Lesley Hoaeb, the kickboxing gentleman
The local kickboxer speaks about his future in the sport and how he relishes his last fight against Stanford Gopole of Zimbabwe.
LIMBA MUPETAMI
WINDHOEK
Namibian kickboxer Lesley Hoaeb is a true gentleman of the sport.
The fighter said the discipline and dedication which come with the sport both complement and suit his lifestyle.
The super-lightweight said his entire life focus is on kickboxing and nothing else and because of this dedication, he has gone as far as becoming a sensei, third-degree black belt holder, jiu-jitsu practitioner and self-defence instructor.
The kickboxer has also earned three sub-Saharan titles and one king of the ring title.
Opening doors
Hoaeb said his plan is to keep his career momentum going as his last competition, which took place last September at Walvis Bay against Stanford Gopole of Zimbabwe, was to open more doors for him.
“I knocked him out in the second round and defended my sub-Saharan title.
“These are the type of moments I live for as I'm in my prime and would like to have more challengers coming to Namibia in order to fight on home ground.
While contact sports are still on hold due to coronavirus regulations, Hoaeb said he remains positive things will get back to normal.
Seeing the world
The sport has accorded him the opportunity to travel to various countries, he said.
“Kickboxing took me to 13 times to South Africa, once to Brazil and Botswana and every year to since 2014 to the United States.
“If you are focused, doors will open,” he added.
Apart from competing, Hoaeb said he has a dojo, Ring Contact Fighting Arts International, at Walvis Bay.
A dojo is a place for immersive learning or meditation. While this is traditionally encountered in martial arts, it has lately been seen more often, even in software development.
The term means “place of the way” in Japanese.
Getting started
Hoaeb got into the sport in 2011 after seeing the positive effect it had on his brother, local kickboxing and jiu-jitsu wunderkind Delano Muller.
Muller is also the 2019 Namibian junior sportsman of the year.
In the future, Hoaeb would like to face off against Johannes Gottwald from Germany.
He advised those in the sports code to stay motivated and ensure that they have a good support structure.
WINDHOEK
Namibian kickboxer Lesley Hoaeb is a true gentleman of the sport.
The fighter said the discipline and dedication which come with the sport both complement and suit his lifestyle.
The super-lightweight said his entire life focus is on kickboxing and nothing else and because of this dedication, he has gone as far as becoming a sensei, third-degree black belt holder, jiu-jitsu practitioner and self-defence instructor.
The kickboxer has also earned three sub-Saharan titles and one king of the ring title.
Opening doors
Hoaeb said his plan is to keep his career momentum going as his last competition, which took place last September at Walvis Bay against Stanford Gopole of Zimbabwe, was to open more doors for him.
“I knocked him out in the second round and defended my sub-Saharan title.
“These are the type of moments I live for as I'm in my prime and would like to have more challengers coming to Namibia in order to fight on home ground.
While contact sports are still on hold due to coronavirus regulations, Hoaeb said he remains positive things will get back to normal.
Seeing the world
The sport has accorded him the opportunity to travel to various countries, he said.
“Kickboxing took me to 13 times to South Africa, once to Brazil and Botswana and every year to since 2014 to the United States.
“If you are focused, doors will open,” he added.
Apart from competing, Hoaeb said he has a dojo, Ring Contact Fighting Arts International, at Walvis Bay.
A dojo is a place for immersive learning or meditation. While this is traditionally encountered in martial arts, it has lately been seen more often, even in software development.
The term means “place of the way” in Japanese.
Getting started
Hoaeb got into the sport in 2011 after seeing the positive effect it had on his brother, local kickboxing and jiu-jitsu wunderkind Delano Muller.
Muller is also the 2019 Namibian junior sportsman of the year.
In the future, Hoaeb would like to face off against Johannes Gottwald from Germany.
He advised those in the sports code to stay motivated and ensure that they have a good support structure.
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