Keen promoter of kick boxing

Press, 24 July 1987, Page 24

Keen promoter of kick boxing

By

MALCOLM CONDIE

Geoff Aitken, the heavyweight kick boxing champion of the South Island and a fourth dan black belt in Zen do Kai karate is dedicated to the sport and sees it more as a way of life after 13 years of commitment. Aitken started learning karate 13 years ago and after seven years went to Australia where he joined the Zen do Kai association.

He brought the Zen do Kai form of self-defence to New Zealand and introduced the sport of kickboxing — part of the Zen do Kai discipline — to Christchurch.

Four years ago he had a small club in Riccarton with four students. Now he teaches self-defence to eight schools, has six clubs and 120 regular pupils.

Not all students compete in kick boxing but those that do have to be dedicated. Aitken takes students aged between eight to 40 years but will now allow anyone under 18 to compete in the sport.

the tournament was out of season for the New Zealanders it was a great opportunity to compete against the world’s best New Zealand is the top ranked nation in the world ahead of Great Britain, Australia and the United States, a rankinn it earned bv winnine

Kick boxing is similar to Tai boxing but has several differences. Competitors wear normal lOoz boxing gloves on their hands and have 4oz pads covering the tops of the feet and shins. In amateur bouts, there are usually three 90s rounds. Each competitor must attempt to hit his opposition at least eight times with a kick during each round or points are

the Macßobertson Shield in Britain last year. Beale, aged 21, was a member of that successful 1986 team, along with Murfitt, aged 33. All three Christchurch players are members of the United Club and have tried to get in as much nrartlcp as nossible in

deducted. Unlike Tai boxing, kick boxers are allowed to hit their opposition anywhere above the belt, including, the head. The aim is to knock out your opponent. Kick boxers cannot hit with elbows or knees and may not throw their opponent. Bouts are held in a normal boxing ring but rounds are shorter and there are fewer rounds.

A professional kick boxing match would be over five 2min rounds.

Competitors have to be extremely fit, according to Aitken, and would need to undergo at least six months of learning moves and training hard before stepping in to a ring. Compared with conventional boxing, there is no more danger in kick boxing except when competitors are not trained correctly.

“If you are not fit or conditioned right you will get in trouble but if you have done your work you should be all right,”

spite of the recent inclement weather. The Christchurch trio will be joined by three other leading New Zealand players, Paul Skinley (Wellington), Bob Jackson (Auckland) and Tony Stephens (Dannevirke). All nroceeds from the

Aitken said. Grading is based on conventional boxing weights and range from flyweight to super heavyweight with about half a stone between each division.

Training is intensive for the sport, and before a bout Aitken increases his training. He fights practice bouts increasing the time in the ring by 50 per cent for each round, fighting an extra round and reducing the rest time between bouts by half. “You have got to train at least as hard as conventional boxers and you have to use your legs as well,” Aitken said. Although extremely demanding physically kick boxing is a disciplined sport. “Fitness, strength and skill have got to be together or you get in trouble,” Aitken said.

The sport started in the early 1970 s in the United States. It was founded by a man named Joe Lewis — not the famous boxer — who set up the World Kick-boxing Association.

tournament will go to the United States Downs Syndrome Society for which it is hoped to raise SUSSO,OOO. Although the competitors will have their airfares paid and accommodation expenses met, they have to pay an entrv fee of SUS2SO.

Kick boxing in New Zealand is just over three years old and was introduced by an Australian, Tony Renata.

There have been two kick boxing events in Christchurch. The first was held in March with nine bouts. Since then more people have become aware of the sport’s existence and the last event was well attended at the Hornby rugby league clubrooms two weeks ago.

It was there that Aitken won his South Island title. The win is quite a feat as, at 33, he would be considered a veteran by any conventional boxer. And he' intends to defend his title.

“I would quite like to retire but I will stay on and defend my title. I also want to get some New Zealand title-holders in Christchurch. At the moment they are all in the North Island,” Aitken said.