BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE flag of St. Kitts and Nevis will be flying high this weekend in Lisbon, Portugal, when Tija Stanley competes at the World Ultimate Full Contact, World Championship.
Slated to kick off on September 3, the mega event is an advanced form of martial arts and it is considered one of the toughest sport in the world.
Better known as kick boxing, the WUFC has been around since 1988 and Stanley is hoping to make the Federation proud when he steps into the ring.
Considered a veteran, Stanley has been in the sport for over five years and has competed on the international stage with fights in England, Venezuela and throughout the Caribbean.
He told SKNVibes Sports that every fighter has a degree of discipline especially those competing in his category- the 185 pound.
Despite not knowing whom he would be fighting in the opening round of the competition, he still remains upbeat.
“Based on the tournament status we would not know who we are fighting until we have arrived.
It was through fighting in Sandy Point that he developed a love for the sport, and while winning locally he sought major fights overseas before he became a professional.
“I just kept sticking with the fights and now I am a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu jitsu, which is wrestling, grappling, pulling and choke holds.”
He said that as an international fighter, he has gained a reputation for himself through videos of his fights and imagines that have circulated.
According to Stanley, this has allowed him to be picked up on the circuit, where he gains a number of fights on a consistent basis.
Asked how he is seeking to developed the sport on the local scene, he pointed out that there is currently a good martial arts programme being undertaken locally and upon which he and others would build.
