Filmmaker Brooke Collard grew up hearing stories about her uncle Chris.
But it wasn't until she was older that she realised how significant his successes had been.
"Uncle Chris' magnificently huge story - he's so humble about it that he doesn't actually talk about it a lot," she told NITV's The Point program.
"The only reason I knew is because mum would tell me stuff."
Filmmaker Brooke Collard has produced a short documentary about her uncle Chris Collard's world beating success. Source: NITV The Point
A world beating moment
The family story is also a national one.
In 1999, Chris Collard became Australia's first Aboriginal World Kickboxing Champion.
He excelled in the combat sports of kickboxing, Muay Thai and pro-boxing, with 70 professional bouts under his belt.
He remembers every moment of his prized fight in 1999 at Collingwood Town Hall that led to his world title.
"It was an awesome atmosphere," he said.
"I had a lot of the Koori community there on the night.
"It was a wicked fight - this guy broke my jaw in the second round and I fought with a broken jaw.
"He was tough. He came to fight and he put everything on the line that night, the same as me."
His hero Lionel Rose put the winning belt around his waist.
"That was one of the best moments of my life," he said.
Noongar man Chris Collard became Australia's first Aboriginal world kickboxing champion 22 years ago. Source: NITV The Point
A better future
Chris Collard's journey to the top of his field is made all the more incredible because of where he started - from poor beginnings, a broken home and stints in juvenile detention.
"I was in and out of institutions from the age of 13," he said.
"I was facing a bleak future if I didn't find fighting as a way out."
When he was 18, he thought about his life and decided he wanted a better future.
"I was training and thinking man, I want to better myself. I want to be a leading figure in my community. I wanted to change."
So he did. Now he hopes his story will help inspire others to do the same.
Chris Collard was known as the Aboriginal Warrior for his kickboxing exploits - now his story is being told in film. Source: NITV The Point
Aboriginal Warrior
His niece Brooke Collard has produced a short documentary on Chris Collard with writer and director Gary Hamaguchi.
It's called Aboriginal Warrior, after her Uncle Chris' nickname.
"He was called a warrior because it's not just about the fact he was facing someone else in the ring, he was also fighting personal demons," Brooke Collard said.
"He wants to give back to people who possibly had a similar upbringing to him.
"That was also my inspiration, to want to help tell that story, to tell people this is about healing.
"This is what the story is - you don't have to be stuck in those circles, you can get out of them and this is an example of that."
* For more on this story, tune into NITV's flagship current affairs program The Point at 7.30pm tonight, or later on SBS or SBS On Demand. Aboriginal Warrior will screen on NITV later this year as part of the Our Stories series.
