The WORLD ASSOCIATION of KICKBOXING ORGANISATIONS National team will be heading off to Hungary for the world Championships on November 27th. The Competition held in Szeged, Hungary will host approximately 2500 competitors. WAKO world Championships are so large they are actually split into two competitions. The Muay Thai and Low Kick along with Musical Forms is to be held in Morrocco, and the Light Continuous, Semi- Contact and Full Contact will be held in Hungary. WAKO (NZ) President will be heading the first National team from New Zealand at the Hungary championships. Initially the rules stated only National champions could attend the world championships but new legislation enables the national President to personally select the team. A number of the team gained places through winning the New Zealand Championships prior to the new ruling, then Rick was able to select others on their personal merits. One such person who actually missed the National championships through illness but selected at a later stage was Multiple champion in Kickboxing, Karate and Tae Kwon Do, Carl Van Roon, Carl recently represented New Zealand at the ITF World Championships gaining a Gold Medal.
Another favourite is Bad Boy Brad Johanson, a New Zealand National Champion. Representing New Zealand in the Heavyweight Full Contact division, Brad had an unbeaten record until recently trying his hand in Muay Thai competition, Brad usually competes in the Over waist full contact regime and competed in Aaron Dixons war in the Waikato Muay thai competition and had a shock defeat through not checking the leg kicks, Brad took all the leg kicks full onto the thighs and lossed on points after a fantastic fight. Brad has took the loss as a boost to put in more training for the world championships and has vowed to have a re-match after his world title attempt.
The team depart from Auckland on 27th November. The first day of competition is 1st December through to the finals on 4th December. The team then fly back on the 5th, arriving back on the 8th December.
The team started out at a strength of 30 but depleted to 15 due to costs and lack of funding available. The team now comprises of the following members:
Rick Dobson – coach
Brad Johanson
Peter Thompson
Carl Van Roon
Dafydd Sanders
Steve Milroy
Wiki Tutaki
Joe Howells
James Harbottle
Shaye Brooks
Zyrus Rihari
Shan-Mei Chan
Tessa Gyde
Laura Wilson-Sims
Georgie Tutaki
If there are any companies reading who wish to support the national teams world title attempts, they can contact Rick Dobson on 0800 542 548
"Tsune ni itte Kyu ni awasu"
Rick Dobson
Chief Coach – Phantom Kickboxing
National President – WAKO (NZ)
