USKA Fight Factory proudly made the journey from Birmingham down to the White Horse Tennis and Leisure Centre in Oxford to compete at this year’s ICO Oxford Champions Open.
Led by coaches Neil Kelly and Mushy Younis, our team was made up largely of enthusiastic novice fighters, with a handful of more seasoned competitors there to set the example and share their experience.
For many, this was their very first taste of competition which was a big moment in their martial arts journey.
Our team on the day:
Adam Mohammed
Ismaeel Zaman
Daniel Kiss
Keyaan Shabir
Rayaan Ellahi
Amad Azim
Dhruv Thakor
Maryam Sarfraz
Haider Khan
Isa Khan
Julia Glowacz
The message from the coaches to the new fighters was simple: “Enjoy the experience, soak up the atmosphere, and have fun.” Winning was not the focus, learning and stepping up to the challenge was.
Competing across Mat Light, Kick Light, and Boxing, every single fighter gave their all. They showed skill, spirit, and true USKA determination.
Their performances didn’t just make us proud, they caught the attention of officials, coaches, and spectators alike, many of whom commented on the talent, sportsmanship, and team spirit on display from USKA.
By the end of a long but thrilling day, the hard work paid off with a fantastic medal haul of:
🏅 19 Golds
🥈 4 Silvers
🥉 3 Bronzes
It's worth a mention that three of those Silvers were missing out on the Gold against our own fighters.
Amazingly that’s a total of 26 medals, an outstanding achievement, especially considering the inexperience of much of the team.
A huge thank you goes to the ICO Oxford Champions Open organisers for hosting such a well-run event, to the spectators who cheered our team on, and to our dedicated coaches who supported the fighters every step of the way both on and off the mats. Most importantly, massive respect to each and every USKA competitor who had the courage to step onto the mats and represent our gym with pride.
This is just the beginning. With the talent, passion, and determination we saw in Oxford, it’s clear that this group of fighters are destined to form the next generation of USKA champions. Watch this space, the future looks very bright!
Osu!
