Hundreds Flock to Kaikohe for Homecoming of MMA Champion
Many individuals have assembled in Kaikohe to greet their hometown champion, Dhcamed Armstrong, following his recent victory at an international mixed martial arts competition.
The welcoming ceremony on Tuesday recognized Armstrong's accomplishments, not only within the boxing world but also in his community, where he employs martial arts as a tool to guide young men towards better paths.
Former world boxing champion Daniella Smith, who helped organise the event, said it also aimed to boost pride in a town that punched well above its weight when it came to producing champions.
"Isn’t it wonderful how our community has united? It’s particularly heartening to witness our tamariki and rangatahi participating; seeing them accomplish remarkable things, much like Dhcamad does, is truly inspiring,” Smith remarked.
We've faced considerable bad press regarding our town, yet we have numerous hidden beauties and significant achievements happening here. Our aim was for people to visit and recognize that Kaikohe is much more than just a place defined by negative media coverage. That’s essentially what this initiative aimed at fostering local pride was all about.
Up to 200 students joined the welcoming ceremony at the recently constructed Papa Hawaiki sports complex in town, featuring traditional songs, heartfelt addresses, and an inspiring haka performance.
Four schools from Kaikohe took part as well as Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Pukemiro all the way from Kaitāia.
Armstrong, battling back tears throughout several of the speeches, mentioned that the warm reception turned out to be an emotionally charged experience.
I wasn’t aware of its size until I entered this facility, which really moved me as it showed the immense backing from my community. It was enormous.
Armstrong mentioned that there was a great deal of pride evident throughout the occasion.
You'll always find pride in this town, yet without coming here yourself and witnessing the happenings firsthand, you wouldn’t grasp it. The information available through media might show less favorable aspects; however, many positive events unfold in Kaikohe.
Jay Hepi, who is both a community leader and a former gang member, noted that Armstrong made a significant impact on the town.
"He does a lot of work with ex-gang members and ex-addicts, training at the gym, making transformational changes, and getting them on the right pathway. He contributes a lot. He's a positive person."
Armstrong said his Team Alpha used fitness and martial arts as vehicles to promote positivity.
The squad welcomed everyone - as long as they adhered to the principles of "all good, no badness".
He mentioned that it encompassed their choice of words and how they carried themselves.
Armstrong, who is 37 years old, comes from a family of eight siblings and was born and brought up in Kaikohe. He holds numerous national and international championships in both MMA and Muay Thai.
One of his latest victories came from winning the Australasian heavyweight MMA championship when he faced Antz Nansen at Auckland’s TrustArena just weeks ago. This triumph marked both a significant achievement and one of his major wins.
In Kaikohe, numerous sports stars have emerged, including twice crowned World Rugby Player of the Year Portia Woodman, global welterweight boxing champion Daniella Smith, and world unicycling champion Chris Huriwai.
Register for Ngā Pitopito Kōrera, your daily digest email. selected by our editorial team and sent directly to your mailbox each weekday.
Post a Comment for "Hundreds Flock to Kaikohe for Homecoming of MMA Champion"