Interclub Challenge - Sat 4 June

Through my contacts and positive dealings with other Kickboxing and Muay Thai Instructors, the Monash University Kickboxing Club has been invited to compete at the Interclub Challenges, which are regularly held in West Sunshine (every 6 to 7 weeks).

The Interclub Challenge is a friendly amateur competition geared towards Kickboxing and Muay Thai clubs. Competitors are entered by their Instructors and matched according to gender, weight and experience. Competitors can fight under Boxing, Kickboxing, K1 or Muay Thai rules (full Thai rules - elbows and knees allowed).

All rules are fought Semi-Contact (only light contact to the head allowed), and full protective gear is to be worn - mouthguard, 16 oz. gloves, shin pads, groin guard (for males), and elbow and knee pads where applicable.

Being an amateur competition, the fights last for two one-and-a-half minute rounds with a 30-second break. There will be a referee to control the contact and flow of the fight, and judges who will determine a winner and runner-up, but all competitors will walk away with a trophy for their efforts.

Depending on the range of competitors entered in the competition, you could have more than 1 fight on the day, which will give you extra experience in the ring.

The next Interclub Challenge will be held on Saturday 4 June at the West Sunshine Community Centre, Kermeen St, West Sunshine. Competitors are to register at 12:30pm, with the first fight scheduled for 1pm.

Keeping in line with our policy where competitors must first attend a competition as a spectators as an essential part of their research and preparation for an event, none of our Members will be competing at the next Interclub Challenge on 4 June. However, if you are interested in competing at the Interclubs this year, I highly recommend you come along to watch the Interclubs on 4 June so as not to delay your own entry into the competition.

Many of you have shown interest in competing in a Semi-Contact competition such as the Interclubs. This is positive and shows great enthusiasm. However, you will need to train regularly (and train hard) with the fighters and demonstrate not only physical ability, but also a certain level of maturity and psychological skill before you will be given the opportunity to compete.


Kacey Chong

NAS Round 2 Results

For Matthew Gillet, Scott Gyngell and myself, the day started very early as I had to arrive at the venue at 8am for an Officials Meeting for Judges and Referees, and the guys had to check-in by 8:45am.

Matt and Scott were not due to compete until late in the day, as they were in the last 2 divisions running on Ring 3.

The Male Novice Point Sparring and Continuous Sparring has always been a huge division at the NAS, with around 20 competitors. Yesterday was no exception.

The action was fast and furious, with each competitor giving it their all. Scott started out with a reach disadvantage and was outscored in the Points Sparring, bowing out the competitor who would finish with the 3rd placing in that division.

Matt did well to score with a quick round kick to the head, but was also outscored in the Point Sparring by a Kung Fu practitioner with quick hands.

Scott started with all guns firing in the Continuous Sparring and dominated most of the round with good kicking combos, but appeared to be slowing down towards the end. He said after the bout that he thought he was leading and had done enough to win it, but as I've said many times before, in an elimination tournament, you have to give it 100% - especially towards the end, as the final seconds of the bout are the freshest in the judges minds. Scott received a split decision with one judge giving him the win, but 2 judges giving the bout to his opponent. Good work, Scott - now you know how much intensity is required of you next time you compete!

Matt also did well in his first round of Continuous Sparring, moving around the mat with good footwork and showing a good variety of techniques. He won his first round, and went on to compete against a Karate practitioner in the second round. Matt was showing good variation again, but was throwing single attacks and double combinations, which was not enough to beat his opponent, who went on to take 2nd place in the division. Well done, Matt - work on your combo's and you'll do much better next round.

Both of our guys represented the Monash University Kickboxing Club with pride and good sportsmanship, and did us proud. They are both highly motivated young men, and are now even more determined to get better results in Round 3. They'll keep up their training and no doubt improve their game for the next tournament.

Thank you to all the Kickboxing Club Members who came along to support the guys. Your cheers were heard throughout the hall and are much appreciated by Scott and Matt. Some of you will also be competing in Round 3 of the NAS Tournament, so I hope you've observed the tournament carefully and know what to expect when it's your turn to step in the ring.


Kacey Chong