Marc is bagging the medals
Marc also represented South Africa in the 10th World Martial Arts Games
HAVING represented his country last year, this year could not bring a better start for a young kickboxing champion from Kempton Park.
Marc St Arnaud, a learner at Hoërskool Birchleigh High School, represented South Africa in the WAKO Junior World Kickboxing Championship in Dublin, Ireland, last year.
He obtained fifth places in both the semi and light contact categories, in the u-19, u-94kg divisions.
At 112kg, Marc is known by his Team SA buddies as the Bear – “Don’t poke the Bear” – and was one of the smaller fighters in thes division.
The WAKO World Championships are the ultimate test of a kickboxer’s skills, with the best fighters from around the world competing. Unlike other events where different skill levels are accommodated, these championships only accommodate the best of the best.
Marc also represented South Africa in the 10th World Martial Arts Games in October at the TicketPro Dome, winning a gold and bronze medal. He also obtained a fourth place in the boys u-18 black belt open division.
On a national level, in 2016 Marc won his second South African Kickboxing Association (SAKA) u-19 light contact title in the u-94kg division and a bronze in semi contact. This along with a silver and bronze medal at the Arnold Classic in the boys u-18 open black belt division.
2017 started well for Marc, seeing him dominate the SAKA boys u-9, u-94kg light continuous division, winning the SA title for the third consecutive year. He also won the inaugural u-19, u-94kg kick light SA title and came second in the semi contact division.
At 17, with still one year to go as a junior and now four SA Titles to his credit, Marc will work towards next year’s championship, hoping to match, or beat his older brother’s six junior SA Kickboxing titles.
Older brother Claude, in his second year as a senior, won his second senior u-84kg semi contact SA title.
