XKT training programme on the cards

Raymond Phillips, vice president of Mixed Martial Arts South Africa (MMASA), recently launched a training programme in Kempton Park to identify local MMA champions.

Phillips is also the president of Xtreme Kickboxing Technologies (XKT), the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) international director for Africa and a board member of South Africa Kickboxing Association (SAKA).

“The plan is to launch a similar programme with national kickboxing instructors and coaches in the next few weeks.

He says three national coaches were already selected to assist him in the MMA programme.

These coaches will get the SA team ready for the upcoming Intercontinental Championships in Mauritius in mid July, the IMMAF International All Africa Open, in Brakpan, and the IMMAF World Championships, in Manama, Bahrain.

Phillips says when the XKT programme is launched, local XKT athletes will benefit in competing on national and international level.

He recently had the opportunity to watch the preparation, training and competing of international fighters and coaches.

“These people are keen to assist us with the programme, but we have to work hard to accomplish our goals and we must do our homework first,” he says.

Phillips has met with several MMA and kickboxing federations on provincial and national level, who have given him the mandate to develop the programme.

“Registered fighters will be invited to regular special training sessions.

“These fighters will include provincial and national champions as well as runner-ups in the different weight divisions,” says Phillips.

During the training sessions teams will be selected on provincial and national level.

Coaches will also be selected for the national kickboxing programme.

He says it takes a lot of hard work to become a champion, but he is concerned for the future of SA athletes in an ever evolving world on a technical, physical, emotional and psychological level.

Ekurhuleni XKT branches produced more than 10 SA XKT champions in full, semi and light contact, over the past month.

XKT also joined up with Springs Rio Grappling and are getting fighters ready to compete in their first grappling competition.

“International athletes are fortunate to compete in competitions in Europe due to their quick means of transport where they can enter another country within in 30 minutes, in time for their competition,” says Phillips.

However, South Africans have to travel at great expense to compete nationally and especially internationally.

Phillips says they are currently negotiating with several businesses to come on board to assist them with this programme.

An international event will take place at XKT Thabazimbi, in conjunction with SAKA, at the end of July, where several South African kick boxers will compete against Canadians.

For more information, contact Raymond on 083 701 2154 or email rayforce@xkt.co.za

Connect with us:

Do you have an interesting newsworthy story? Contact the newsroom on 011 812 4800 or send an email to Samantha Keogh (editor) samk@caxton.co.za, Izahn Krige (digital journalist) izahnv@caxton.co.za or Anna Robertson (journalist) annar@caxton.co.za

For the latest breaking news in your community, follow us on Twitter @SpringsNews and like our Facebook page.

For news straight to your phone and daily weather updates, invite Springs Advertiser on WhatsApp by sending a message with your name and surname to 079 408 9334.

To see what we get up to in the newsroom and in town, follow us on Instagram at springs_addie