KARATE Sensei Sneider Adam’s quest to become a UFC fighter got a massive boost after being invited by the International Martial Arts Academy of the USA to participate in the final selection for the League of Super eight hosted in Abu Dhabi in August of every year.
For one to be able to compete at the Abu Dhabi competition, they would need first to pass the one-week rigorous training in Johannesburg, South Africa, which starts tomorrow and ends on June 2.
The invitation came after Sensei Adam was crowned UWMAF World Champion in Windhoek, Namibia, last April.
Each year two or more deserving martial art athletes are chosen from each African country to take part in this competition.
Sensei Adam, who recently switched from karate to kickboxing, is the only kickboxer from Zimbabwe to be invited to this prestigious event.
Speaking to EnterSportNews, Sensei Adam could not hide his joy and sense of national duty.
“Well, honestly, all I can say is it is a great privilege to be selected to represent my beloved country. It’s always a pleasure to be doing national duty,” he said.
Both karate and kickboxing fall under the martial arts umbrella, but Sensei Adam says the switch from karate to kickboxing has not been easy.
“It hasn’t been an easy journey to be where I am, but I would like to give much respect and thanks to the team that always pushes me to go forward, Sensei Mugove Muhambi and his brother, coach Lowson Muhambi who’s my boxing coach,” Sensei Adam said.
“These two guys have been there for me, and I am glad to be training under them it is an honour to be learning from the two undefeated champions. I would like to give many thanks to Kuva Local for being so supportive along my Journey”
He learnt a lot of lessons from the Namibia tournament, lessons that he hopes one day will help him become a UFC champion.
“From the past tournament I took part in Namibia, I grasped a lot because each day is a new day to learn something new,” he told EnterSportNews.
“This is just the beginning of it, and I would like to say we’re not stopping. My team is working very hard to make sure that I go far, the goal is to be a World Champion in the UFC one day, and I’m confident that we’ll make it to the UFC.”
Sensei Adam is hoping to make the cut during this one-week gruelling training camp in Johannesburg, at which only 20 athletes will be selected to take part in the Abu Dhabi tournament.
“Well, the training that will be held in South Africa is so important because it will determine if I’m fit enough to be in the team,” he said.
“A lot is going to be happening in South Africa during the final induction, and I’m pretty much sure that it’s not going to be easy, but I will endure whatever is thrown at me because where I come from, we believe in hard work, dedication and putting effort in everything that we do.
“The time is now, and there’s no turning back. I’m more than ready, and I will do whatever it takes to be in the team. I didn’t come this far to quit now.”
