Local kickboxer bags three medals at Kickboxing World Championships

Yvette Schlotfeldt (42) from Alberton Chinese Kickboxing (ACKB) recently won three medals at the WAKO Kickboxing World Championships held in Portugal.

The World Association of Kickboxing Organisations (WAKO) was established in Berlin, Germany, on February 26, 1977, and began operating across Europe in 1976.

The founder, Georg Bruckner of Berlin, organised the first world championships in 1978 for semi- and full-contact karate, as the sport was first known, drawing 110 contestants from 18 nations.

With a great amount of safety gear, WAKO quickly developed the rules and regulations for the new fighting sport, which included punches (hand techniques) and kicks (leg techniques) for amateur bouts.

The sport was formally dubbed kickboxing, and WAKO began operating as the world’s official kickboxing federation from the outset.

Yvette said she began her kickboxing career at 38 and has not looked back. She said it is never too late to embark on a new endeavour. Kickboxing brings her happiness; she just had to give it a shot.

“It is important for individuals to give themselves a chance to try things they believe in because nothing compares to a feeling of accomplishing what you have always dreamed of. It started so small, then five years later, I am winning medals at an international level,” said the world champion.

First, Yvette won her category at the national championships in Limpopo, securing her spot on the national SA team to compete on the world stage from November 16 to 27.

She won two silver medals and one bronze for her three entries on the world’s platform. She won in the points fighting, light continuous fighting, and kick light fighting categories.

Yvette brought back three of the four medals SA won overall.

The founder of ACKB and coach of the winner, Sarah O’Donnell, has also put her name on the sport and is a third-dan black belt in kickboxing worldwide. The club was established in 2014.

Sarah said she is proud of her students because they put much effort into preparing her. For students such as Yvette to participate in international competitions, they require sponsorship and constantly seek assistance to send their warriors to these events as representatives of SA.

“Yvette always thanks me so much. However, I also thank her for grabbing the opportunity with both hands and making the most of it. As the club, we are looking forward to more wins from all our members and winning the first title is in our books as a club,” said coach Sarah.

The Alberton Chinese Kickboxing in Brackendown provides classes for beginners to experts. They are the right place if you want to lose weight, get in shape, learn how to defend yourself or take on a new challenge.
They have classes for children starting at age five, mixed classes, programmes for women, self-defence workshops, and much more.

ACKB is giving away free classes in January as part of the celebrations of their 10th anniversary. For information or to reserve your complimentary spot, WhatsApp Sarah on 079 591 2909 or visit their website.

Yvette thanked her coach, husband, family and friends who have always been behind her back and encouraged her to do her best.