Seventy kickboxers from across the Overberg travelled to Hermanus last week for the Overberg Regional Kickboxing Championships.
The event was held on Saturday 19 November at the Moffat Hall in Mount Pleasant. MMA Dragons from Struisbaai, Barrydale Fight Centre, Triple D from Bredasdorp and Legacy Martial Arts Academy from Hermanus competed at the event.
Shihan Ruehan van Romburgh, owner of Legacy Martial Arts Academy and president of the Overberg Kickboxing Association, explained this event was the official selection tournament for the Overberg kickboxing team for 2023.
The team that will be selected will represent the Overberg at the Western Cape Kickboxing Championships that will be held from 24-25 March 2023 at Curro Hermanus. Various districts including Eden, West Coast, Winelands, Overberg and Cape Metropole will compete against each other at this tournament.
Van Romburgh reported that the regional championship was a big success with a lot of interest from the local community who came to support the fighters.
“There was a mix of new and upcoming fighters and experienced fighters,” he said. “It was good to see so many participants, especially girls and women.”
Team Legacy were the winners of the tournament with 47 gold, 21 silver and 12 bronze medals. The Triple D Martial Arts Centre team won 10 gold, 10 silver and six bronze medals. Team BFC (from Barrydale) walked away with two gold, eight silver and seven bronze medals while Team MMA Dragons won three gold, four silver and two bronze medals.
Van Romburgh applauded all the participants for competing in the tournament. “To step into the ring on the tatami is a massive achievement by itself,” he said. “Keep on working hard, it is not about winning or loosing but building your character of ‘never say die’ through training and competing.
“I look forward to hosting the Western Cape Kickboxing Championships next year and ask the community to support our local fighters who are an inspiration and prove what can be achieved though dedication.”
