13 hours ago
Delville Primary student becomes double martial arts champion
Nathan Graaff (13) from Delville Primary School is over the moon after claiming gold in his debut Mixed Martial Arts South Africa (MMASA) National Championships.
After a triumphant weekend in Durban, Graaff has cemented his status as a double champion. In addition to his recent gold medal win at the MMASA Nationals, he also holds the Junior U55kg Titan Boxing title.
Notably, he competed in the U55kg category at the MMASA championships.
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Graaff's martial arts journey began when he joined the Thunder MMA gym, where he trained in both MMA and boxing. As a junior, he is subject to rules that prohibit face shots, which has led him to enjoy boxing slightly more.
With five years of martial arts experience under his belt, Graaff has already racked up nine boxing fights, including the title-winning match.
Reflecting on his progress, Graaff noted that while last year's competition was tougher, he is thrilled to have won again this year at the national championships.
'Having ranked 8th globally in the All-Africa MMA rankings last year and secured first and second place finishes at the nationals, I am back in training, putting in four days a week to further hone my skills with hopes of going to the 2025 IMMAF Youth Championships,' said Graaff.
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