Unshakeable - Boxing for MND
Fighting back one round at a time.
An 8-month pilot program combining adapted boxing, movement, mobility, nervous system regulation, and community support to help people living with Motor Neurone Disease feel stronger, more capable, and less alone.
Who is this for?
You've been diagnosed with MND and are noticing that your balance doesn't feel the same, the body isn't communicating the way it used to, co-ordination is slipping and you are feeling a little defeated. You're losing options. But you haven't lost yourself.
Unshakeable is a purposeful group program that helps you continue to feel strong, balanced, and in control while you navigate the inevitable changes MND brings.
Boxing, learning how to breathe, balance training, and community.
Sessions are adapted as your symptoms change. You're not alone. Your carers are welcome and valued too.
Your body is still communicating — Unshakeable helps you stay connected.
Why this matters:
This program is being created because of my friend Marj.
Marj walked into my kickboxing classes in her mid-60s with strength, determination, and grit. For eight years we trained together — in group sessions and one-on-one.
In 2022, she began experiencing changes in her balance and speech.
The road to a diagnosis took time. During that time, Marj kept showing up. We adapted sessions as symptoms changed, continuing with kickboxing, strength work, and mobility training wherever we could.
Eventually, Marj was diagnosed with MND.
With that diagnosis came the ability to stop searching for answers and start working with what was in front of us. Movement became more than exercise. It became purpose. A reason to leave the house. A space where Marj wasn’t reduced to symptoms or a diagnosis — she was still herself. Still capable. Still my friend.
That experience became the foundation for Unshakeable.
This program is built on the belief that movement can still provide connection, challenge, confidence, and quality of life — even as the body changes.
The purpose of Unshakeable is simple: to give people living with MND a space to fight back, surrounded by a community that understands.
What does a session look like?
No two sessions will look exactly the same — because no two days will feel exactly the same.
The entire purpose of Unshakeable is adaptability. We work with what is in front of us on the day, adjusting movements and intensity to suit your body, energy, balance, and symptoms as they change.
Generally, sessions will include:
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Breathing and nervous system regulation
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Balance and coordination work
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Boxing drills
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Strength exercises
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Mobility and movement training
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There is also plenty of time to connect with others who understand the reality of MND— for both you and any support person you choose to bring along.
Your coach:
Jo Wilson
Over 20 years in martial arts. Founder of Breaking Barriers Fitness Coaching. I found kickboxing as a way to manage stress — and it quickly became a doorway into a lifelong fascination with movement, the nervous system, and how we meet pressure in our bodies and in life.
My work blends strength, martial arts, and personal safety with a deep respect for nervous system regulation.
I am constantly learning and evolving - there is always something new to explore and I bring that curiosity and experimentation to every aspect of Breaking Barriers. I'm growing alongside you in real time.
"I don't teach people to fight. I teach people to trust themselves under pressure."