About

About Coach Jon Barnard

Founder | Champion | Mentor | Developer of Warriors

Aloha!
My name is Jon Barnard, and I’m the founder of Untamed Kickboxing Academy a place where warriors are made, and lives are transformed.

Born on the island of Oahu, raised on the west side of Makaha, and once told I’d never amount to anything more than a labor worker, my story is proof that adversity doesn't define your future resilience does.

Growing up with dyslexia, no natural sports ability, and a heavy dose of discouragement, I found a lifeline in combat sports. What began as a way to lose weight and gain confidence became the very thing that saved me. Just six months into training, I stepped into the ring against an undefeated fighter. I was sure I’d lose but I didn’t. That fight became the turning point in my life.

From that moment forward, I dedicated myself to the fight not just in the ring, but in life.
Over the past 10+ years, I’ve:

• Competed in 50+ fights,

• Captured five championship titles in multiple weight classes,

• Been featured on TV shows, commercials, magazines, and podcasts,

• Trained alongside UFC champions and traveled the world
  ...all because I refused to give up.

But the wins don’t define me what I’ve done with the lessons of fighting does.
I’ve served as a science and technology teacher, earned a Bachelor’s in Business Management, and built a career as an IT developer for Fortune 500 companies. I credit all of this to the grit, focus, and resilience I learned through combat sports.

Now, I give back.
I coach and mentor a team of 15+ youth and adults in one of Charlotte’s most overlooked communities individuals who society often casts aside. Through our academy, they gain discipline, confidence, purpose, and a future they never imagined.

I believe violence in our streets stems from a lack of direction and opportunity.
And I believe we can change that one fighter at a time.