Mum Claire loves kickboxing - and daughter Alisha wants to follow in her footsteps.

The youngster takes part in her first tournament next month.



MOST mums dream of the day they see their daughter walking down the aisle.

But for kickboxer Claire Brannen, 26, whose nine-year-old daughter Alisha has just taken up the sport, the dream is completely different.

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Claire has won all four of her major bouts and can't wait for the day she walks out with her daughter into the fighting arena.

Claire, from Miller Crescent in Hartlepool, has kickboxed for seven years. Alisha became interested around three months ago.

"I used to take her over to the gym a year ago and she would get tired straight away," said Claire, who is also a fitness instructor.

She also coaches girls football at Barnard Grove Primary School and runs Fit Kids classes at schools throughout town.

She said of her daughter: "Over the last three months I don't know where it has come from but her confidence has totally surprised me."

Claire trains with John Dawson's gym in Hartlepool and she describes John as her inspiration.

She has also competed in cagefighting at venues including the Mayfair Centre in Seaton Carew and the Corporation Club in Hartlepool, and loves the adrenaline rush.

Fearless Claire mainly competes against women but has fought against a man.

And she insists on fighting without a headguard.
"I do full contact without headguards, but I would never let Alisha do that," she said.

"I find them too restrictive and I can't hear anything, I just don't like them. I love my teeth so I've got my gumshield. I'm not bothered about black eyes but if I'd hate it if I got my nose broken.

"I never really think about a knock to the head, I should really. That's the chance you've got to take. Alisha thinks I'm invincible and obviously I'm not.
"I've told her there might be a time when she sees me knocked to the floor or knocked out."

Claire added: "When I'm fighting, I love to feel getting hit. It's an adrenaline rush.

"My family love what I do but they can get worried.
"My fiance Darren Hedley worries for me but he pushes me. He went to my last fight and walked me out."

She added: "I'm over the moon because John my coach has asked if Alisha wants to enter a tournament in Leeds in March.

"She's loving it. She's started sparring and she wants to take it further.

"I do get worried for her, but she wants to follow in my footsteps. I'm wary and happy at the same time.

"I don't push Alisha into it. I say if you feel it's getting too much just do it for the fitness, you don't have to spar, but she wants to. I'm totally behind her and would love to walk her out.

"I said to Alisha, 'One day you might be walking down towards the cage and I will be walking behind you with the bucket. She said 'I would love that'. That would be my proudest moment."

Contact sports are certainly in Claire's blood.

Her late grandfather Stephen Brannen, who taught youngsters to box in the King Oswy Workingmen's Club years ago, bought her her first punchbag when she was just 10 years old.

Mr Brannen, of Lazenby Road, Hartlepool, passed away six years ago, aged 98.

Claire deeply regrets that her grandfather hasn't been able to see her success.

"I just wish he was still here to see it. He would have been so proud. He would have wanted to be in my corner," she said.

Claire's uncle, also called Stephen Brannen, was also into boxing and her cousins, Andrea and Nicola Brannen, from Billingham are keen kickboxers.

Now, the honour of walking Claire out into the kickboxing cage belongs to Alisha, who has been doing so since she was three or four.

But despite the hard-edged sport that mother and daughter share, they both admit they are just as girly at heart.

"When we come home, Alisha and I love having our nails done. We put face masks on and have girly nights. I'm always in tracksuits and things but I do love to dress up.

"It's quite exhausting to do all my classes and then come home and do the housework and help Alisha with her homework.

"I can sit with her and we are best friends."

Barnard Grove Primary School pupil Alisha also takes part in trampolining and circuit training classes run by her mum.

Now Claire is hoping to take her kickboxing a step further by moving into MMA (Mixed Martial Arts), which involves more moves including grappling on floor, and to eventually open her own gym.