In this heartfelt episode, Carl talks about what it’ s like being dyslexic sharing his school experiences and the impact it has on his life every day.
Growing up with dyslexia brought challenges and Carl is very honest about his reaction and the consequences it brought for him throughout his years at school.
Now his dyslexia continues to bring challenges but also means he can truly understand the youngsters he works with at gym who are also facing a range of challenges that mean life is tough for them.
As a business owner, he now helps people deal with their challenges in life and is proof that being dyslexic and written off at school doesn’t mean you can’t be successful in life and business.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Much as I try to remember how to spell a word I can’t.
The words just disappear out of your brain.
I’m reading what I think I’ve put not what I’ve actually put.
When I was told to read out loud in class getting chucked out of class and detention was easier.
For me, reading is like a phobia and I’m very scared of it.
Dyslexia isn’t just about reading and writing it’s about numbers, how you see things and being situations.
When I look at letters on a page they move about. Writing a sentence is hell.
You get behind and then you just explode.
I’m writing a book and for me, it’s about proving its possible. It’s a nearly impossible task but I’m proving that I can.
We help people deal with life struggles, anxiety, bullying, losing weight.
I can’t explain how tough it is if you are dyslexic to do what you want to do.
I am proof that being written off at school doesn’t mean you can’t be successful in your life and business.
BEST MOMENTS
‘When you can’t do it, you go from 0 to 100 and no one can stop you’
‘That’s how I deal with it I run away as fast as possible’
‘I’m able to understand the kids out there’
VALUABLE RESOURCES
HKA Main landing page www.hastingskickboxing.co.uk/kickstartnow
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/Hastingskickboxing
HKA Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Hastingskickboxing
Adult community link https://m.facebook.com/groups/274624209886110?ref=share
carldenne@hotmail.com - Join Leigha every weekday for a workout for a fiver per month
ABOUT THE HOST
Hi, my name is Carl Denne.
I was born in Hastings in 1980. Married, father of two beautiful daughters, Bethany and Leigha.
My daughters, the wife, and gym ARE MY LIFE.
IF I’M HONEST, I pretty much failed at school. Heavily dyslexic, I was dismissed for being a “naughty kid” that didn’t want to learn. I was heavily bullied for having shit clothes and ginger afro hair. I didn’t have many friends.
When I say bullied I don’t mean called a “poo-poo head” and being looked at in a nasty way. I mean thrown downstairs, and hit with chairs and tables. Clothes were stolen whilst in the shower. That kind of bullying…
Oh, how things have changed…
Martial arts, and specifically Kickboxing, have changed my life, and now I am much happier and change other people’s lives for the better on a daily basis.
I am a complete adrenaline freak, so In my spare time, track days, jumping out of planes, sitting on top of them, rage buggies in the desert… The higher, the faster the better for me. I’m always looking for the next thing to get my blood pumping, so if anyone has a challenge I’ve not found yet, please feel free to share.
I do like a Saturday night movie night, Chinese, Netflix, lots of chocolate with my three little ladies. I love being around my friends and family. This is why I love the crazy HKA family so much, as this is my extended family.
I left school with pretty much nothing! A few sad GCSE’s C - D grade, BUT I did have a shit-ton of energy and passion to achieve, and to prove all the teachers and people that looked down on me for all those years, wrong. So, after a few jobs here and there, I settled on working for Openreach (BT) as a cabler/jointer copper and fibre optic multi-skilled engineer with HGV.
I left this in 2015 to chase my dream of running my own Kickboxing Academy and working with the future of today, rather than a job that just paid the bills.
I’ve trained pretty much my whole life: Karate, boxing, Judo, from the age of 9, and of course, I’ve now done over 29 years of Kickboxing. I’ve passed many Instructors and coaches courses, attended many training courses and seminars, grading up through the syllabus. I passed my 4-hour hell-on-earth 3rd Dan black belt in July 2018 with the ICO.
If I’m honest my real passion and skills have come from learning the hard way; through being in the trenches. I know how it feels to be on your arse. I know how it feels to have to pull yourself out of the pit. I’ve been through a divorce. I’ve lived through the pain and have worked with thousands of members, students, children, teachers and adults over the years, and the one thing I get told every time is how well I/we keep it very real, and that I have a complete understanding on most eventualities.
Thank you for reading and listening. I hope you connect with myself and the team, take away some ideas, understand you’re not alone, and that it’s good to talk, listen and help others as and when you can.
