WAKO Junior National team
We have just returned from the Junior World Kickboxing Championships in Italy (Naples) where the NZ National team won two Bronze medals. Sam Rist of Te Awamutu Phantom Kickboxing gained the Bronze medal in the +89kg Semi-contact division, and Cody Brooks of Huntly Kickboxing won the Bronze in the 'K1style' -81kg division. Both boys fought courageously and technically to put NZ on the medals table.
The team from all over the country flew to Naples on the 21st September to the World Association of Kickboxing Organisations (WAKO) junior World championships. the tournament had 1050 competitors form 30 countries competing. the tournament lasts four days due to numbers with the finals being run on the 27th September. The team, had a number of wins but were beaten in the quarter finals except Sam & Cody who got through to the semi-finals. The team were fighting both Semi-Contact and Full Contact.
The age groups for these champs are:
Younger cadets -10-12yrs old.
Older cadets – 13-15yrs old.
Juniors – 16-18yrs old.
Sam and Cody are both 16yrs old. It was Codys second time at the World championships after competing in Croatia in 2006 but getting beat as a 14yr old. It was Sams first time abroad for New Zealand. Another member of the team was on his second time abroad for New Zealand, Max Dobson fought in Croatia also and lost as a 10yr old. At 12 this time he beat one fighter into the quarter finals but was beaten at this stage by a Croatian into the semi-finals. Two Kickboxers on the team have represented NZ prior in Tae Kwon Do Internationals, Iain Abel and Amy Reeder of Whangarei.
The team all had to fund this trip themselves and did local fundraising to source the $5500 costs each. The Government gave an amount to split between the team but 95% was funded personally. So to come up against giant teams such as Russia, Canada, Portugal and GB who are sponsored fully by their national government is a great win for us.
Professional Fights
Five weeks prior I was in great Britain with a Professional team of five fighters, fighting for four Intercontinental titles and the Professional World title. Although once again the underdogs we had the World title fight between Georgie Tutaki fighting out of Te Awamutu and Te kuiti fight a 12 round fight against 6 times world champion Kerry-louise Norbury to see Kerry-Louise take the title. Wiki Tutaki fought a 10round close fight against Marty Wilson of GB a former 4 times world champion and again lose on points. Two fighters were stopped by the GB opponents, Leith Trail and Pete Tata, but Huntly boy, Shaye Brooks fought five 3 min rounds against Scott Sykes of Sheffield GB, Shaye was physically sick in round two which was believed to be a nervous reaction, and was behind on points, but after the bought of vomitting, he came back in one of the most memorable fights to beat Sykes on points and gain the WFKKO Intercontinental title and bring the belt back to NZ. Shaye has fought for New Zealand abroad three times previously, Hungary 2005, Croatia 2006 and Portugal in 2007 before his win in Britain this year.
Unfortunately both Shaye and Cody (Brothers) are moving to Australia shortly to work, but have vowed to retain their allegiance to New Zealand and have promised their availabilty to me for future teams.
I am the President for WAKO NZ and am presently discussing with GB, South Africa and Canada for their teams to visit NZ next year, plus we are developing the national 2009 teams for fights in Italy in April, Austria in September and France in November of 2009.
Should you need any further information please contact me on: 07 870 4347. Mobile 0272552522
Rick Dobson
Sam Rist. +89kg Semi-contact Bronze Medallist
Cody Brooks. -81kg K1-style Bronze Meddallist
Rick Dobson and Shaye Brooks, Intercontinental title winner
