Four athletes from Grounded Wellness MMA and Kickboxing Club had quite an exciting time at the SAAMA Fight Night event last month.
The athletes competed at the Enoch Community Centre, with Corbin Hazen and Jaxon Gallant of the Club bringing home titles.
Also competing was teen Meeka Swanson, along with seven-year-old Weston Damiani, which marked his first competition. Damiani was also the first kid to compete out of Grounded Wellness.
Koreena Kulba, who owns the Club with her husband, located just west of Rimbey, said they wanted to acknowledge the hard work of their athletes.
"They train really hard, they show up, they work hard, and their hard work really shone through," she said.
She added that while they also teach MMA, the recent competition was specific to kickboxing, and also marked the Club's first competition.
"It was the first competition, but we have a lot of kids training with us, and there will be more competitions coming up," she said, adding that they are hoping to hold their own competition next spring at the Peter Lougheed Community Centre.
Kulba said the sport is not just good for exercise and fitness, but also for the mind.
"It's so good for the mind, discipline and responsibility. It teaches kids so many good habits."
Their Club offers kickboxing and MMA to just kids and teens.
"It's amazing how many kids find a change in how they feel training," said Kulba.
The recent competition had all the effects it would for professional or amateur fighters, with lights, photographers and music as the competitors walked out.
"Each kid had one competitor, so it was like you were going in for an actual fight card if you were an adult."
