MMA fighter keeps his fists up
While daunting, it was a culmination of his 10 months in the sport.
Technique, fitness and dedicated intensity have forged gold for 20-year-old Daniel van Niekerk.
He walked away with a first place medal following the Shuriken Dojo Amateurs (Ams) on April 13; a gruelling event which saw him step into the mixed martial arts arena (MMA) for the first time.
Presently, Daniel is preparing to fight again later this month.
Describing his debut fight experience, Daniel explains that throughout his preparation for Dojo Ams, he only felt truly nervous the night before the event.
“I worked hard and my team [from TNS MMA Academy] helped me prepare. I wanted to win but I also decided to accept whatever happened.”
He says the arriving at the Shuriken Dojo and seeing the hundreds of fighters gathered there, was nerve-wracking.
While daunting, it was a culmination of his 10 months in the sport.
Although Daniel would hear the word ‘relax’ many times from peers and team mates, to him it was all a blur until he touched gloves with his opponent inside the cage.
“He hit me with two jabs and my nose started bleeding, but I hit back. He clinched me and took me down with a hip throw, but I had trained with my coach [Konrad Erasmus] to make sure I always get on top.”
Putting that training to superb use, Daniel slipped his arm around his opponent’s neck and gained a submission victory with a hold known as the rear naked choke.
Once the bell rang, his first emotion was pure relief.
While Daniel is intent on stepping inside the cage again in the future, he admits the fight was stressful, not least because he didn’t want to disappoint the TNS team.
The academy has become more akin to a second family to him.
Since joining MMA, Daniel says his self-esteem and confidence have grown, and he can handle stress far more efficiently.
“It’s hard to say what’s the best part about MMA, but I think it’s the relationships I’ve formed with the team and the feeling when you train hard.” Daniel’s journey with MMA began a few years before he took up the sport. While at the gym one day, he was given a contact number for Erasmus, but it was only last year that Daniel decided to give the coach and fighter a call.
“I wanted to do more because I wasn’t active in sports during my school years.”
Following his first training session, Daniel felt exhausted – in a positive way, he adds – but by the third session, he was utterly hooked. He now trains three times a week to stay atop the game.
Daniel says his father Erik, is his biggest supporter and also thanks Erasmus, Demi-Lee van Zyl, Danielle Vosloo, Lindokuhle Mkhasibe and his family for helping him achieve his goals.
“I don’t have a role model in the sport, because I prefer focusing on improving myself and getting better with each session. I don’t like comparing myself to someone else,” he concludes.
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