20-year-old John Gilliam from Middle Island NY invited to fight in China!

John Gilliam, 20, has been training at AFC kickboxing in his hometown of Middle Island NY since he was 10 years old with World kickboxing Champion Tommy "BEE" Bottone.

John has fought and won fights in many fighting styles since he began competing at an early age.

In 2006 John took his career to another level, traveling to Virginia Beach to win the gold medal in the U.S. WAKO kickboxing championships which was the largest full contact kickboxing rules tournament in US history.

John also won the gold medal in the USKBA World championships held in New Jersey.

Later in the year John was the team captain for Team USA which traveled to Ottawa Canada to fight Team Canada.

After returning from Canada, John fought for the PKF amateur World title and won by 4th round KO.

Earlier in the year John fought in a co-main event at a local event held in Shirley NY fighting a fighter from Yugoslavia and winning by a head kick KO in round 2.

The event March 23rd through March 25th in China will be a World tournament fought under Chinese kickboxing rules (Sanshou) which is a unique fighting style as all punches and kicks are legal above the waist but there are also kicks to the legs allowed and all throws are legal as well. This style of fighting is from China and has been made very popular in the US by Cung Le, and locally by NY Sanda.

There will be fighters from all over the World at this event. Last years winner in the overall division was from Russia. John will get a chance to win his weight class and then move on to win the overall division.

This style is no stranger to John as his trainer Tommy "BEE" Bottone was a Sanshou tournament Champion before turning to other rules for Pro kickboxing in the US. Bottone said that John is ready and willing and that his unique style of strong hands, great kicks and strong wrestling skills will be hard to beat.

John Gilliam is very excited to take his career to another level with this World tournament in China.

John was a very good wrestler for Longwood school district and has been well prepared for this type of tournament in his years of training and teaching at AFC kickboxing.

For more information about John Gilliam and Team USA go to www.ringoffirekickboxing.com
AFC Kickboxing 631-345-0100