JUBA, June 20 (Xinhua) -- The first generation of mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters in South Sudan brings hope for the next generation of aspiring young fighters in Africa's youngest nation.
The recent success of current African Continental Muay Thai boxing champion, James Majok Gau, at 35, started out as a street fighter and is now inspiring many other fighters to try their luck at becoming professional fighters in a country where wrestling is a popular and well-grounded sport.
Muay Thai is a quick-paced fight that blends boxing and kicking into a spinning tangle.
In December 2023, Majok defeated Malaysian champion Jian Kai Chee during the World Muay Thai international title fight held in Juba, the capital city of South Sudan.
Majok and three of his colleagues are now planning to travel to Russia to attend the International Friendship Tournament from September 16 to September 19, 2024.
"Since I was young, I used to fight in the streets, but when I joined kickboxing, I stopped engaging in street fights. Martial arts is a good sport that transformed my life," Majok told Xinhua on June 17 in Juba during a visit by international MMA promoter Soslanbek Izrailov.
"In the past, I set a goal to become the world's best. Now, I've achieved that goal on an African scale," Majok said. "And I set my sights on conquering the world stage at the upcoming competition in Russia."
Majok is among many other aspiring MMA fighters who are hoping for international exposure during the upcoming Russian tournament.
Abednego Thon, a 24-year-old mixed martial arts fighter who is also traveling to Russia, said that in his teens he began with kickboxing before turning to Muay Thai boxing in 2014 when he met Puro Okello Obob, the current coach of the South Sudan Kickboxing Federation.
Thon said that taking part in the upcoming Russian Friendship Tournament will put South Sudan on the international scene for the first time. "It's a door opening for the current generation of South Sudanese kickboxers to see that there are some doing it at the international level, and I think others will join the sport," he said.
Thon stated that in his country, martial arts are often seen as violent. But in reality, it represents peace, respect, and self-control.
"For those of us who practice, it's a very positive sport," he added.
Puro stated that developing the sport in South Sudan has been quite challenging over the years since 2008, when he arrived from Canada.
"I came back from Canada to give back to the young people and the community, to help young people overcome some social problems they have been going through and also for them to have role models in kickboxing or karate," Okello said.
He noted that Majok's success has opened the path for other aspiring young talents to grow.
"Mixed martial arts became popular in 2010 in South Sudan after the South Sudan martial arts fighters competed in tournaments in Kenya and Uganda," said Okello.
He added that when the team goes to Russia, they will be the first South Sudanese kickboxers to fight there. ■
