SINGAPORE: A kickboxing coach has launched a movement program for people living with Motor Neurone Disease following the death of her long-time client and close friend.

Jo Wilson — a coach with more than 25 years of experience — is set to launch her ‘Unshakeable’ program in September.

The program will combine adapted boxing, gentle strength exercises, balance work, and breathing techniques in a safe, tailored fitness environment to support continued participation as symptoms progress.

Ms Wilson said she wanted the initiative to focus on dignity, autonomy, and quality of life.

“Boxing and martial arts are something that saved my life,” she said.

“I’ve always trained for the mental health rather than the physical side of it … I don’t think people really think about how fitness and movement can help in a population that’s terminal.”

Ms Wilson said the program was inspired by her close friend and long-term client Marge who died from MND in 2024.

Marge trained with Ms Wilson for eight-years and her dedicated coach saw her struggle to get a diagnosis and then stayed with her as the disease progressed.

“I remember sitting there with Marge and she was talking about her symptoms,” Ms Wilson said.

“She’d gone to the doctor and he actually said to her, ‘Well, what do you want me to do?’

“So she didn’t go back … then it was months of gentle nudging and encouraging her to go see a neurologist.”

Despite her advancing condition, Marge continued training and completed her kickboxing black singlet grading at age 74.

“To see what she was actually capable of, and for her sons to see her as someone other than mum was very cool,” she said.

Following Marge’s diagnosis, Ms Wilson continued to train her, customising programs to match her changing mobility levels — which has helped her create the ‘Unshakeable’ program.

Ms Wilson said the program would address the physical loss of control and emotional weight that comes with the progressive illness.

“There’s a sense of betrayal with MND in particular — a betrayal that your body’s let you down, the brain’s let you down,” she said.

“So this isn’t just looking at lifting weights to build muscle or balance work.

“Boxing for me is about relieving stress, emotion, anything that’s pent up.

“It’s about reconnecting, finding acceptance, so you can live the best quality of life until you can’t.”

Ms Wilson said she hoped to grow the program to more than one session a week.

“You lose yourself so much in all of this,” Ms Wilson said.

“You can expect to find a community, not just for the participants, but for their carers as well.
“Somewhere you don’t have to mask — you can just come in any shape that you’re in, even if that means you just sit there for the session.

“People want you to be here.”

The eight-month pilot program will be free for participants and has been backed by the Heart Foundation’s Active Innovation Challenge grant program.

Participants will be required to obtain medical clearance from their primary care physician before taking part.