KOZHIKODE: Keralites so far familiar with the martial arts like karate, boxing, kung fu and taekwondo, will now get to know a new martial art known in foreign lands as MMA or mixed martial arts.
Swastik Fight Club, the first MMA club formed in South India, is all set to host a major event in Kozhikode to be participated by international players, at the indoor stadium here on August 30.
Wrestling world champion Sushil Kumar Solanki will be coming to Kozhikode to motivate the MMA fighters and inaugurate the first of its kind championship in south India.
Fighters from the country and Afghanistan will be battling for the best MMA fighter throne. The championship will also host fights between noted international MMA fighters during the championship.
“It is a full contact and combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, in short taking its origin from a variety of other combat sports and martial arts,” SFC founder and trainer Ranjith Kunnumal said.
SFC is planning to propagate the concept of MMA by conducting international events in the state and other major metros.
“It was during 2014 that we conducted a few interclub fight events, in which more people showed interest in the martial art form and also the activities of our club. With this we started selecting good fighters, trained them and promoted them for professional fights and some among them will be fighting for this championship,” he added.
