Garry Bell- Official

Crazy how one person on the cover of a martial arts magazine helped change the path of my life. ❤️🥊

That person was Jean-Claude Van Damme — JCVD @jcvd

I was just a kid going through some of the worst years of my life. I was being physically beaten up nearly every day by my mam’s boyfriend. I remember being thrown into a toilet, smashing my head and cutting it wide open. Years of it broke me down physically, mentally and emotionally.

Seeing JCVD on that magazine gave me something positive to look towards. I didn’t know it then, but martial arts would completely change my path.

I left school with no qualifications. Before I ever became successful at anything, I failed more times than I can remember — but I never quit.

I started my first business with £20. Businesses failed and I lost my gym 4 times. The 4 time, after it flooded twice, I lost pretty everything and was out of business for 6 months.

So I had to relocate and build everything from scratch the full business.

I know what it’s like to have nothing, to fail and to feel broken.

But I always kept going.

Martial arts took me on an incredible journey. I became a kickboxing champion and coach, won medals at European and World Championships and received awards including a Martial Arts Hall of Fame Legend Award. I rebuilt my gym, became an author of Unmasked: Life Is a Fight, and invented a game an now I’m getting opportunities in martial arts action movies. 🎬🥊

I’m definitely not JCVD level yet🤣 — I’m only getting started.

This video of me speaking is from Platform, a business event where I was invited to speak and share my story.
@paullancasteruk
I’m not sharing this to brag. I’m sharing it for anyone going through their own hell right now.

Where you start doesn’t have to be where you finish.

I’ve failed more times than I’ve succeeded. I just never stopped getting back up.

Sometimes one person or one moment of inspiration can change your path.

For me, it was JCVD on that magazine cover. ❤️

Keep believing. Never give up. Keep chasing your dreams.

📖 My full story: Unmasked: Life Is a Fight — available on Amazon Prime. @unmaskedbook