Kickboxing: PNG’s national sport


(by Glenn Armstrong https://www.tlamediagroup.com/)

Call it sport, discipline, or martial arts – when it comes to active participation and character-building, kickboxing wins hands down over every other sport in Papua New Guinea.

According to Stanley Nandex, President of the PNG Kickboxing Federation, there are currently 21 provinces in PNG where kickboxing clubs and schools can be found.

In Simbu province alone, there are more than two thousand active participants.

In rural areas of PNG, the lives of young men and women are being transformed, providing a positive pathway for personal development.

SP Sports Award 

The commitment of the PNG Kickboxing Federation to providing youth with better life choices was recognised recently when it won the 2024 SP Sports Award for Community Sports Initiative of the Year.

In accepting the award, PNGKBF President Stanley Nandex said “This award goes to all the hard-working people behind the scenes who give opportunities to kids in rural areas.”

About Stanley Nandex

Stanley Nandex found martial arts at the age of 13. It gave him a purpose in life. After studying several fighting styles, he eventually found his niche in kickboxing. He became known as ‘The Headhunter’ because of his unique and powerful spin kick, which became his trademark.

In a professional career spanning 48 fights, he had 41 victories - 30 by knockout, including seven world title fights that made him a world champion. 

Stanley’s first fight was in 1987 and his first national championships was in 1988. In 1989 he had his first international event in Sydney. He became Amateur World Champion in 2001 and Professional World Champion in 2003, then World Champion again in 2007, before he retired from the ring in 2009.

Nandex’s legendary status and trademark spin kick took him to ‘made for television’ fight events throughout the world, where he proudly flew the flag of PNG.

PNG Kickboxing Federation (PNGKBF)

Today, Stanley continues to inspire young people to lead positive lives through the power of kickboxing. As President of the PNG Kickboxing Federation, Nandex has also succeeded in including other martial arts disciplines under his umbrella.

For example, it was Stanley Nandex who inspired the late Lee Garap to achieve his dreams in the discipline of Muay Thai kickboxing. Lee Garap went on to become National Champion in 2013 and then World Champion, a title he successfully defended in 2018.

PHOTOS: Leader and mentor Stanley Nandex with the late Lee Garap and writer/promoter Glenn Armstrong following Lee’s successful Muay Thai title bouts in 2013 and 2018.

Kickboxing and martial arts

Kickboxing is regarded as a hybrid martial art.

“Martial arts” is a broad term that refers to East Asian-developed systems of techniques and skills that can be used for combat, self-defence, and spiritual growth. Martial arts can be armed (i.e., involve weapons) or unarmed (i.e., no weapons, only body movements).

In addition to focusing on physical well-being, martial arts have a mental component. Martial arts aim to improve all aspects of a person’s life, not just physical fitness. Martial arts focuses on building character, overcoming psychological and physical obstacles, and spiritual development. Finally, people who practice martial arts are expected to be highly disciplined and exhibit respectful behaviour toward their opponents and other people.

(Source: X3 Sports https://x3sports.com/blog/is-kickboxing-a-martial-art/)

Benefits of martial arts training

Martial arts offers an opportunity to not only enhance your physical health but your mental and spiritual health, too. Among the benefits of martial arts training are:

  • Stress relief
  • Life purpose
  • Physical exercise
  • Emotional regulation
  • Increased self-esteem (self-confidence)
  • Personal Development
  • Forgiveness and healing

(Source: WebMD https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/mental-benefits-of-martial-arts)

Can martial arts define a nation?

Absolutely! Many countries in our region are instantly recognised globally for their martial arts.

Some of these disciplines are centuries old and steeped in respect and tradition.

Consider these famous nation-defining disciplines:

  • Muay Thai (Thailand)
  • Tae Kwon Do, Hwa Rung Do, Hap Ki Do (South Korea)
  • Sumo, Judo, Karate, Aikido, Jujutsu (Japan)
  • Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Wing Chun (China)

(Ref: Wikipedia. List of martial arts around the world https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_martial_arts)

A final word

Stanley Nandex has done just as much as anyone in 50 years to put PNG on the world map and instill a sense of national pride. He has shown and led the way.

Like many other sportspeople, Nandex gets frustrated by the emphasis on Rugby League in PNG.

While we all may agree that the sport of NRL is popular and entertaining, it offers a low return on the required high level of investment.

And, if watching NRL was a sport we would all be world champions.

But watching sport is not a sport in itself, and NRL hardly commands a global audience.

Other sports with higher levels of participation, reach and accessibility, and greater benefits for participants, are perhaps more worthy of our time and effort.

BIG! Kickboxing Event: Sunday, July 7

Stanley Nandex is now busy staging a major kickboxing event on Sunday, July 7 at Sir John Guise Stadium.

Billed as ‘The Last Man Standing’ the event will showcase the best of PNG kickboxing talent, including a female open divison.

The event is a fundraiser for Team PNG to attend the World Kickboxing Championships in Spain later this year.

Fighters on the main card for July 7 include:

  • Fidelis Pila, ENB
  • Joseph Sekiyane, EHP
  • Nelson Samson, Enga
  • Miss Arthur James, EHP
  • Jeffrey Daka, Simbu

  • Kaupa Omena, EHP
  • John Daka, Simbu
  • Nathan Joe, Simbu
  • Arunae Hanku, SHP
  • Thomas Kagili, Simbu

8-man 'last man standing' eliminator (65kg division)

  • Clinton Hanku, WHP
  • Steven Leo, NCD
  • Dawa Steven, NCD
  • Wan Koma, NCD

 

  • Charlie Kwiwa, Simbu
  • Simon Aki, Morobe
  • Lukas Mogola, NCD
  • Jukari Agilo, Hela

 

8-man 'last man standing' eliminator (70kg division)

  • Daniel Bruno, Simbu
  • Gilbert Kay, WHP
  • Pabloh Jockey, NCD
  • Joseph Amana, EHP

  

  • Israel Howard, NCD
  • Jackson Newman, Enga
  • Stanley Soto, ENB
  • Fidelis Pera, ENB

 
Ticket details

8-man eliminator + undercard fights

Sunday 7 July 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Tickets: Adults K30 / Children K10 / Corporate Tables: K3,000

Call: (675) 7455 5662

Email: pngkickboxingfederation@gmail.com

All proceeds go towards Team PNG's participation at the World Championships in November 2024




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