The Graaff-Reinet Raptors Mixed Martial Arts Club is immensely proud to announce that the following students were included in A, B and Development teams of the Kickboxing Organization of South Africa (KOSA) that will be participating in the 2025 World Kickboxing Association (WKA) World Championships in England in October 2025 and the 2026 World Kickboxing Association (WKA) African Championships that will take place in April/May 2026:
A Team
Grace Lynne Kitching
B Team
Marlon Christoffels
Matthew Christoffels
AJ Cronje
Chloe-Anne Fourie
Elizabeth Fourie
Reaglin Maarman
Darryl Tennant
Mieke van den Bosch
Arno van der Merwe
Renaldo van der Westhuizen
Development Team
Jaqwan Ahmed
Darius Els
Johannes Gildenhuys
Liam Pienaar
Frederik Steynberg
Jan Ernest (Jean) van Wyngaard
This follows the Graaff-Reinet Raptors’ recent participation in the Martial Arts South Africa (MASA) national championships in Pretoria where they bagged the following medals:
- Grace Kitching: Gold for points fighting, gold for continuous fighting, silver for No-Gi grappling, and silver for MMA light
- Marlon Christoffels: Silver for continuous fighting and bronze for points fighting
- Matthew Christoffels: Gold for No-Gi grappling and silver for points fighting
- AJ Cronje: Gold for MMA light, silver for low-kick, bronze for points fighting, bronze for No-Gi grappling, and bronze for sport boxing
- Chloe-Anne Fourie: Silver for No-Gi grappling and bronze for points fighting
- Elizabeth Fourie: Silver for points fighting and bronze for No-Gi grappling
- Reaglin Maarman: Gold for points fighting, gold for No-Gi grappling, and silver for continuous fighting
- Darryl Tennant: Gold for points fighting, gold for continuous fighting, and gold for sport boxing
- Mieke van den Bosch: Silver for points fighting
- Arno van der Merwe: Gold for sport boxing, gold for full contact boxing, and bronze for points fighting
- Renaldo van der Westhuizen: Gold for continuous fighting
- Jaqwan Ahmed: Gold for MMA light, silver for points fighting, silver for No-Gi grappling
- Darius Els: Silver for continuous fighting, silver for No-Gi grappling, and bronze for MMA light
- Johannes Gildenhuys: Silver for sport boxing
- Liam Pienaar: Silver for continuous fighting and silver for No-Gi grappling
- Frederik Steynberg: Silver for MMA light
- Jan Ernest (Jean) van Wyngaard: Gold for points fighting and gold for sport boxing
- Sinead Christoffels: Gold for No-Gi grappling and silver for MMA light
Graaff-Reinet Raptors’ Sensei Alette van den Bosch after the MASA national championships said, “It was an absolutely incredible experience to see what Mixed Martial Arts is really all about. Different people, different styles, 23 martial arts clubs, 629 students in 1668 categories – all under one roof. It was enough to bring tears of pride to anyone’s eyes.”
She emphasised how proud she is of her students.
“I honestly don’t even know where to begin. Each and every one of you gave it your all – emotionally and physically. Your fights were of an exceptionally high standard, and I could proudly say, ‘That’s my student!’”
She added that she had said from the start it was not about the medals – it was mostly about the experience – but her students still performed incredibly well, bringing home 42 medals.
Van den Bosch also expressed her gratitude towards her students’ parents.
“Thank you for all your support. I take my hat off to each of you who did everything in your power to give your children this opportunity. It truly moved me to see how the parents and students operated like one big family. The love, respect, and encouragement between you was simply… wow.”
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