The Brooks Brothers Matt and Joe Brooks (Elite Podcast #49)

In this episode, Lee is joined by the "Brooks Brothers," Matt and Joe Brooks, for a special dual-guest interview. Fresh off their incredible success at the WAKO World Championships in Abu Dhabi, the brothers discuss their journey to becoming world champions in multiple disciplines, including Points, Light Contact, and Kick Light. They dive deep into the differences between top-tier amateur circuits and professional fighting, arguing that the volume and variety of fights in amateur championships often present a harder challenge than the pro game. The conversation explores their recent transition into full-contact fighting with Total Kombat, the electric atmosphere of walking out to a massive crowd, and the pressure of maintaining their winning streak. Finally, Matt and Joe open up about their "origin story"—growing up in their father's dojo, the resilience built through "old school" training, and their commitment to maintaining high standards as coaches themselves. The Elite Podcast is a brand-new show where host Lee Matthews speaks to individuals who are at the top of their industry and profession. The guests will be from different backgrounds including combat sports, military, and business to coaching. Lee will be finding out along with you why they have become the best in their fields and enjoyed acclaimed success and what they all share – their determination to become ELITE in their field. Lee Matthews is a former paratrooper, kickboxing world champion and now entrepreneur. He is the owner of the UK's biggest chain of martial arts centres. 00:00 Intro and Welcome 01:04 Winning Gold at WAKO Abu Dhabi 03:49 Why Amateur Championships Can Be Harder Than Pro 07:57 Mastering Multiple Disciplines: Points vs. Kick Light 11:10 Transitioning to Full Contact (Total Kombat) 17:40 Walking Out at the O2 Arena 20:00 Fighting with a Broken Foot 23:17 Origin Story: Growing Up in the Dojo 31:54 The Problem with "Paper" World Champions 36:19 Sibling Rivalry: The "Kray Twins" of Kickboxing 40:05 Guardians of the Gate: Black Belt Integrity 47:20 Joining Team Top Ten GB 54:30 Partying with Darren Till 56:00 Future Plans Follow Lee on social media for more: ▶︎ Facebook -   / lee.matthewsbmma   ▶︎ Instagram -   / leematthewsofficial   ▶︎ Website - www.leematthewsofficial.com ▶︎ Lee’s Book - https://shorturl.at/fyGI7 Recorded and Produced by Liverpool Podcast Studios ▶︎ Web - http://www.liverpoolpodcaststudios.com ▶︎ Instagram -   / liverpoolpodcaststudios   ▶︎ LinkedIn -   / liverpool-podcast-studios