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Anthony Kelly (martial artist)

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Anthony Kelly
BornApril 1964
Armidale, New South Wales, Australia
RankGrand-master
OccupationMartial artist
Notable club(s)New England Martial Arts Centre
Websiteanthonykelly.net.au

Anthony Kelly (born 1964) is an Australian martial artist and world record holder. Often called the "Arrow Catcher",[1][2][3] and referred to as a ninja,[4][5] Kelly is renowned for his fast reflexes, in particular his ability to catch fast moving items. He has made numerous television appearances.

Training

Kelly became interested in martial arts as a child after watching fights by Bruce Lee and Muhammad Ali.[6][7] He started training in martial arts in 1978, and had attained black belts in 10 different martial arts styles as of 2012;[7] according to his website as of 2020 he holds 21 black belts.[8] Kelly started catching arrows at his annual martial arts night in 2000,[7] getting the idea from watching the feat performed in the film The Last Dragon.[1]

I first got out a stopwatch and found that if you press it fast enough you can use it to test your reflexes, my average start-stop press was 1/200th of second, we blink at 1/300th. So I thought it could be possible to catch an arrow. After working out the stance and the hand technique, training myself to open and close my hand over 70 times in 5 seconds, I worked out how to master catching arrows, both sighted and blindfolded.

— Anthony Kelly[1]

Guinness world records

As of 2009, Kelly was Australia's most successful Guinness World Records holder, with 18 titles[3] including the record for the most arrows caught in 2 minutes which he obtained in 2001, catching 10 whilst standing 13 metres from the archer,[9] and the record for the most paintballs caught in 2 minutes whilst blindfolded which he obtained in 2003, catching 11.[10] He has also received the title of being in the top ten record holders of the century.

In 2010 Kelly broke the world record for the most tennis balls caught in one minute live on the Guinness World Records television series, Australia Smashes Guinness World Records, catching 43.[11] That year he also broke the record for most tennis balls caught in one minute whilst blindfolded, catching 11.[12]

By February 2012 Kelly had obtained 29 world records, and had 3 still pending approval.[7] On 'Guinness World Records Day' in November 2012 he obtained the record for the most targets hit by a blowgun in 60 seconds, hitting 23.[13]

In 2014 Kelly obtained the record for the most coach qualifications across multiple sports, being a qualified coach in bagua, association football, kung fu, mixed martial arts, ninjutsu, qigong, rugby union, rugby league, tai chi and tai chi dao.[14] In 2017 he increased his record to 18 coaching qualifications.[15]

Appearances

Kelly appeared in "Ninjas 2", a 2008 episode of the television series MythBusters,[5] in order to test whether an arrow could be caught in mid-air, whether a ninja can deflect an arrow with a sword and kill the archer before they can reload, and whether a one-inch punch could render somebody unconscious.[4] While Kelly is able to catch arrows, he could not do so under full-combat conditions, so the MythBusters declared that myth "busted". Kelly was able to deflect an arrow with a sword and "kill" Adam Savage before he could reload, thereby confirming that myth. Given the amount of force Kelly could generate with his one-inch punch, the MythBusters team declared it is plausible that someone could be knocked out with the punch.

Kelly was the first person to perform live on Guinness World Records television series in both India and China.[1] He has appeared on episodes of Ripley's Believe It or Not!, Stan Lee's Superhumans and Time Warp.[7]

Personal life

Kelly was born and raised in Armidale, New South Wales.[6] He went to school at O'Connor Catholic College. He states he only eats meat and potatoes, and has never eaten fruit or other vegetables in his life. Kelly attributes his fast reflexes to a combination of genetics and his unusual diet.[1] Kelly teaches kung fu classes at Duval High School in Armidale several days a week.[16]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Meet the Arrow Catcher, One of Australia's Most Prolific Record Breakers". Guinness World Records. 26 March 2013. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  2. ^ "Anthony Kelly". australiannetworkentertainment.com. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  3. ^ a b Collerton, Sarah (13 November 2009). "Living large: life as a world record judge". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  4. ^ a b Osbourne, Doug (6 August 2008). "MythBusters kick off new episodes with a bang". Geek.com. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  5. ^ a b "MythBusters". TVGuide.co.uk. 17 June 2008. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  6. ^ a b "About Us". anthonykelly.net.au. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Anthony Kelly – 29 Times World Record Holder". focusmag.com.au. February 2012. Archived from the original on 15 February 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  8. ^ "New England Martial Arts Centre". anthonykelly.net.au. Archived from the original on 3 May 2020.
  9. ^ Folkard, Claire (2002). Guinness World Records (2003). Guinness World Records. ISBN 978-1892051172. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  10. ^ "Most Paintballs Caught in Two Minutes – Blindfolded". Guinness World Records. 30 May 2003. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  11. ^ "Most Tennis Balls Caught in One Minute". Guinness World Records. 26 March 2013. Archived from the original on 16 January 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  12. ^ "Most Tennis Balls Caught in One Minute Blindfolded". Guinness World Records. 19 November 2010. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  13. ^ "Guinness World Records Day 2012 – Live Blog". Guinness World Records. 15 November 2012. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  14. ^ "Most Coach Qualifications (Multiple sports)". Guinness World Records. 23 May 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  15. ^ "Most coach qualifications (multiple sports)". Guinness World Records. 9 December 2017. Archived from the original on 27 November 2018. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  16. ^ "Classes". anthonykelly.net.au. Archived from the original on 25 January 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
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