Polokwane kickboxers shine at Battle of East
Mark Clark's kickboxing students excel at Battle of the East, with Du Toit, Tjale, and Mubanga earning medals in their debut competition.
POLOKWANE – One of coach Mark Clark’s proudest moments came on September 7, when three of his kickboxing students participated in the Battle of the East competition in Brakpan.
For Stefan du Toit, Thato Tjale, and Joseph Mubanga, it was their first time competing.
“It was tough. I faced some hard fights, but it was a new experience. I’m proud to have received a silver medal,” said du Toit.
Tjale shared a similar sentiment, stating it was a valuable learning experience. “I placed fourth, but I had to fight opponents in heavier weight classes.”
Mubanga described the event as both phenomenal and exciting.
“It was nerve-wracking, but overall, a good experience. I earned two silver medals, and it really opened my eyes to what matters in the sport.”
Clark expressed pride in his students’ progress and growth. “Even as winners, they need to stay humble. I only enter students into competitions if they’ve trained with me for at least a year and are truly ready. Entering them too soon can lead to harm,” he said.
Looking ahead, the club is preparing for the Great North 1 event in six months.
Clark reflected on the club’s journey: “There were rumours that we wouldn’t make it as a club, but in August, we celebrated our first anniversary. We started with just four students, and now we have over 20.”
