Kicking the competition to the curb at nationals

Nelson’s S.M.A. kickboxers have continued to reach new heights after their most successful medal haul to date.

Fighting in the WAKO New Zealand National kickboxing championships, the club’s nine fighters came away with 15 gold medals, seven silvers and a bronze.

With most fighters competing in light contact, kick light and semi contact, they were having to run from one fight to another, says coach Sallie McArdle.

With kickboxing shortlisted to become an Olympic sport, the nationals have grown year on year with over 100 fights on the day.

Sallie says the growth of the sport has given her high aspirations for the S.M.A fighters.

“There is no reason why we can't have Olympians from this club. Every time we go up north to compete we come back with medals, learnings, and confidence.

“This club is getting stronger and stronger. We are going only two years, imagine what we can do over the next six."

With the national championships also coming with ranking points, the local fighters fought in all three disciplines, which is uncommon.

Sallie believes it’s important to train all three, giving more options when they start progressing through the ranks.

It was also an important competition for four of the fighters who are heading to the WAKO World Championships in Portugal in November.

Aaron Thomas, Sarah Randall, Lily Sinclair and Miiguel Nunez all came away with gold medals in what will likely be their last big event before they travel at the end of the year, with Aaron winning gold in all three sections.

The juniors in the club also had a fantastic performance, with Niyah Takao showing incredible skills against a strong fighter and joining Aaron taking gold from all three divisions back to the club.

Joseph Hill stepped up to fight and win the open U18, and Jesse Newton fought for the first time in the under U16 open, narrowly missing out the gold in the finals to a far more experienced fighter.

Summer Puklowski had a walkover as nobody turned up in her section and as a junior, entered into the seniors. Facing off against the overall winner, Summer dug deep and displayed great technical ability but will have to beat her another time.

Proving that you can start at any age, Lisa Johnston entered for the first time and took two golds and a silver in the veterans division in her 40s.

Sallie says she couldn't have asked for more from her fighters, having done exactly what they set out to do.

"The medals are great but my personal sense of achievement is when I look around at them supporting each other, warming each other up, celebrating their wins and feeling their losses together as if they were their own.

“I'm always, always proud of my team. They are respectful to officials, fighters, coaches and each other. They take their wins and their losses with integrity and humbleness.

“That's what our club is about and that's why we will always be successful. Everyone is on their own journeys and my job is merely to facilitate that"