RIC BARNHILL – FOUNDER AND HEAD COACH
With a career spanning three decades, Ric competed internationally at the highest level in K1 kickboxing and Muay Thai, before going on to build a proven coaching record developing fighters from raw beginners to Champions.
Fight Career
Ric began fighting in 1997 and retired from competition in 2013. During his career he had more than 20 international bouts and competed on major promotions including K-1 Official, Enfusion, It’s Showtime and Klash Battlefields and top UK promotions including Muay Thai Legends and Rumble at the Reebok.
His career titles and achievements include:
- 2× World K1 Kickboxing Champion
- European K1 Champion
- British Muay Thai Champion
- Northern Area Muay Thai Champion
- Enfusion Champion of Champions finalist
- Ranked No. 2 in Fighters Magazine’s “Hardest Hitters in Muay Thai” feature
- Top 10 UK Ranked Professional For 9 Years
Through his career Ric fought top UK fighters before competing internationally vs World Champions, K1 superstars, and some of the worlds best Kickboxers, notable names include Georgio Petroysian, Alex Schmidt, Gago Drago, Jose Reiss, Craig Jose, Peter Nylund, Jay Woodham, Elias Daniel, Rab Burt, Kerrith Bhella and Leandro Scarpula. In the inaugural Enfusion $40000 reality TV tournament in 2010, 16 champions representing 16 countries competed in Thailand. Ric defeated Goran Elesic and Sahin Yakut to reach the final, which was later held in Lisbon, Portugal.
His career also included appearances on Eurosport, RTL and Channel 5, including headlining the UK’s first live prime-time televised kickboxing event.
International Experience
Throughout his career Ric fought and trained internationally, including in Thailand, Netherlands, Denmark, Italy, Germany, Sweden, Spain and Portugal.
He represented a number of well respected UK gyms and teams during his career, including two with the highest number of UK ranked fighters at the time. Gyms represented include Simingdam, Vin’s Gym, Pele’s Gym/Beastmasters, Nongkee Pahuyuth, Supergym and Sitmonchai in Thailand. Ric was coached by highly respected coaches along the way including Ronnie Green,Vinny Shoreman, Dean White, Kevin Harper and was managed by Dan Green.
Supergym & Coaching
Ric founded the Supergym Combat Sports Academy in 2008, with gyms operating in Knutsford, Northwich and Winnington.
As a coach he has developed and made Champion fighters from raw beginners producing 12 top-15-ranked professional fighters across K1, Muay Thai and MMA (striking only in MMA)
The approach that now sits at the heart of Supergym Kickboxing: proper kickboxing, taught properly, whether somebody wants to train for fitness, fun and confidence, learn the sport properly from the beginning, or take their training into competition.