Xtreme Kickboxing Technologies (XKT) Brakpan and affiliated branches in Ekurhuleni (Benoni, Springs, Edenvale, Kempton Park and Boksburg) recently competed in a number of championships, including the South African Kickboxing Championships, with more than 10 South African champions competing in full contact, semi-contact and light contact.
XKT also recently partnered with Rio Grappling and are getting fighters ready to compete in their first grappling competition.
Shihan Raymond Phillips, president of XKT, commented on how much work gets put into becoming a champion, but also expressed great concern for the future of South African athletes in an ever-evolving world – on a technical, physical, emotional and psychological level.
“International athletes are fortunate that they can hop on an underground train or on an aircraft and compete in another country within 30 minutes,” he said.
“We in South Africa, on the other hand, have to travel at great expense to compete on the European circuit and, if we are lucky enough, to push through to the next level in a high-level league competition.”
Phillips, also the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) international director to Africa, Mixed Martial Arts South Africa (MMA-SA) vice-president and board member of the South Africa Kickboxing Association (SAKA), has the opportunity to see how the international fighters and coaches prepare and develop fighters.
“They are keen to assist Africa, but, as always, we have to do some work on our side,” he said.
“Also, everything comes down to finances.
“We are currently in talks with some companies to come on board to assist in developing this action-packed sport.
“I have been in meetings with the national and provincial bodies of MMA as well as kickboxing and they have given me the permission and mandate to develop a programme where we will select teams from provincial and national levels.
“Registered fighters will be invited for these special squad training sessions.
“They will consist of provincial and national champions, including the runners-up in the different weight divisions.”
“We launched this programme with MMA-SA last week and three national coaches were selected. They will be getting Team South Africa ready for the Inter-continental Championships in Mauritius in mid-July, the IMMAF International All Africa Open in Brakpan and the IMMAF World Championships in Bahrain.
“I will be launching a similar program with my fellow kickboxing instructors and coaches nationwide in the next few weeks,” added Phillips.
If you would like more information on MMA or kickboxing contact Phillips on 083 701 2154 or email rayforce@xkt.co.za.
