Next?
Lilia will now join the England Team squad training programme throughout the Spring and Summer, preparing with athletes from across the country.
In October, she will travel to Spain to compete internationally — an experience that will accelerate her growth even further, both as an athlete and as a coach.
We will be supporting her every step of the way and sharing updates with our Storm community as her journey continues.
Proud. Grateful. Excited.
Moments like this remind us why we do what we do.
Martial arts is not just about physical skill. It’s about creating opportunities, building belief, and giving young people the confidence to step onto bigger stages — in sport and in life.
Lilia has earned this opportunity.
And we couldn’t be prouder.
Let’s all get behind her as she prepares to represent England in Spain this October.
Storm Family Martial Arts
Developing Champions For Life 🥋
