Kickboxing with Dwarfism — Some people wait until conditions are perfect before they begin. Others allow setbacks, nerves or perceived disadvantages to convince them to stop.
Then there are people like Cyrus.
Cyrus began training at Blaze Martial Arts when he was just five years old. Since then, he has developed into one of our fastest, fittest and strongest students, competed successfully against much taller opponents, achieved his Second Dan Black Belt, become a highly valued instructor and successfully taken charge of our Bracknell martial arts school.
Cyrus has dwarfism, but his story is not about pretending that this has never presented challenges. It is about refusing to allow those challenges to make his decisions for him.
His journey shows what can happen when someone replaces excuses with effort, self-doubt with discipline and fear with the courage to keep turning up.
Starting Kickboxing at Five Years Old
Cyrus first became interested in martial arts after watching his mum train in the Blaze adult classes.
“I watched my mum training for a few years and wanted to join in,” he explains.
However, there was another important reason why he started.
Cyrus had experienced bullying and lacked confidence because of his height. His hospital doctor suggested finding an activity that could help him become more confident, and kickboxing proved to be exactly what he needed.
“I started kickboxing to stop being bullied and to gain confidence. My hospital doctor suggested that I should do something that would help me become more confident because of my dwarfism.”
From his earliest lessons, Cyrus loved the atmosphere at Blaze.
“The classes were always fun, and I enjoyed passing my gradings.”
Those gradings gave him something positive to work towards. Each new belt represented another step forward—not only in his martial arts ability, but also in his confidence, fitness and belief in himself.
Facing Physical Challenges from the Beginning
Cyrus was diagnosed at two years old with hypochondroplasia, a form of dwarfism.. The NHS provides further information about restricted growth and dwarfism, including its different causes and how it can affect people.
This meant that some parts of martial arts training were particularly difficult when he was younger.
“I sometimes struggled through the classes because of the low muscle tone in my upper body, so exercises such as crunches were difficult to perform properly. I also have asthma, which made some parts of the training harder.”
His leg strength was also limited as a child, meaning that many kicking techniques required more effort.
Cyrus could easily have decided that martial arts was not for him. Instead, he continued attending classes, listened to his instructors and gradually became stronger.
“Martial arts definitely helped me gain confidence and strength throughout my whole body.”
The techniques did not always come easily. His progress was not instant. But he kept turning up, and that consistency transformed him.
Building Confidence Through Martial Arts
Growing up, Cyrus was often noticeably shorter than other children his age. People sometimes assumed he was much younger than he actually was or underestimated what he could do.
“It was frustrating when I was younger,” he says. “Most of the time, people would underestimate me because of my height.”
Rather than allowing those experiences to destroy his confidence, Cyrus used them as motivation.
“I carried on as usual and ignored the negative comments. It made me even more determined to succeed in martial arts.”
Kickboxing gave him the confidence to respond differently to bullying and discrimination. It also helped develop his concentration, discipline and physical fitness.
“It was a major benefit to my confidence because I was so much shorter than everyone else who was the same age as me. It helped with my focus and discipline, and my fitness levels increased greatly.”
Today, Cyrus frequently outperforms students of average height. His speed, strength, fitness and technical ability have been developed through years of focused training—not through luck or natural talent alone.
A Different Reach, but the Same Ambition
Sparring presented one of Cyrus’s biggest challenges.
Almost every opponent he faced was taller and had longer arms and legs. Their additional reach meant they could often strike from a distance at which Cyrus could not immediately strike back.
“Sparring was the biggest challenge because almost everyone was taller than me and had longer arms and legs. It was more difficult for me to reach my opponents because their reach was longer than mine.”
But Cyrus did not use that as a reason to avoid sparring or competition.
He learned to adapt. He developed his speed, movement, timing, fitness and determination. Instead of concentrating on what his opponents had that he did not, he concentrated on improving the abilities he could control.
Cyrus has entered martial arts competitions, fought opponents who were considerably taller than him and won competitions through skill, courage and preparation.
Many people would consider competing under those circumstances intimidating. Cyrus continues to enter because he refuses to allow fear or physical differences to decide what he can attempt.
His approach is simple:
“Keep trying, put the effort in and you will gradually get better. Stay consistent with your training and turn up to classes every week. Have fun and believe in yourself. If I can do it, then so can you.”
Cyrus’s achievements also demonstrate the importance of inclusive opportunities in sport and physical activity, where disabled and non-disabled participants can train, develop and succeed together.
Failure Became Feedback
Cyrus’s journey to black belt was not a straight line.
He failed some of his junior martial arts gradings. However, instead of blaming somebody else, making excuses or giving up, he listened carefully to the feedback he received.
“I failed some of my junior gradings on my journey towards black belt. Instead of giving up, I listened to the feedback about the areas I had got wrong. The next time I attempted the gradings, I passed because I had become much better.”
This is one of the most valuable lessons that martial arts can teach.
Failure does not have to mean that someone is not good enough. It can simply identify what they need to work on next.
Cyrus believes that perseverance is what separates students who achieve their goals from those who stop too soon.
“Students who progress show that perseverance and hard work will get you much further.”
His first black belt grading remains one of his proudest achievements. Cyrus achieved his Junior Black Belt at the age of 15 and continued developing as an adult martial artist.
He has now passed his Second Dan Adult Black Belt, representing many years of commitment, technical development, fitness, discipline and resilience.
From Martial Arts Student to Instructor
Cyrus began helping with Blaze classes when he was approximately 15 years old, supporting our Little Ninja and junior kickboxing students.
His first experience of coaching was particularly personal. Cyrus’s younger brother has autism and ADHD and initially needed his support to participate in martial arts lessons.
“I mainly started coaching to help my younger brother because he was unable to do the classes without my support for quite some time.”
Cyrus also grew up with an older brother who is profoundly disabled. His experiences as a young carer helped him develop an understanding of children with disabilities and additional needs.
That understanding is now one of his greatest strengths as an instructor.
Cyrus knows that not every student learns in exactly the same way. Some children need additional explanations, extra encouragement, more patience or simply an instructor who believes in them.
He believes a good martial arts instructor should be:
“Kind, respectful, patient and understanding of any additional needs the students may have.”
He wants every child he teaches to leave class feeling happier, more confident and proud of what they have achieved.
“I hope the students feel confident and able to master techniques they may have been struggling with, especially when they lack confidence. I want them to feel proud of themselves afterwards.”
Running the Blaze Bracknell School
One of the biggest milestones in Cyrus’s martial arts career came when he was trusted to run the entire evening of classes at our Bracknell school, supported by the coaching team.
Understandably, he was nervous.
“I wanted to make sure the classes ran properly. It was a little daunting at the beginning, but it felt good to teach the classes independently.”
Cyrus successfully managed the school without any problems and proved that he could confidently lead the students and coaching team.
“I was proud that I managed to run the Bracknell school successfully. I learned that I could competently run the school and that, when needed, I could do it again independently.”
For someone who began training as a five-year-old child seeking confidence, running an entire martial arts school represented an enormous achievement.
It also allowed younger students to see what long-term commitment can produce.
“It feels really good knowing that younger students look up to me. They can see that I have put in the hard work throughout my martial arts journey, and it helps them see their own potential for the future.”
Discipline Means Turning Up
Talent can help a student begin, but talent alone will not take them to black belt.
Cyrus believes that discipline means being consistent, putting effort into every lesson and continuing to train even when progress feels slow.
“For me, discipline means being consistent with my training and putting hard work and effort into every single lesson.”
His advice to talented students who do not always apply themselves is equally direct:
“If you don’t put in the effort, passing your gradings will become much harder. Keep trying and remember how good you could become if you put in the work.”
And for students who find training difficult?
“Keep going and persevere because it will become easier.”
Cyrus is proof that the student who finds something difficult but continues working can ultimately progress further than the naturally talented student who constantly makes excuses.
What Confidence and Respect Mean to Cyrus
For Cyrus, confidence was not something he automatically possessed. It was something he had to build.
“Confidence is something I had to gain so I could cope with comments about my height and disability.”
Martial arts gave him a safe and structured environment in which to become physically stronger, speak with greater confidence and discover what he was capable of achieving.
Respect has been equally important throughout his journey.
“Respect means everything to me. It means treating people in the way I would like to be treated, being polite and listening to my instructors and coaches.”
These values now influence the way Cyrus teaches every Blaze student.
He understands how it feels to be nervous, underestimated or different. That is why he works so hard to ensure that students feel welcomed and supported, regardless of their current confidence, fitness, ability or additional needs.
A Message for Anyone Making Excuses
Everyone experiences moments when they feel nervous, tired or tempted to give up.
The challenge is recognising the difference between facing a genuine obstacle and allowing an excuse to prevent you from trying.
Cyrus’s message is powerful:
“If you don’t step outside your comfort zone, you will never know the greatness you could achieve.”
His story does not suggest that every challenge can simply be ignored. Cyrus has had to manage genuine physical and personal difficulties throughout his life.
What his journey demonstrates is that challenges do not always have to become limitations.
Sometimes techniques need to be adapted. Sometimes progress takes longer. Sometimes help is required. Sometimes a grading has to be attempted again.
None of those things mean that the goal is impossible.
“Never give up, because you can achieve great things through perseverance. Always be comfortable asking for help because that is what coaches and instructors are there for.”
Looking Towards the Future
Blaze Martial Arts has been part of Cyrus’s life since he was five years old.
“Blaze means so much to me. It has been a place where I could grow up, and it has shaped my life. It has helped me become a respectful, hardworking and confident adult.”
Martial arts has given Cyrus confidence, friendships, physical fitness, competitive experience and a career that he loves.
His next ambitions are to continue improving as an instructor, gain more tournament experience and work towards his Third Dan Black Belt.
In the future, he hopes to take greater responsibility for running the Blaze Bracknell school with a strong coaching team around him.
Considering everything he has achieved already, few people would bet against him.
What Could You Achieve?
Cyrus’s story began with one martial arts lesson.
He did not know on that first evening that he would eventually become a competition winner, a Second Dan Black Belt, an instructor and a role model to younger students.
He simply started—and then he kept turning up.
Whether you are nervous, unfit, lacking confidence, worried that you will not fit in or concerned that your child may need additional support, the first step is giving yourself the opportunity to try.
At Blaze Martial Arts, we provide friendly kickboxing and martial arts classes for children, teenagers and adults in Windsor, Ascot, Bracknell and Wokingham. Beginners are always welcome, and no previous martial arts experience is required.
Book Your Free Martial Arts Trial Lesson
Discover how kickboxing could help you or your child develop greater confidence, fitness, focus, discipline and resilience.
Book your free trial lesson here: https://blazemartialarts.com/free-kickboxing-lesson/
Your journey may begin with one class—but, as Cyrus has demonstrated, there is no knowing where that first step could eventually take you.