Getting a kick out of kickboxing

Mohamed Aqueel said his training has begun for the SAKA (South African kickboxing Association) juniors world title to be held next year.

MOHAMED Aqueel Ambaram (14) has a black belt in kickboxing and is only in Grade Nine at Nova Pioneer in Ormonde.

Ambaram started his journey in 2009 when his grandma, Soraya, enrolled him in karate at the tender age of six at the SKR Martial Arts Academy. He progressed to kickboxing in 2011 and in 2012 he was selected for the development team to represent his dojo at regional tournaments before qualifying at national level.

In 2016 Mohamed Aqueel participated at the NMA ISKA (International Sport Karate and Kickboxing Association) Destiny Tournament where he achieved the following: SA champion in points fighting, SA champion in tag team, silver in continuous fighting, silver in XMA, silver in high kicks and silver in black belt grand champion.

He was ecstatic as he had qualified for his Protea Colours and was offered the opportunity to represent his country at the ISKA World Martial Arts Championship held in Orlando, Florida in the USA in July this year.

The US Open is known to be a prestigious martial arts tournament and each year, the US Open and ISKA World Martial Arts Championships weekend presents an experience unique to the martial arts. The US Open brings together the world’s very best competitors, teams, coaches, spectators and officials for a weekend of inspiring performances. The event was televised worldwide on the ESPN Networks.

Mohamed Aqueel qualified to enter the following modes: high kicks, continuous sparring, points sparring and clash sparring. After two days at the Coronado Springs Convention centre with over 5500 competitors from 46 countries, Nova Pioneer is proud to announce that Mohamed Aqueel has done the school proud.

He received the following placings for his division at the US Open 2017: NMA ISKA world champion in high kicks, NMA ISKA world champion in points sparring, NMA ISKA world champion in clash sparring and fifth place in continuous sparring.

Mohamed Aqueel said his training has begun for the SAKA (South African kickboxing Association) juniors world title to be held next year. He is also training to break the world record for high kicks in his division at Destiny 2017.