XKT returns with SA titles

After long periods of very little action due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Xtreme Kickboxing Technologies’ (XKT) fighters are back and dominating the scene again.

Seven of the club’s members recently competed in the South African Kickboxing Association (SAKA) national championships in Pretoria and brought home seven titles.

“Because of the Covid situation, we had to send a much smaller team than we are used to,” said XKT’s Shiaan Raymond Phillips.

“Eastern Gauteng had 22 fighters there and we are used to being one of the biggest regions with normally over 100 fighters at the national championships.”

Ryan Phillips was the star of the show as he won three titles. Petro de Bruyn won two and Matthew Gething brought home one title.

“He was a bit rusty in the beginning as he hadn’t fought for three years but he came back on the last day and did extremely well in the low kick category. That’s when the old Ryan started clicking again,” said the older Phillips about his son Ryan.

“I’m happy, especially with the lack of tournaments we’ve had over the last two years. They (the fighters) did well,” said Phillips.

“We need to do a lot of work if we are going to do the world championships and eventually the Olympics.”
Becoming national champions could be a big boost for the kickboxers who are aiming to qualify for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

“National champions should get preference (for Olympic qualifiers) because they are national champions. I think they also look at the merit and in Ryan’s case, they all know him from the earlier years. I think this is his 29th national title,” said Phillips.

Phillips is now looking forward to having his star kickboxers competing in several tournaments including one in Turkey at a date yet to be confirmed.

“There will be a South African team going to Turkey. The South African team has not been announced but I would like for some of my students who will be in the national team to take part,” he said.

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