From hitting 'rock bottom' struggling with drugs and alcohol to running successful local businesses and building a close-knit community, Ashby-man Jimmy shares how boxing helped him to pull himself out of the darkness and how he hopes to help others do the same. 

Jimmy Bryan, age 30, has spent his whole life in and around Ashby and is now proud to be running Motiv8 Boxing Studio in the heart of the town. 

Before his professional bare knuckle boxing career, owner and coach at Motiv8 Jimmy is very honest about having hit a dark place in his life before using boxing to turn his life around. 

At school, Jimmy struggled in a regimented system, finding it very difficult to learn in the same way as other children. 

At the age of 14 while studying at Ashby School, he lost his best friend, Harry, who had muscular dystrophy. 

Reflecting now, Jimmy can see that this was a key turning point in his life as he struggled to understand and deal with his grief. He left school without any GCSEs and started an apprenticeship instead. 

Again, the structured working environment was difficult to handle and he left, ending up going to work in private security. 

During his 13-year career, he worked the door at bars, clubs and venues, as well as doing personal security for celebrities.  

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While working this job, he witnessed first-hand a lot of violence and traumatic events, recounting watching individuals being stabbed while at work and holding someone as they passed away.  

This led to down a path of using drugs and alcohol to cope. 

As a result, he moved back in with his parents, saying he was 'determined to get better off my own back.' 

'I have no regrets about my past,' he said. 'It's moulded me into who I am now.' 

He now has a fiancé and two daughters, running two successful local businesses, S&B Haulage and Clear View Cleaning Solutions, that employ 20 local people. 

Jimmy runs two sucessful local businesses (Photo: Jimmy Bryan)

Motiv8 Studio in Ashby was first set up by Liam Parker in 2008. 

Jimmy had been a member of the boxing gym since he was 18 but in 2020 expressed, he wanted to get involved more seriously in the business and join Liam as a partner. 

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He had a vision of 'creating a unique space that was accessible,' that could help teach the importance of discipline, resilience and confidence in a positive environment. 

Looking back, Jimmy can see that his life-long experience with boxing is what helped him build the life he wanted, saying: 'it gave me the strength to save myself.' 

It was his own struggle that made Jimmy want to help others use boxing to better themselves.  

'I know that it works because it worked on me.'

When the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020, the gym survived – just. 

'We managed to stay open by the skin of our teeth,' said Jimmy. 

Speaking to Jimmy about boxing, it is impossible to ignore the raw passion and belief he has in the power the sport can have.  

'I really enjoy the heart of boxing,' he explained, 'it's perceived to be bloody and violent but there's so much more to it.' 

In recent years, he has started to see everything he has invested in Motiv8 coming to fruition, seeing the real difference he and the gym have made on the lives of others. 

Motiv8 with the Mayor of Ashby (Photo: Motiv8)

The club has a really wide demographic of individuals from all different walks of life. They run classes for children as young as four and coach adults that have gone on to become professional boxers, some who still coach at the club today. 

In April 2025, Motiv8 invested a whopping £80,000 into the gym, completely revamping the space, making it everything he dreamed it could be. 

This included building a top-quality strength and fitness gym, along with boxing ring, sauna and ice bath. 

It was also important that a community space was included in the renovations, where club members could spend time in a safe environment.  

Whether that is somewhere youngsters use to do homework before their boxing class or somewhere to have a quiet minute after training, the hope is that the gym can give their community a safe and welcoming environment to bring out their best. 

Branching out from Motiv8, they also set up Ashby Town Amateur Boxing Club, a charity which strives to empower, inspire and encourage adults and young people physically, emotionally and mentally to reach their full potential. 

Ashby Town ATC is giving young people a support route to Olympic Boxing and has received support from Ashby Town Council. 

In the future, Jimmy wants to see the gym continue to grow and nourish the community, hoping to open its doors to more members and volunteers. 

They are also increasing the gym's reach in the community, offering alternative educational provision for young people and visiting Ashby's social and youth groups to share boxing as a positive force for personal change. 

To find out more about what Motiv8 have to offer, membership and their classes, click here to visit their website.