Fighting Glen Marais mom brings home world gold
What started as exercise soon became serious business for this mother.
A mother of Kempton Park is the current World Martial Arts Organisation (WMO) world champion in her division for points fighting.
What started as exercise only for Magda van Niekerk (43), an ISFO Glen Marais member, quickly turned serious under the guidance of shihan Danie du Plessis.
“When I started in April 2011, I told my instructor I was only doing this for exercise and to do something as a family, as both my son and husband did the sport.
“Never in my life did I think I would be able to compete in a sport like martial arts, nor did I think I would ever represent my country at a world championship,” she said.
Even though her son stopped training and her husband is not competing anymore, van Niekerk is still going strong. There were some difficult times, but she persisted with dedicated training and endurance, while happily attending and competing in competitions.
She was one of the selected athletes from Full Contact Martial Arts (FCMA), to whom ISFO Glen Marais is affiliated, to represent South Africa during the world championships in Blackpool, England, from November 4-6. Fellow Kemptonian Jaques Dicks (49) also competed and won three bronze medals.
On November 4, she became the WMO World Champion in her division for points fighting. She was referred to, by her opponents, as “the tall South African”.
She also took part in traditional kumite (open division) and received a bronze medal.
“I would like to thank my family for their love and support, as well my instructor, shihan Danie du Plessis, for all his time and effort in training me, as well as every athlete from ISFO Glen Marais who helped by training with me.
“However, all the glory must go to Jesus Christ, who granted me the strength to never give up. Without all these people, I would never have been able to reach this wonderful achievement.”
