A pensioner with arthritis and two replacement knees has ignored the pain to become Britain’s oldest kick-boxer.
Jean McKenzie Baldwin, 76, has been nicknamed ‘The Beast’ by trainers because of her fearsome reputation in the ring.
The Scots-born gran took up the sport on the advice of her son following the death of her beloved husband Peter.
She has built up her confidence in the gym and is now set for her first charity bout - against a woman in her 60s.
Her trainer say Jean, from Smisby, Derbys, goes into “beast mode” when she steps into the ring.
She says the sport has given her a new lease of life and helped her get through the grieving process.
Jean, a gran-of-three, said: “Peter was one in a million. He would have said, ‘Good on you, girl. Go for it’.
“I love kick-boxing. It’s so invigorating. Even though I’m full of arthritis I feel absolutely great.
“It’s will-power more than anything, and pride actually.
“When I lost Peter I didn't want to speak to anybody, I didn't want to do anything.
“It took me quite a few years to get my confidence back. Then my son suggested I take up a sport.
“I went along to a gym nearby and saw these people kickboxing and I just thought, ‘Why not give it a try’?
“I’m called The Beast which I think is hilarious. I’ve got my first bout coming up, it's just for charity but I'm taking it very seriously.
“I’m going to go up against a woman in her 60s and I'm determined that I'm going to be the one that's going to come out of it.
“It's about speed and accuracy and watching out for your opponent's weaknesses while defending yourself from kicks.
“I become totally focused in the ring and I just give it my all. It's a wonderful feeling.”
The sprightly pensioner is urging others to follow in her footsteps by getting into the ring.
“Just get out there,” pleaded Jean, who trains three times a week. “Stop sitting in the house all day long and get out.
“Even though you’ve still got all the wrinkles and grey hair, you’ll feel about 20 years younger. It’s a new lease of life.”
Jamie Fearn, co-owner of the gym where Jean trains, says she goes into “beast mode” when she enters the ring.
He added: “She's so nice, but she does not stop.
“If I say to her, ‘Don’t do this it's too hard for you’, she will say, ‘No, I'm going to do it’.”
