Brief History of Callum Burkinshaw
Callum started martial arts in September 2002, with his brother Cameron under his father, Sifu Paul Burkinshaw. By the age of 6 years old he fought in his first kickboxing match in Coventry. From 2006 Callum trained in traditional Chinese Kung Fu and in Kickboxing under his father and from 2007, he also started to train in SLK MMA under Lee Walford. From this period on, Callum was training seven days a week in Kung Fu, Kickboxing and MMA. From this period, he was entered into all competitions including traditional Chinese forms, weapons, Chinese wrestling as well as the different formats of sparring. In March 2009 at the age of 9 years old, he achieved his Black Sash in Siu Lum Kune Kickboxing and two weeks later his Black Sash Hak Fu Mun Kung Fu.
Sifu Paul Burkinshaw had asked one of his students, Aaron Marsh to set up a fitness and fighting class at the academy and from this period, Callum also undertook this class. Sifu Paul Burkinshaw had seen his son’s natural talents for sparring and so wanted him to experience other fighter’s styles and methods to broaden his knowledge and enhance his skills. In 2012, Callum achieved his 2nd Degree in Kung Fu and besides training himself, would assist his father in coaching in both the Kung Fu and Kickboxing classes. From this period on, Callum began to focus more on the Kickboxing and MMA classes which he personally enjoyed more. In 2018, Aaron Marsh classed his fitness and fighting class at the academy to concentrate on his new business.
Below are Callums main competition results from 2005.
2005 BCCMA Junior British Champion Qingda sparring (6yrs)
2007 BCCMA Junior British Champion Qingda Boys sparring –29kgs
2007 BCCMA Junior British Champion Traditional Southern Boys Long Weapon
2008 BCCMA Junior British Champion Qingda Boys sparring –29kgs
2008 BCCMA Junior British Champion Traditional Northern Open-hand Forms
2008 Goldstar Champion Boys -4'4" Continuous Sparring
2008 Goldstar Champion Boys -4'4" Points Champion
2009 WKA Open British Kickboxing Champion Boys 9-11yrs -35kgs
2009 BCCMA British Champion Traditional Northern Long Weapon -11yrs
2009 BCCMA British Champion Traditional Northern Open-hand Form -11yrs
2009 WKA Open British Kung Fu Champion Qingda 9-11yrs -35kgs
2009 WKA Open British Kung Fu Champion Chinese Forms -10yrs
2010 WKA Open British Kickboxing Champion Boys 9-11yrs -40kgs
2010 BCCMA British Junior Champion Traditional Northern Long Weapon
2010 BCCMA British Champion -12yrs -44kgs Qingda Sparring
2011 BCCMA Novice Sanshou Champion Boys -12yrs -40kgs
2011 WUMA British Kumite Champion Boys -155cm Advanced Light Continuous Sparring
2011 WUMA British Kumite Champion Boys -45kgs Grapple & Strike
2011 WKA Open British Kickboxing Champion 9-11yrs -40kgs
2011 WKA Open British Junior Team Routines Champion
2011 BCCMA British Champion Traditional Southern Open-hand Forms 9-11yrs
2011 BCCMA British Champion Traditional Southern Long Weapon 10-11yrs
2011 BCCMA British Champion Traditional Nothern Open-hand Forms 9-11yrs
2011 BCCMA Sanda National Champion boys -42kgs
2011 WUMA International Champion -155cm Light Continuous Sparring
2011 WUMA International Champion -40kgs Grapple & Strike
2011 BCCMA British Qingda Champion -13yrs -44kgs
2011 BCCMA British Pushing Hands Champion 12yrs -44kgs
2011 WUMA World Cup Champion Chinese Forms -12yrs advanced
2011 WUMA World Cup Champion Grapple & Strike juniors
2011 WUMA Open British Champion Boys -155cm Advanced Light Continuous Sparring
2011 WUMA Open British Champion Boys -45kgs Grapple & Strike
2011 WUMA Open British Champion Chinese Forms -16yrs
2011 WUMA Open British Champion Weapons -16yrs
2012 BCCMA British Champion Southern Open Hand 12-14yrs Advanced
2012 BCCMA British Champion Southern Short Weapon 12-14yrs Advanced
2012 WKA Open British Champion Chinese Forms -13yrs
2012 WKA Open British Champion Amateur MMA -55kgs juniors
2012 BCCMA British Champion Qingda sparring -14yrs -55kgs
2012 Kwon English Open Chinese Forms Champion -13yrs
2012 Kwon English Open Amateur MMA Champion -50kgs 12-14yrs
2012 Kwon English Open K1 Champion -50kgs 12-14yrs
2012 WKA English Open Amateur MMA Champion -60kgs 12-14yrs
2014 WKA / Kwon Open British Champion -72kgs 12-14yrs
2015 Regional Kickboxing Champion 74kgs 16yrs
2016 MMA Battle Arena 75kgs 16yrs
2017 MMA Battle Arena 76kgs Adults
2017 MMA Battle Arena 77kgs Adults
From 2016, Callum would also train with Brett Healey in Coventry. Brett was another one of Sifu Paul Burkinshaw’s students who had his own Kickboxing classes in the Holbrooks area of Coventry. This was an open-mat sparring class where fighters shared their knowledge and tested their skills.
During 2016 and 2017, Callum entered several MMA Battle Arena competitions where he mixed his kickboxing skills with the grappling he had been learning. Through Brett’s class, Callum met Pro MMA fighter, John Robinson and from 2020, Callum would do weekly one to one training sessions with John. In November 2017, Callum with other members of Siu Lum Kune attended a sparring seminar with 5 times World Champion, Wayne Turner.
Callum with Wayne Turner and Paul Burkinshaw
In 2021 after lockdown, Callum returned to university at Nottingham. While there, he trained for three months at the Spirit Dojo Legacy gym under Paul Daley who was a Pro MMA fighter. Callum completed university in 2022 with an Honours degree in Business Studies. Once back home, his father asked him to take some of the kickboxing classes at the academy. One of these classes was an open-mat sparring class which was attended by Brad Boyden (another former student of Sifu Paul Burkinshaw). Since Brad had left Siu Lum Kune kickboxing, he had taken up BJJ and had recently achieved his Black belt in this style. Callum also started to train with Brad learning the BJJ.
In the kickboxing classes, Callum started to introduce his own ideas, drills, combinations etc that he had put together from years training with many top fighters. In 2023, Callum and his father reorganised the kickboxing syllabus to incorporate many of these. Callum was awarded his 4th Degree Black on the 1st August 2023 for all his achievements and contributions to Siu Lum Kune.
On Saturday 19th August 2023, Callum competed in his first BJJ match at the Midland Subs and submitted his opponent with a triangle choke half way through the round.
Callum forcing Charlie M to tapping out