Kickboxers Dream to represent RSA at ISKA World Championships in USA.

Chayse Norris (The Underdog)

It’s a great honor and a great privilege to announce my selection for the Presidents Teams to represent South Africa in Orlando Florida this coming June 2017.

I would like to firstly lay the foundation with a bit of my story and why I have chosen Kickboxing as my preferred sport code.

My journey as a teenager:

My journey and introduction to martial arts (Kickboxing) was not one without its challenges and sacrifices. It started when I was thirteen (13) years old in a small coastal village called Sedgefield on the west coast of South Africa.

I attended the primary school in Sedgefield which made provision for mainstream sporting codes like rugby, cricket and hockey. There was a stigma that English speaking students were not tough enough or had the skills to excel in these sporting codes, which made it difficult to form part of a team.

This was aggravated by the fact that I had a medical condition which lasted for 2 years, which was my introduction to bulling by fellow students.

Bulling was a huge problem over the years and teachers and coaches could not or wouldn’t identify or acknowledge the risks students were exposed to, leaving me at the mercy of my bullies.

Then Kickboxing came into my life and for the first time I felt I belonged. Without being judged or ridiculed for the way I looked or my medical condition. This unlocked purpose and vision for me.

Kickboxing gave me confidence and the tools to defend myself and others being bullied. The number of kids being bullied in my geographical area has increased and I believe it’s my duty to speak out and help victims of bullying. Bulling is a major problem that is an ongoing battle, which I’m happy to fight. All my fights are dedicated to the victims of this heinous crime and ongoing anti bulling campaigns are facilitated through kickboxing workshops. I believe kickboxing is a vehicle that promotes hope and provides a set of skills to protect people against the mental and physical effects of bullying.

You will see that my fighter name is “Underdog”. I chose that name as I was always the underdog, which was what people and other students wanted me to believe. I did not have a place or purpose in society. Now, I wear that name with pride as I’m able to prove that I do have a place in society and that I can make a difference.

Bullying should be fought in all schools and society, as it has a great impact on the social wellbeing of all genders, races, ethnic groups and does not have an age limitation.

I want to draw public attention to the plight for financial assistance in reaching my dreams and many other that support me in my journey of becoming the best martial artist in my time. You will find the timeline below of my Kickboxing career and how Kickboxing saved me from the mental and physical abused exposed to by my bullies.

My fight history:

2016

Regional Colours obtained.

Provincial Colours obtained.

Selected for South African Presidents Team in USA.

October 16Western Cape vs GautengPoints Tag Team Gold

Full ContactGold

K1Gold

October 16DestinyFull ContactGold

Points Open ChallengeGold

August 16South Coast ChallengePointsSilver

ContinuousGold

K1Gold

May 16South African Kick-Boxing Championships PointsBronze

March 16Western Cape ChampionshipsK1Gold

2015

Competed in Muay Thai Fight night.

Regional Colours obtained.

October 15Western Cape ChampionshipsFull ContactGold

August 15Eden Major ChampionshipsPointsSilver

ContinuousSilver

K1Gold

May 15UMF 62Muay ThaiSilver

March 15Eden ChampionshipsPointsGold

ContinuousGold

K1Gold

2014

Regional Colours obtained.

October 14South Coast ChallengePointsSilver

ContinuousGold

September 14Eden TournamentPointsSilver

ContinuousGold

Funding:

For me to participate, I would need a contribution of $6 000 to cover all the expenses like flights, accommodation, team gear, etc. Any contribution towards this will take me one step closer to my dream and will ensure my anti bullying message is circulated to give hope to people that are currently exposed to this crime.

Your funding will have a great impact on my cause and I want to breakdown what your contribution will be distributed to:

Additional private coaching

Local travels and accommodation pre-tournament dates for conditioning

Medical evaluation

Daily supplements

Domestic and International flights

Accommodation in the USA

Registration fees to compete

Training and competition gear

Daily allowance for food and amenities

Excursions planned for fighters by tournament management will be for my account, but will not form part of the fundraiser.

My love and passion for Kickboxing, as anything in life, did not come without its own challenges. It demanded hard work and endurance. Kickboxing is an individual sport and takes a lot of commitment, discipline and perseverance which are fundamental principles that are checked and tested everyday of our lives.

My Kickboxing career could not have been elevated to the level it has without my “Sensei” Sors Grobbelaar and the rest of the “Sensei’s” at Scorpions Mixed Martial Arts as well as my parents, for being so supportive of my desire to become the best martial artist in my time.

I participated in every tournament available around South Africa in order to become more familiar with the sport. From the outset I was losing fights, but it encouraged me to train harder and to become a more disciplined athlete.

As time progressed so did my skillset and I started to win fights more regularly, taking gold consistently within my division. This encouraged me to venture into different martial arts (Karate, Muay Thai, Jui Jitsu) as there was a desire to have a wider skillset and a comprehensive understanding of martial arts.

These different practices have contributed to my success within the sport. I went from being teased and bullied at the age of 13, to a National and now, International Kickboxer who can defend himself, and others, when needed and able to share my knowledge with my community.

I have been selected for the regional and national teams for three years in a row and have now been selected to form part of The Presidents' Team that will represent South Africa in Orlando Florida in June It has been my ambition and dream to reach the international level and now it's finally within my grasp after 4 years of hard work, dedication and perseverance.

My commitment to all contributing to this cause:

I undertake to ensure that I will be physically and mentally fit to compete and make all efforts to bring back the Gold.

I will ensure all contributors are acknowledged on all my social media platforms and the greater mix martial arts platforms.

Fights leading up to this tournament will give me the opportunity to acknowledge contributors for being a part of my journey.

Updates will be shared with fights leading up to the tournament.

For the five (5) highest contributors I will reward them with a T-shirt with artwork of the tournament and their names as listed on the contribution profile. This will be accompanied with a letter of thanks and photos personalized to the five (5) contributors.

In closing, I want to thank all contributors, no matter how big or small, your contributions are appreciated and I believe you will find this cause to be one that is noble and you, as the contributor, will find value in helping me reach my dreams and so the dreams of many others that have followed the same path I did.

Never be bullied into silence, never to allow yourselves to made a victim, except know ones definition of yourself but define yourself – “Tim Fields”