At an age when most children are still discovering their favourite hobbies, nine-year-old Levi Grove already has his future mapped out — and it involves becoming a world kickboxing champion.
The young Melkbos athlete recently achieved one of the biggest milestones of his young career when he won the South African kickboxing title on his birthday, surrounded by family, teammates and coaches who have watched his journey unfold from the very beginning.
Training under his father, Wayne Grove, and Shihan Dave Venter at Elite MMA, Levi’s determination and discipline have made him stand out well beyond his years.
A champion’s journey began early
According to his mother, Sharleen Grove, Levi’s love for kickboxing showed itself long before he formally stepped into a gym.
“Wayne identified talent from a very young age with him spending time on the boxing bag, ‘air kicking’ and inventing moves of his own,” she said.
At just five years old, Levi began attending kickboxing classes with his father. What started as childhood excitement quickly grew into serious ambition.
“Around a year ago, something woke up in him and he decided he wanted to be SA champ and he was going to make it happen,” said Sharleen.
“Ever since then, he has been training very hard with his father daily as well as at his club with his shihan.”
Training before sunrise
Levi’s training routine is already as demanding as many seasoned athletes.
He wakes up extra early every morning to stretch and often does light training sessions with his father before school. After school, he participates in other sports before heading to the club for another hour of kickboxing training.
Weekends are equally busy, with home training sessions and running programmes adding to his schedule.
Despite the intensity, his family says Levi balances school and sport exceptionally well. He attends Van Riebeeckstrand Primary School in Melkbos.
“Who’s the champ?”
One of the most memorable moments of Levi’s journey came when he discovered the national championship event would take place on his birthday.
“When he found out the SA competition was on his birthday, he was ecstatic,” said Sharleen.
“It just fuelled his drive to become champion on that day.”
After securing the title, emotions ran high inside the team camp.
“When he did, his Shihan pulled him aside and made him shout aloud, ‘Who’s the champ?’ louder and louder. I was overwhelmed with joy for him.”
A fighter with competitive spirit
Shihan Dave Venter believes Levi’s mindset is what truly separates him from other children his age.
“He was born with a very competitive attitude,” said Venter.
“He believes in himself and his capabilities. He has a 100% give-it-all demeanour and a passion for kickboxing. He wants to be the best. He wants to be world champion.”
While Levi’s physical ability continues to grow, his parents say one of the biggest lessons has been teaching him how to manage frustration and push through difficult moments.
“At such a young age, it’s easy to get frustrated when you can’t get something right,” said Sharleen.
“We have had to teach him how to manage those frustrations and push through them.”
A father-son bond through sport
Beyond the medals and achievements, Levi’s family says the sport has strengthened an incredibly special bond between father and son.
“I think he really looks up to his father as one of his coaches,” said Sharleen.
“It is a real father-son bond that is so precious. He wants to be his dad and for his dad to be his right-hand man through this journey is something special.”
She says that while Levi loves kickboxing itself, training and competing alongside his father means even more to him.
“He loves the sport, but being able to do it with dad — that’s the big prize.”
Chasing a world championship dream
Levi has now qualified for the World Championships after successfully progressing through district, provincial and national competitions.
But like many young athletes in South Africa, international competition comes with financial pressure.
“Funds are a challenge,” explained Sharleen.
“We do not get funding from government. It’s sponsorships that help young athletes represent their country on the international stage.”
Despite the obstacles, the Grove family remains committed to supporting Levi’s dreams.
Sharleen says Levi recently wrote her a letter explaining that he hopes to one day build a career in kickboxing and eventually become a coach himself.
“Our dream for him is to get his Protea colours and put South Africa on the map in a junior division at World Champs,” she said.
“Beyond that, we just want to support him wherever his dreams may lead.”
- Those interested in supporting Levi on his journey to the world championships, or who would like to get involved through sponsorships or donations, can contact Sharleen Grove via admin@prowater.co.za
