‘It’s Eat, Sleep, Breathe Karate,’ Toledo Man brings home World Title

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – A Toledo man returns home a world champion. Brennen Green, 21, won the title of the World Kickboxing and Karate’s men’s Elite World Champion.

He traveled to Portugal in late October to compete against several other countries, bringing home a big win for team USA.

“It was tough, it was a long process and very nerve-wracking at times,” Green said.

He specializes in CMX, which stands for, ‘Creative, Musical, and Extreme.”

Green described CMX as a series of kicks, twists and flips in the air.

“Think gymnastics but as a martial art,” he said.

He even created the music himself, playing into a Star Wars theme.

“I’ve been dabbling with music for a little bit,” Green said. “I thought, why not create something for my form that’s coordinated to my moves?”

Green said he started taking classes at Turner‘s Martial Arts in Toledo when he was just 4-years-old. Now, he’s turned it into a career, teaching classes at the same school he learned from.

“I’ve gotten to see the whole thing and it’s amazing, I’m so proud of him,” Daniel Turner, owner of Turner Martial Arts said.

Green said his students are his inspiration.

“It’s such an amazing thing to bring that back to them and give them somebody to look up to,” Green said.

Green said karate is more than just a sport to him, but a way of life. He says from the moment he wakes up, to the moment he goes to sleep, it‘s ’eat, sleep, breathe Karate.’

He says it’s taught him life skills like dedication, sticking it out even during the tough times.

Green will compete at the WYC World competition in Niagara Falls in 2025 to defend his World Title.

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