June 15, 2026
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Joel Broere has been kick-boxing since he was 14 years old. Now, at the age of 18, he has won four national belts and has been chosen to join Team Canada, headed for the Wako Junior World Kick-Boxing Championships in Jesolo, Italy, Sept. 18-27.
The Grade 12 student at Kincardine District Senior School (KDSS) started the sport of kick-boxing right before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
"I was bored," he says. "I was playing hockey, but it was on the same night as kick-boxing."
He began with coach Mike Weichert at Dawg in Kincardine and won his first national championship for his age level in "Kick Light," a different discipline. Unfortunately, at the age of 15, he couldn't train for a year because he broke his elbow playing hockey.
A year later, Dawg closed, so Joel joined Huron-Bruce Mixed Martial Arts in Ripley and now trains with Justin Havens. He won his second national championship at the age of 16 and went on to win two more national belts at ages 17 and 18.
Joel Broere with his four national championship belts; photos courtesy of Joel Broere
This spring, he won all his fights. This is the first year he tried out for Team Canada and was chosen to advance to the worlds in Italy, on a team of 100 athletes.
"It's really exciting," says Joel, "but also nerve-wracking. I'll be representing Kincardine and Canada on the world stage. We're there for a week-and-a-half; Jesolo is near Venice, Italy."
Joel graduates from KDSS this year and plans to attend Heritage College and Seminary in Cambridge in the fall, taking a Bachelor of Theology in pastoral studies.
"Yes, I want to be a minister," he says, realizing that doesn't quite match his persona as a champion kick-boxer. "I spent my summers at New Life Camp in Durham and I also volunteered as a counsellor there. This summer I've been hired as the head counsellor and maintenance worker."
Joel hopes to continue training and competing in kick-boxing while going through university, so he will be checking the gyms in the area.
When he's not training or going to school, he enjoys hanging out with his girlfriend and working on his truck.
Joel is the son of Kelly and Chris Broere of Huron-Kinloss, and has a sister, Jasmine.
If you would like to support Joel's opportunity to compete on the world stage, contact his mother at Kelly_broere@aol.com.
Joel Broere with this year's Wako national championship
Joel Broere (left) wins a kick-boxing fight
Written ByLiz Dadson is the founder and editor of the Kincardine Record and has been in the news business since 1986.
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