A local kickboxer made Carletonville proud after walking off as World Champion in her weight division this week.

Charmaine Venter (31), a member of the Fight St XKT kickboxing club, represented South Africa at the IMMAF Kickboxing World Championship in Tbilisi, Georgia. She was one of only 10 South Africans selected for the national team after winning a gold medal at the national championships in Durban in April.

Charmaine, who fought in the under 65.8kg featherweight division, competed against opponents from Ukraine, India, and Finland in fights that went full-time to qualify for the final against an opponent from Mexico.

“The Terminator” as she was dubbed by SA Coach William Oberholzer from KwaZulu-Natal, did not disappoint. “I did not think that I would win, even though I hoped for it. I realised by the second fight that I could actually win the event,” the humble fighter says.

She adds that it was an incredible experience to attend the event, especially the final. During the earlier stages of the tournament, four cages were used simultaneously for fights, but by the final round, all attention was focused on a single cage.

“I could hear the other South Africans calling out to support me, but during the final, there was so much noise from the crowd that you could not distinguish who was supporting you or not,” she says. Charmaine adds that the spirit among most of the fighters and coaches, even between those of different countries, was very good, with everyone supporting one another. She thanked everyone who made it possible for her to attend the world championship, especially her coach, Shihan Chimmy van Winkel. “He put in so much effort and gives everything he has to help me and the other fighters. I would certainly not have been here today if it was not for him, who motivated me to develop a love for the sport,” she says.

According to Charmaine and Van Winkel, there is a bright future for local fighters, especially girls, who start doing martial arts.

“I cannot count how many times adults have said to me: ‘I wish my parents had never let me quit my martial arts.’ They remember the confidence and discipline it gave them, but also the regret of stopping too soon. The truth is, when children struggle, it is natural for them to want to give up. That is exactly when they need a little guidance and encouragement to keep going. By helping them push through, they not only grow in skill but also build resilience, confidence, and perseverance, which are qualities that will serve them for the rest of their lives,” Charmaine concludes.