Mapua’s mixed martial artist makes his mark

He looks like a younger version of English-Kiwi cricketing superstar Ben Stokes and Bhakti Rutledge is just as feisty.

The 15-year-old isn’t just cultivating an impressive set of red whiskers, the novice kickboxer likes to come out swinging too.

Bhakti is hard to miss and I spotted him getting off the bus from Māpua on his way to training at the Marist Rugby Club gymnasium.

Despite making the long haul, the Motueka High School student has stuck at a sport two of his mates introduced him to last year but then found the travel too much.

“I started karate at five and did it on and off. Last year I wanted to start a martial art again. I was struggling a bit at school and thought it might be a good way to release some frustration and help my confidence,” says Bhakti, whose name comes from his parents’ interest in Indian customs.

So he started classes at SMA Kickboxing, under the guidance of international champion Sallie McArdle.

“Sallie is an awesome coach and was an amazing fighter. I’ve watched a few of her old fights,” enthuses Bhakti.

She was impressed, too, with her young charge.

“He’s very respectful and easy to teach. I don’t know how to train novices, only how to train international fighters,” declares Sallie, who took the under 70 kilogram novice to the Combat Con and Oceania Championships in Canberra recently.

He won seven fights over two days including one where he banged knees with his rival.

“One of his bouts was adjudged the fight of the competition after the lead went back and forth four times in the last round before Bhakti won”, says Sallie.

He was one of 14 SMA fighters to travel from Nelson to Canberra and they claimed a staggering 24 gold medals.

Several had funding from Sport Tasman which helped cover costs.

“Two years ago I only took four fighters to the Oceania’s but now I have 30 to 40 consistently training,” says Sallie, who is now looking for bigger premises. “Success breeds success and there are plenty of people knocking on the door.  UFC has done so much to lift the profile of this sport. Everyone knows Israel Adesanya, whether you love him or hate him. What those local UFC fighters have done is fantastic,” declares Sallie.

She also works with at-risk youth and some of them show some real martial arts promise as well.

After a few weeks off, the next big international goal is assembling a squad to take to a Kickboxing World Cup in Hungary which attracts about 3,500 entrants from 65 countries. “They train like professionals but have to work like amateurs to pay their own way, so more community funding or sponsorship would be awesome for these guys,” says Sallie.