Julie Kitchen
Julie Kitchen | |
---|---|
Born |
Julie Kitchen 19 April 1977[1] Penzance, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom[1] |
Other names | The Queen of Muay Thai[1] |
Nationality | English[1] |
Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[2] |
Weight | 59 kg (130 lb; 9.3 st)[2] |
Style | Muay Thai, Kickboxing[2] |
Stance | Orthodox |
Fighting out of | Penzance, England[1] |
Team | Touchgloves Gym[2] |
Trainer | Nathan Kitchen[2] |
Years active | 2002-2012[2] |
Kickboxing record | |
Total | 61 |
Wins | 51 |
Losses | 9 |
No contests | 1 |
|
Julie Kitchen (born 19 April 1977) is a retired professional English female kickboxer, muay thai fighter and sports commentator.[2]
Early life
Julie Kitchen was born at Truro Hospital to parents Ivor and Lynn Barrett, as the middle child of three daughters. Between the ages of six and eleven she attended St.Paul's School in Penzance, Cornwall. She was a shy child making very few friends and was content with family life. Her family was very close and she played the role of a second mother to her younger sister. At the age of eleven she decided to become a vegetarian because she did not like the taste of meat. She remains a vegetarian to this day, but now includes fish into her diet.[2]
At the age of twelve she started at Humphry Davy School in Penzance where she continued to find socializing uncomfortable due to shyness. Although she did not like school, she enjoyed the subjects of Art, Mathematics and Physical Education. During this time she began to excel at the sports of hockey, netball and athletics.[2]
In 1989 she enrolled in the Sea Cadets, and by the time she was sixteen had worked her way up the ranks to Petty Officer. She was awarded the honor of Lord Lieutenant's Cadet. Before leaving the Sea Cadets in 1993 she had considered working her way into teaching in the Navy. Julie Kitchen attributes the Sea Cadets has a major part of overcoming her shyness.[2]
In 1993, at the age of sixteen, she went on to study a Leisure and Tourism course at Penwith College after finishing school and leaving the Sea Cadets. In this year she met her future husband, and coach Nathan Kitchen.[2]
On 26 February 1999 she gave birth to twin daughters Allaya Kitchen and Amber Kitchen. Shortly after the birth of the twins, at the age of twenty-four, she joined Touchgloves Gym in Penzance to lose weight.[2]
Career
Julie Kitchen won her professional debut in March 2002 against Diane Fletcher from Liverpool, England.[2]
During her career she faced fighters from fifteen different countries. She was the first British woman to win a WBC title.[2]
Her last fight was in Los Angeles, California against British fighter Amanda Kelly on 12 January 2012. She lost via split decision after five rounds. She officially retired later that month.[2][3]
Championships and awards
Titles
- World Boxing Council Muaythai
- 2011 WBC Welterweight World Champion
- International Kickboxing Federation
- 2010 IKF World Super Lightweight Muay Thai Champion
- 2010 IKF World Champion, 62.2 kg
- 2005 IKF Amateur Muay Thai Rules Super Lightweight British Champion, 63 kg
- Backstreet Brawler & Top King
- 2010 World Champion, 63.5 kg (Two time)
- World Muaythai Council
- 2009 WMC World Champion, 63 kg (Two time)
- International Sport Karate Association
- 2009 ISKA World Champion, -66 kg
- 2008 ISKA World Champion, -64 kg
- World Professional Muaythai Federation
- 2009 WPMF World Champion, 67 kg
- 2009 WPMF World Champion, 65 kg
- Women’s International Kickboxing Association
- 2008 WIKBA Intercontinental Champion, 63 kg
- 2006 WIKBA World Champion, 61.5 kg (Two time)
- International MuayThai and Kickboxing Organisation
- 2007 IMKO European Champion, 63 kg
- NMF/ITMF
- 2008 NMF/ITMF World Champion, 65 kg
- Capital Punishment
- 2006 Capital Punishment World Champion, 61.5 kg
- World Professional Kickboxing League
- 2005 WPKL British Champion, 63 kg
- World Kickboxing Association
- 2005 WKA British Champion, 63 kg
- 2004 WKA British Champion, 59 kg
Other Titles
- 2007 Golden Belt European Champion, 61.5 kg
- 2006 BKK Female British Junior Welterweight Champion, 63.5 kg
- 2005 BMBC English Champion, 60 kg
- 2005 FIST British Champion, 63 kg (1 defense)
- 2004 BKK British Champion, 63 kg
Awards
- Awakening Fighters
- 2012 AOCA / Awakening Outstanding Contribution Award
Other Awards
- 2011 Pride of Cornwall Award (The first ever female to win this award)
- 2011 Fighters Hall of Fame / Best Female Martial Artist
- International Sport Kickboxing Association
- 2010 ISKA Fighter of the Year
- 2009 ISKA Fighter of the Year
After retirement
Julie Kitchen is a sports commentator for the Enfusion promotion.[1]
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Official Julie Kitchen Website". juliekitchen.com. Retrieved 2014-09-08.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "Julie Kitchen Awakening Profile". Awakeningfighters.com. Retrieved 2014-09-08.
- ↑ "Muay Thai Champ Julie Kitchen Retires". Wombat Sports. Retrieved 2016-02-03.
- ↑ "Julie Kitchen Interview". mymuaythai.com. Retrieved 2016-02-03.
External links
- Official Julie Kitchen Website
- Julie Kitchen at Awakening Fighters
- Julie Kitchen Facebook Athlete Page