It will be a night filled with high-octane excitement as Orangeville is set to host it’s first ever sanctioned kickboxing event on Saturday evening.
Martello Jones, fight organizer and owner of Art of 8 Martial Arts Academy – located right here in town – says those put off by the supposed ‘violence’ of the evening shouldn’t be.
“It’s a sport, just like hockey or soccer. There are ways to score points, and you do what you need to do to win your bout.” Martello says.
“Yeah, for 8 minutes you see two people trying to punch and kick each other, but once the fight is over – they are hugging, shaking hands, and [in most cases] they become life long friends” he continued.
The event will feature 6 local fighters, and include bouts in the kick-light category which is for youths under 18.
Martello says it will be a family friendly event, and that people who have their doubts always leave with a changed heart.
“When you see someone step out of the boundaries of perceived safety, compete at a high level, and then walk away safely, it can inspire people to do more.”
For more information and a link to grab tickets, click here.
If you are interested in learning martial arts, you can find more information on Art of 8 here.
Listen to the full interview with Martello Jones below.
