Fifteen-year-old Jodie van der Walt from Melkbos, South Africa, is an exceptional martial artist preparing to represent her country at the Abu Dhabi Youth World Championships.
Western Cape, South Africa (13 July 2024) – South Africa is full of champions, and one of the brightest rising stars hails from Melkbos.
Meet Jodie van der Walt, an exceptional 15-year-old athlete whose passion and dedication to martial arts are making waves not just locally but soon on an international stage.
Jodie was born in 2009 and raised in the scenic town of Melkbos. From a very young age, she has been drawn to extreme sports. By the age of three, she was already surfing, diving, and boating. Her adventurous spirit led her to become a certified Open Water 1 scuba diver at just 14, and she has completed two tandem skydives, showcasing her fearless nature and love for adrenaline-pumping activities.
Despite being raised by a single parent, Jodie has excelled in both academics and sports, maintaining an A average at Melkbos High School through sheer hard work and determination. In 2021, she took up kickboxing and Jujitsu at Venter/Elite MMA Melkbos, quickly thriving under the expert guidance of coaches Dave Venter and Anthony Kettle.
Jodie’s achievements in martial arts are impressive:
- Competed in Kickboxing Provincial trials and Nationals in 2021 and 2022.
- Won a gold medal at the MMA Nationals in 2022.
- Selected to join the South African team for the Abu Dhabi Youth World Championships in 2024.
This weekend, Jodie will compete in the Barebones MMA event at Melkbos High School, her final preparation before the IMMAF Youth World Championships in Abu Dhabi, scheduled from August 5-11, 2024. With over 800 young fighters from 45 countries participating, Jodie is eager to represent South Africa and make her mark.
On July 13, Melkbosstrand High School will host the Barebones MMA Championship, an event organized by Dave Venter, Owner and Head Coach of Elite MMA Fitness, and Lyndall Sandenbergh, the CFL Female Bantamweight Champion. Lyndall, who started the promotion in honour of her late partner Mec Crain, shared her excitement about bringing this event to life after two years of planning.
Lyndall explains, “Mec’s fight system was called Barebones, emphasizing the fundamentals of fighting. To him, Barebones meant focusing on what’s most important in fighting. My philosophy is that our athletes come first, followed by the integrity and promotion of the sport. When MMA grows, we all benefit.”
The Barebones MMA Championship promises to be a thrilling event featuring a series of matchups and title eliminators. Among the standout fighters, Jodie will compete in five individual fights, making her the youngest contender in her age group. Also competing is Skyla Richert, who, like Jodie, will be participating in the IMF Worlds in August.
Jodie started martial arts in 2020 to improve her self-discipline and confidence. Her father, Renier van der Walt, shares, “Jodie’s focus shifted from Jujitsu to MMA because it combined kickboxing, grappling, and various martial arts, taking the best of each discipline. She was selected for the MMA provincial team in 2023 and won gold at the 2024 Nationals in Durban, qualifying her for the Worlds in Abu Dhabi from 2-14 August.”
Renier adds, “Jodie found a family of like-minded people willing to push themselves and support each other to be the best athletes possible. Looking to the future, she wants to share her knowledge with young upcoming fighters and promote the benefits of martial arts to give MMA SA greater exposure at the school level.”
Jodie’s story is one of passion, dedication, and unwavering support from her community. As she prepares to take on the world in Abu Dhabi, she embodies the spirit of a true champion, representing not just herself but the heart and soul of South Africa.
Her journey is a powerful reminder that with hard work and determination, our young athletes can achieve greatness on the global stage.
Here’s to Jodie, a true inspiration and a proud symbol of South African excellence!
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