Jason stepped into his first striking competition at the NSW State Amateur Kickboxing Championships and came away with silver.
It was a strong result, but more importantly, it was a strong performance.
Jason has already competed as a white belt in Jiu-Jitsu, so seeing him test himself in striking as well is exactly the kind of cross-training we like to see at Apex MMA. Different rules. Different pace. Different problems to solve.
That is where real growth happens.
Four matches and a tough draw
Jason’s draw meant he had one more match than every opponent he faced.
By the time he reached the final, he had already fought three times. His final bout made it four matches for the day.
That matters.
Tournament days are not just about who has the best technique. They test your warm-up, recovery, nerves, decision-making and ability to stay composed when the day does not run evenly.
Jason handled that well.
A close final
In our eyes, and in the eyes of many people watching, Jason did enough to win the final.
The judges saw it differently.
That is part of competition.
You can prepare well, fight well and still have factors outside your control. Brackets, judging, timing, rulesets, nerves, injuries and small moments can all shape the result.
This is why we recommend amateur competition days as part of the Apex MMA fighter pathway.
They give students a chance to meet those variables early, learn from them and build the skill of competing itself.
Coachable under pressure
One of the best parts of Jason’s performance was how well he responded to advice.
He made changes mid-fight, mid-round and between matches. He listened to the coaching team, adjusted on the fly and kept his composure while tired and under pressure.
That is a hard skill.
It shows trust, discipline and clear thinking.
He also carried himself with excellent sportsmanship across the day, win or lose. That matters to us just as much as the medal.
Muay Thai training, kickboxing rules
Although the event was kickboxing, Jason’s base at Apex comes through our Muay Thai and MMA training.
We like seeing students compete under different rulesets. It forces them to adapt. It also shows the value of building skills that transfer.
At Apex MMA in Brookvale, we train Muay Thai, No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu and MMA as connected arts. Striking, clinching, wrestling and grappling all matter. Each ruleset gives students a different way to test their timing, control and decision-making.
That is what Mixed Martial Arts is about.
Not being locked into one format.
Being able to adapt.
Congratulations Jason
Silver at the NSW State Amateur Kickboxing Championships is a great result.
Four matches in one day, a close final and a strong display of composure made it even better.
Well done, Jason.
Back to the mats. Back to work.
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