Slap fighting is a blast for Dynamite

Well, as the saying goes, “dynamite comes in small packages”.

This certainly rings true for 29-year-old Christopher-Lee ‘Dynamite’ Steenkamp from Witfield, who is making a name for himself as a slap fighter. The Boksburg Advertiser caught up with the local athlete to find out about how he got into the sport, his toughest moments, and his goals for the future.

How and when did you first get into slap fighting? What drew you to the sport initially?
I got into slap fighting in December 2023. I’ve always loved contact sports, and when I saw Dana White, the president of the UFC, start Power Slap, I thought, ‘Damn, these guys are crazy!’ Then one day, I was scrolling on TikTok and saw Robert Krisch (Bobby ‘The Punisher’) make a video calling out the whole of South Africa to step up if you think you can give a slap and take a shot. That video got me fired up and gave me goosebumps! It made me so excited to try the sport because I knew I could take a shot, coming from an MMA background. I’ve taken plenty of head kicks and clean shots. Growing up in the East Rand, I’ve been in my fair share of bar fights, taking hits from guys two or three times my size, and I’ve never been knocked out to this day.

Can you describe the moment when you decided to compete professionally in slap fighting?
I was sitting in my living room, watching that video from Robert Krisch, and I turned to my sister and said, “I think I can do this.’ I told her, ‘I’m going to sign up and test my jaw in the best way possible.’

What is it about slap fighting that you love the most?
I love contact sports, and slap fighting is a sport where you really test yourself to the limits, one on one with your opponent. He gives you all he’s got, and you take that full impact. It’s the best feeling in the world to know he gave you everything in his power, and you took it head-on like a gladiator. It’s a sport where size definitely doesn’t matter.

Your biggest achievements as a slap fighter?
I’m the only fighter to have made my debut, and a week later, I had my second fight. I fought in a semi-final in the lightweight title contest. I’m ranked number one in the lightweight division, and I’m still undefeated. I plan to stay that way.

Tell us more about the training that goes into preparing for a slap fight?
I condition my jaw using a few different techniques and jaw-strengthening rubbers that I bite on. I also train my neck and do a lot of power training with weightlifting. I slap a boxing bag and a car tyre. My nickname comes from my first senior high school rugby coach, who became my first MMA coach as well. I’m one of the smaller-built guys, but I tackled and took on all the bigger guys and dominated them, even though I’m smaller everywhere I go. That just stuck.

Tell us about your upcoming fight. How are you preparing for it, and what can fans expect from you in the ring?
My upcoming fight is a big one for me. It’s on May 31 at the Grasslands Driving Range in Benoni, and it will be my first time headlining. It’s a title fight against the same guy I broke my arm against last June. This isn’t just an opportunity for me to prove what I already know (that I’m better than him), but also a chance to get my hands on that belt, which I’ve been working so hard to get.

What’s the toughest part of being a slap fighter, and how do you handle the physical challenges of the sport?
The toughest part of being a slap fighter is that we don’t get the recognition we deserve in South Africa, which makes it hard for us to get paid what we deserve as athletes.

How has the sport evolved since you started? Have you seen any significant changes in the way it’s approached or viewed by fans and competitors?
I’ve seen massive changes since I started. The world is accepting slap fighting more now, and it’s no longer seen as a barbaric sport. We’ve built a huge fan base in South Africa. We still have a few challenges to get the sport sanctioned and televised, but Bobby and Nadine Krisch, the CEOs of Punisher Slap Fight Promotions, are doing a great job growing the sport. They’ve also invited Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie to our next event to help get the sport sanctioned.

What’s next for you in your slap fighting career? Do you have any long-term goals in the sport?
For me, the next step is winning this title and working hard to secure a Power Slap contract to set my son up for a brighter future.
My long-term goal is to fight for Dana White in Power Slap and to cement my name in the history books as one of the best lightweights to ever do it.

Also Read: Slap fighting nie barbaars nie – ‘Looselaw’