About Kicx Academy—Helping Gloucester Kids Grow Strong Inside and Out
Welcome to the About Kicx Academy Gloucester page. Our mission is to help children and families grow stronger inside and out through martial arts and life skills training. A Place Where Kids Learn Confidence, Respect, and Life Skills
From Champion Fighter to Confidence Coach
Master Stephen Thompson, known as The Karate Kid Coach, is the founder of Kicx Academy, a family martial arts school in Gloucester focused on helping children develop confidence, focus, and character through martial arts training.
Stephen began martial arts in 1979, earning his black belt in 1984. In 1990, he won the European Kickboxing Championship and went on to become a 10-time World Karate Champion from 1990 to 2000—undefeated.
After retiring from competition, Stephen chose to focus on his passion for personal development and life skills coaching for children. Today, he is married with four children and runs Kicx Academy as a family development centre, teaching kids martial arts in Gloucester with a focus on building leaders, and helping kids become the best they can be.
Champions Character
The Life Skills Every Child Needs
Master Stephen Thompson—a little 10-year-old boy in 1979 (2nd from the left)—had no idea that stepping into his first karate class would change his life forever.
That first class was the start of a journey that led to:
10 World Karate Championships
A European Kickboxing title
And a lifetime dedicated to helping others grow.
But winning medals wasn’t the end goal. After retiring from competition, Master Thompson made a decision:
“I didn’t just want to teach martial arts—I wanted to teach life.”
Why We’re Different: The Champions Character Programme
At most martial arts schools, children learn some life skills along the way.
At Kicx Academy, life skills are the main event.
We are the only martial arts school in the world licensed to teach the Leader in Me programme—the globally recognised system based on Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
What Is the Leader in Me?
The Leader in Me is used in top schools and organisations worldwide to teach:
Responsibility
Goal setting
Emotional control
Leadership habits
Confidence and resilience
Most children only learn these habits later in life—if at all.
At Kicx, we teach them from day one, using a structured curriculum called the Champions Character Programme.
What Is Champions Character?
Champions Character is a life-skills system disguised as martial arts.
It combines:
🥋 World-class martial arts training
📘 Leadership education from the Leader in Me
🧠 Mindset and paradigm coaching
💪 Personal development that lasts a lifetime
Why Paradigms Matter
Most martial arts schools teach what to do.
We also teach how to think—because that’s where real change starts.
We help children shift from:
“I can’t do this” → “I can learn this”
“I’m not good at this” → “I’m not good at this yet”
“I just want to win” → “I want to grow”
When kids change the way they see themselves, they change the way they live their lives.
In Summary
At Kicx, we’re not building fighters—we’re building champions in life.
Whether your child is shy, full of energy, or somewhere in between, the Champions Character Programme will help them grow into the best version of themselves.
Ready to Help Your Child Grow?
We’d love to hear from you!
Whether your child needs more confidence, better focus, or just a fun way to get active, we’re here to help.
Contact us today to get our Parent Info Pack, see the timetable, and learn about our trial offer.
No pressure—just friendly advice.