The long-anticipated South African Kickboxing Association (SAKA) Eden Championships took place at the Four Brothers Potato Store, just outside George on October 14, where Jeffreys Bay-based kickboxing club, Botha’s Kickboxing Academy, walked away with a total of nine medals in three different categories.
Despite the rain and cold weather, eight SAKA kickboxing clubs from across the Western and Eastern Cape gathered for the championship.
The participants from Botha’s Kickboxing Academy, led by Shihan Louwrens Botha, showed just how much grit they had in the face of adversity, with some of them fighting above their weight divisions and belt ranking, which was an excellent show of sportsmanship and love for kickboxing.
The following medals were won by participants from Botha’s Kickboxing Academy:
. Taylor Urquhart (60kg – 65kg) won a silver medal in the semi-contact (points) category, and gold in the light-contact category
. Ruan Jordaan (79kg – 84kg) won silver in three different categories, semi-contact (points), light contact, and low-kick light
. Felix Ugokwe (95+ kg) won silver in two different categories, semi-contact (points) and light-contact
. Emile de Klerk (70kg – 75kg) won silver in two different categories, semi-contact (points) and light-contact
Botha said that he believes that the fighters from his academy are destined to appear in provincial, national, and international teams, as two of the team members previously gained their provincial colours in other provinces.
He said that they also went on to represent their provinces at the South African Championships, and were placed in the top three in their age groups.
Botha said that one of the fighters from his academy, Taylor Urquhart, had been selected for the national team and was meant to participate in the World Association of Kickboxing Organisations (WAKO) World Championships in Italy in 2020, but it was cancelled due to the pandemic.
“The opportunity to redeem themselves after the pandemic is on the horizon and they will give it their all, to make up for lost time,” said Botha.
Rika van Jaarsveld, team manager for the academy, said that their fighters are currently preparing for grading at the end of November, and if they are successful they will receive a belt and certificate recognised by WAKO and SAKA.
“Grading is a vital part in kickboxing because it is a test of the fighter’s physical and mental skills. This is also necessary to develop as a fighter,” said Van Jaarsveld.
She further said that the belts are divided into two divisions, junior (white to green), and senior (blue to black), which are also the divisions used and a prerequisite to fight in a competition.
In the coming months, Botha’s Kickboxing Academy will introduce children’s kickboxing on Mondays and Wednesdays, just before the adult classes.
For more information on membership and holiday programmes, contact Shihan Louwrens Botha on 072 357 5090.
