Team Rage has a talented athlete in their club who is raring to prove his worth in the ring. Veteran Fred Lourens will be facing off against Carl Statem Bergman in Cape Town for the SA Championship. The 42-year-old has been training in kickboxing since 1996 after a tragic accident changed his views.
“I was working in Doornfontein at the time and taking a train. I was robbed at the Johannesburg train station but luckily I was not robbed of my life. Since then I vowed to do whatever it takes to make sure I can defend myself and my loved ones,” he said.
Fred then started with Ring Contact Fighting Art followed by kickboxing, however, an incident in his first year of training ensured he would never walk away from the sport.
“In my first year of training, I participated in the Sun City Jungle War competition where I won the South African title in semi-contact.
“After winning the title the kickboxing bug bit me and I’ve been training hard and am passionate about the sport,” he said.
Fred is quick to emphasise that kickboxing has taught him more than just kicking and punching, but humility, self-confidence and respect for self and others.
“As kickboxers we undergo grading just as in the other martial arts. We are not unique in that way. I have my black belt in all-styles kickboxing and am now also an instructor,” he said.
To train for his upcoming trip to Cape Town with Steve Eden in his corner, Fred has been working tremendously hard on his fitness and combinations, and to be prepared for an eventuality.
“I don’t know much about my opponent but that goes for him too. So this will be a new and exciting match. Fitness is important as we will be fighting five rounds in three minutes instead of two minutes,” he said.
Fred will be meeting Carl in Cape Town on 25 March.
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