On the 26th April 2006 four fighters from the U.S.K.A travelled
to the Austragung Sort Sporthalle in Augsburg Germany to represent
the Great Britain team in the I.S.K.A European Championships
along side a contingent of 14 British competitors.
Travelling as spectators and loyal USKA support were Qasim's
mum and Dad Rubina and Jang and Mark's Dad Eric.
The fighters had all qualified to represent I.S.K.A team England
in a team selection tournament held in Birmingham just 5 weeks
before.
The European Championships held over three days were well
attended with over 20 European countries teams present and
a healthy turn out of spectators.
The following report is Rubina's account of the trip and fight
action from the Championships.
Day 1 - Wednesday 26th April 2006
It took nearly two and a half hours to get to Stansted airport
from Birmingham and another one and a half hours to get to
Munich Germany.
We then had to wait for a further four hours for the transfer
to take us to the tournament town of Augsburg.
It was turning a really long day but that was not the end
of it. As soon as we had checked in to the Hotel we had to
rush straight back out to the Austragung Sort Sporthalle for
the official weigh in.
We caught the tram (which i thought was the best thing about
Germany because it was always on time) and it took us on a
15 minute ride to take us to the venue.
On arrival to the Sporthalle another wait lay ahead as we
found ourselves at the end of a long queue of what must have
been 100 Czech Republic fighters waiting to be weighed in.
It took two hours to make our way to the front and eventually
get weighed in and passed fit to fight in the pre tournament
medical examination.
A long day drawed to a close and we were all very happy to
get back to the hotel to get some rest before the first big
day of competition tomorrow.
Day 2 - Thursday 27th April 2006
The second day started with the official Tournament opening
ceremony where all the fighters paraded holding their flags
with their teams.
It created a nice atmosphere seeing all the countries together
and you could feel the excitement from the fighters in anticipation
at the thought of what lay ahead for them.
First up representing USKA and I.S.K.A team England in the
cadets -63kg division was Qasim
'THE DREAM' Nisar. Qasim already a WAKO
Junior European Champion was looking forward in trying to
add the I.S.K.A title to his collection.
Qasim was drawn against a tough looking fighter from Germany
in the first round of the competition and Qasim was chomping
at the bit to get going.
Cornered by I.S.K.A team manager Andrew Hennessy Qasim started
strong in the first round landing the first kick of the fight.
Qasim then gets caught with a few straight punches which prompts
him to respond with a straight leg kick that sees the referee
intervene to warn about the use of the shin.
Qasim then tries to keep things a little more at range and
lands an impressive lead leg side kick from his southpaw stance
that pushes his opponent back. Then on the chase Qasim executes
a beautiful spin kick that misses it's target by a couple
of inches but still gets a response from the crowd.
Qasim now very confident drops his hands and is now truly
in his flow landing virtually every technique he throws. Qasim
finishes the round well on top landing an axe kick to the
front of his opponents face and dropping his man with a straight
leg body kick on the bell.
Qasim starts round two where he left off and lands another
rear leg axe kick to his opponents head who now is showing
signs of extreme tiredness and is looking ready to drop.
Qasim finds his target with another two clean axe kicks that
has the referee jump in to administer a standing eight count.
Qasim takes apart his opponent for the rest of the round using
excellent technique leaving nothing to doubt come decision
time.
Qasim through to the finals and is one step closer to the
double he is dreaming of.
Time now for Mr Murdock
Kellyman in the cadets -67kg division.
Murdock again cornered by Andrew Hennessy is drawn in the
first round against a Thai Boxing and MMA junior world champion
from Sweden.
Both fighters from the first bell exchange techniques in a
toe to toe battle with Murdock getting the better of the argument
with more techniques landing.
Murdock is throwing a full variety of kicks coming at the
Swedish lad from all angles.
The take over point in the round came when Murdock dropped
his man with an excellently timed forward spinning jump whipping
round kick to the head to the British crowds delight.
The swedish fighter recovers well and near the end of the
round catches Murdock with a turning side kick to the stomach
that Murdock just walks through.
First round of an extremely exciting fight to Murdock.
Murdock looks tired as he makes his way back to his corner
and all the good work in the first round looks to have taken
it's toll as he tries to catch his breath.
Round two starts with Murdock receiving a warning for use
of the shin on his round kicks.
Murdock then gets caught with a straight right hand, lead
hook, rear straight leg combination that seems to take all
his energy from him as now he is looking extremely tired and
struggling to mount his own effective offence.
Murdock is giving up ground and is on the defensive with his
Swedish opponent pressing forward and scoring effectively.
Second round to the Swedish fighter but we thought that the
good first round from Murdock would be enough for him to claim
a razor thin points decision.
The judges seen it differently and the strong finish from
his opponent was enough to see his hand raised and Murdock
is forced out of the championships.
Next up was 12 year old Super Kicker
Mark 'THE KILLER' Kicker Sedgwick competing
in the -41kg category.
Matched in his first fight against an opponent from Finland
Mark starts strong by landing fluent punch and kick combinations
pushing his man back.
The strong start has his opponent looking scared now and reluctant
to come forward allowing Mark to be even more effective on
the attack.
Mark is winning the fight with ease outclassing his man and
landing effortlessly timed axe kicks and round kicks to his
bemused opponents head.
Mark putting on a master class demonstration of kicks has
all the crowd taking notice and he knows beyond doubt that
the fight is in the bag.
The decision announced and on to the final for Mark in what
was one of the most dominating performances of the championships
so far.
With two fighters qualifying for the finals in Qasim and Mark
and one fighter in a straight final with Azad tomorrow USKA
had the potential to have three European Champions crowned.
More than anyone could have expected or wished for.
It was back to the hotel for some rest and relaxation with
a few games of pool thrown in for good measure followed by
an early night in anticipation of the next days events.
Day 3 - Friday 28th April 2006
If nerves were there it certainly was not evident as the
trio of USKA finalists prepared themselves for their finals
and championship matches.
First up today was the very Strong ice man of the USKA team
Azad 'THE WRATH OF' Khan
in the final of the -45 kg category.
Azad matched against a fight from the host nation Germany
was as cool as ever and ready to get down to business.
Round one started off with Azad landing a clean side kick
to the head followed by a straight punch combination that
pushed his opponent off the mat.
Straight for the start of the fight Azad looked far to strong
for the German and was pushing him back with ease and landing
at will.
Azad in offence mode no runs onto a lead side kick to the
head and a rear side kick to the body. This showed that the
German lad was still there and that the fight was not won
yet.
Azad back on top now lands a jab, straight right, left leg
straight leg from the south paw stance and once again reasserts
himself as the dominant fighter in the contest.
Azad then gets warned for pulling his opponents head down
but doesn't let this break his flow responding with an excellent
combination of lead side kick, jab, straight right, rear straight
leg to emphatically take the first round.
In round two Azad again pushes his man off the mat with six
straight punches followed by a straight leg to the body. His
opponent looking intimidated and wary now is backing off constantly
and Azad forces him off twice more forcing the referee to
issue a public area warning. One more and he would be disqualified.
An excellent Khan trade mark axe kick lands clean but he receives
his second warning for excess power. Both fighters are on
thin ice in the warnings department.
The German fighter looks to have had enough after getting
caught with yet another good combination of jab, straight
right hand to the head, lead leg round kick.
The final bell goes and a disturbing two minute wait proceeds
with us having an uncomfortable feeling due to the fact we
were up against a German opponent.
We needn't have worried though. The decision announced and
new I.S.K.A European Champion was announced as being none
other as Azad 'THE WRATH OF' Khan.
One down two to go!
Qasim 'THE DREAM' Nisar's
cadets -63kg final now
and one of the rare times in his career so far Qasim was up
against a Turkish fighter that was taller than him.
Qasim moves first asserting himself landing a fast double
jab.
Qasim pushes the Turk back with a combination of jab, lead
round kick,jab, rear round kick.
Qasim then hurts his man with a lead body round kick.
The Turkish lads main kick was the rear leg push kick that
Qasim was easily neutralising with side steps and counter
jabs.
Qasim finished the round on top landing more body effective
body kicks that were slowly and systematically breaking his
man down.
Round two and Qasim is instructed by cornerman Andrew Hennessy
to parry his opponents front kick. Qasim does this effectively
and lands an USKA trade mark left hook, right leg chop quickly
on the counter attack.
Qasim continues to press forward not letting his man set hitting
him with combinations of head punches and then going back
down stairs with the body kicks.
The body kicks are taking their toll now as the Turkish fighter
doubles up after getting winded.
A flurry of chops from Qasim finishes the round and there
again is no doubt about the outcome of this one.
The new and now double European Champion Qasim 'THE DREAM'
Nisar!
Could the USKA team make it a hatrick of gold's with
Mark Sedgwick in the final of the -41kg
category?
Mark in his final was matched against a very good fighter
from Denmark.
We had seen the Dane in the preliminary rounds and had already
said that he was the one that Mark would have to beat if he
was going to realise his dream if becoming the European Champion.
The fight started even with the first 30 seconds consisting
of both Mark and the Danish lad trading off centre mat neither
one willing to take a step off.
On the break and with a little bit of room between them Mark
out of the blue throws and lands an excellent spin kick that
bounces off the side of his opponents head guard.
His opponent comes back strong trying to equalise but Mark
again uses his superior kicking skills landing another clean
kick to the head this time in the form of a round kick.
The silky kicking skills of Mark is shining through now and
he lands yet another clean head kick this time with the axe
kick to push himself way in front in the bout.
As the fight progressed Mark is mixing his techniques together
well and is not only outkicking but now outpunching his strong
opponent from all angles.
The decision is made and again it is another unanimous one
in favour of the British fighter.
Three out of three for the USKA boys as Mark Sedgwick is crowned
new European Champion!
What was very impressive was not only the fact that USKA guys
won the European championships but in the nature of how they
did it.
Totally dominating their opponents and showing beyond doubt
that they were worthy of the accolade and responsibility of
being called a European Champions.
The impressive Foursome including Murdock boast a combined
record of over 90 ring fights with only 2 losses between them.
With impressive credentials like that it looks like the world
is at their hands and feet and that this will not be the last
we here about these guys on the International stage.
all at USKA salute you guys.