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 creator and producer of The Best of LKN. He’s a licensed real estate broker and savvy digital marketing professional.

Since 2020, Jeff has been sharing the stories of Lake Norman’s most inspiring small businesses and nonprofits.

When he isn’t working, you can usually find Jeff boating on Lake Norman, traveling in his RV, hiking local greenways, and taking walks with his English Bulldog, Maisy.

Photo credit: LKN Images by Kathleen Martin