Cliff Kinchen

Cliff Kinchen, founder of Kinchen Martial Arts in Cornelius, joins the podcast to share his remarkable journey from a tough upbringing in Detroit to 20 years in the Air Force, and eventually to building a thriving martial arts school on Bailey Road. With black belts in multiple disciplines, a background as a professional kickboxer, and experience on the Air Force Taekwondo team, Cliff brings a holistic, self-defense-focused approach that blends physical training with character development and leadership.

In this conversation, Cliff talks about the humble beginnings of his dojo, the mental side of martial arts (“90% mental, 10% physical”), and why it’s never too late to start, whether you’re 7 or 63. He also shares the story behind his newly released book, Resilient Warrior: Be the Standard, his leadership consulting work with organizations like the Davidson Police Department, and the lifelong confidence martial arts can build both on and off the mat.

Kinchen Martial Arts Academy
10308 Bailey Rd Unit 420
Cornelius, NC 28031
(704) 237-0015

More about Cliff and his work here.

About the host:

Jeff Hamm is the visionary behind The Best of LKN – a media platform that has been spotlighting and promoting the most adored local small businesses and nonprofits in the Lake Norman area since 2020.

Jeff’s also an expert real estate broker who brings deep expertise in premium neighborhoods and strong ties to the region’s top builders, designers, and service providers.

Learn more:
www.LKNreal.com
www.BannerElkLiving.com