The pandemic is spreading, and there doesn’t seem any end to it. Not just in Britain but all over the world everyone is self isolating and being shut away in their homes, nowhere to go, no friends to see, nothing to do. Sometimes there seems no point to anything. It’s hard to keep the motivation going, especially for sporty types who are used to training with like-minded people in a happy vibrant place, in their exciting sport. Thankfully there is a vaccine now which is great news and to keep like minded sports fanatics going until things get better, the Cimac Superleague is presenting an exciting virtual kickboxing championships where you can show off your skills wherever you are in the world and support the amazing mental health charity called Young Minds.
Article written by Andrea Arnold.
The Cimac Superleague is a series of martial arts tournaments that anyone can enter to become the overall league champion. Due to COVID-19, however, the tournament has been unable to run and those who usually enter the league have been having withdrawal symptoms, so the Cimac Superleague organiser Neville Wray has come up with a temporary solution to keep both fans and competitors entertained and engaged.
You may ask how it is possible to have a virtual kickboxing tournament, don’t you need an opponent? Well, yes and Neville explains how it will work:
“In this special virtual Cimac Superleague tournament, martial arts competitors from many different styles will be showcasing their fighting skills on zoom. They will be judged by three referees who will watch two people on the screen at any one time. The person who demonstrates the best techniques will be awarded the win, which will put them into the next round.”
“The competitors will be judged in the following categories:
Footwork and blitz: Demonstrating various footwork movements followed by any punching techniques.
Shadow Sparring: Demonstrating kicks and punches against an imaginary opponent.
Kicking Skills: The only category where there will be no punches involved. All the moves will be highlighting the various kicking techniques of the martial arts.
Kickboxing Combinations: Competitors will put together kicking and punching moves in sets of four combinations. “
During the first lockdown in the UK, all gyms and sports facilities were completely shut down to public access and Neville needed to find a solution to keep his training sessions going. Most sports outlets, personal trainers and the like had turned to online zoom style training and Neville did too. It was through these sessions he had the fantastic idea to throw in a Superleague special to keep morale up and keep the tournament alive, but this special event had to dig deeper and have a greater purpose than its own and that was for the tournament to include the Young Minds Mental Health Charity, as Neville said, “because of the impact with the current situation with the COVID-19 pandemic.”
In his position as Vice President and Head Coach, as well as ethical committee board member, for WAKO GB (World Association of Kickboxing Organisations, Great Britain) he has ‘seen how it's led to a lot more youngsters suffering from anxiety.’
Young Minds is a very special charity dedicated to making sure all young people can get the mental health support they need, when they need it, no matter what. It aims to stop young people's mental health reaching a crisis point and to make sure no young person feels alone with their mental health.
There have been huge changes in the world recently and as we continue to endure the impact COVID-19 is having on top of the the crisis in young people’s mental health already, Young Minds has developed a strategy that is relevant to helping young people right now, building a youth-led movement to make sure support is there for anyone who needs it.
By entering the Cimac Superleague Virtual Championships, not only are you going to have a good time meeting up with friends you haven’t seen for long (virtually of course!), you may even make new ones and the impact you make to Young Minds will help every young person’s well being.
Be part of the change. Celebrate being you.
The Cimac Virtual Championships takes place on Sunday 7th February and the semi finals and finals are on Sunday 14th February. Registration closes on 1st February
More details and the rules for the event can be found at
www.superleaguevirtualopen.com