I got started in Martial Arts in 1976 through my uncle Keith Manning who is a 3rd dan black belt in Wu Shu Kwan, Chinese kickboxing. I was a big Bruce Lee fan, and an avid Martial Arts magazine collector. I was always fighting at school and getting into trouble, so my uncle decided to take me under his wing and started teaching me Wu Shu Kwan for discipline and self confidence, the rest as they say is history!

I knew Lincoln Boney before I started training with the Vipers, as we both did the same style. I looked up to him for years, in a way I idolised him. I can remember whenever he was sparring with an opponent, his opponent would always end up sliding or flying  across the floor after getting a roundhouse kick across their head. Just knowing what
was going to happen, you could count the seconds down from ten to zero and watch as if in slow motion Lincoln would lift his leg up and rap it around his opponent's head. Occasionally, we would discuss other styles and systems, then one day Lincoln told me he was teaching a totally different system and invited me to come along to try this new style. I realised then why he was so much better then the other students. I didn't hesitate to say yes, that conversation took place in late 1984, I started training with the Vipers in early 1985, after I took my 1st dan black belt in Wu Shu Kwan.

My most memorable fight was in Japan in 1989, where I fought the Japanese heavyweight shoot fighting champion in the Tokyo Dome in front of an audience of twenty thousand or more. I was excited, but at the same time very nervous knowing I was there to fight and not as a spectator. We were there for a week and had non-stop press conferences TV & radio interviews I felt like a world champion, we were treated
like royalty.

My hardest fight was in Rotterdam, Holland in 1992, where I fought nine, two minute rounds for the I.K.B.F (International Kick Boxing Federation) European heavyweight title. The original opponent had pulled out due to an injury, I was offered the fight with only three weeks to prepare, considering I was a light heavyweight at the time. The fight went the distance, earning myself a victory, which I believe with more time to prepare I could have knocked my opponent out. My opponent had more time to train for the fight, and was at least 7inches taller than me, so for me the whole ordeal was a huge challenge.

My Kickboxing and Thai Boxing fight record spans over fifteen years with over sixty six fights and only three defeats. I have also competed in amateur boxing, were I started at the age of twelve, and won various medals as a junior and competing on the senior circuit for the Fitzroy Lodge Amateur Boxing Club where I was taught by Mick Carney.

I also went on to win the PLA'S, which was similar to the ABA (Amateur Boxing Association). I've also competed in mix Martial Arts and unlicensed Boxing fights and have competed successfully around the world in countries such as Spain, Holland, France, Sweden, Moscow, Australia, Japan and Thailand.

Throughout my competitive fighting career, I was known as (Trevor "POWERHOUSE" Clarke) owing to not holding back on my kicks and punches, always 'powering' my way through fights to knock out my opponents. I did achieve a number of title belts, notably the I.K.B.F (International Kick Boxing Federation) European Heavyweight Kick-Boxing Champion and the B.A.T.M.A (British Association of Thai Martial Arts) European Light
Heavyweight Thai Boxing Champion, which was founded by the Great Master Toddy.

As a qualified Thai Boxing, Kickboxing and Boxing coach I am currently teaching at the Vipers gym. I no longer compete, as I am far too busy to train seriously enough to compete (unless the right deal comes along).

(If you would like to book a  private tuition session with Trevor, please contact him on 0709-203-6858 )