Recently I had the chance to sit down and discuss kickboxing with Tim “Zurk” Mazurkiewicz who is a WAKO USA head official, coach and member of the team advisory boad.
Stephanie Schneider “Can you describe your role with Team USA WAKO, and how it came to be”?
Tim “Zurk” Mazurkiewicz: “My role with Team USA Kickboxing started over a decade ago, when I fought on the Team as our Heavy Weight representative from 1999-2003, I was undefeated internationally, as a former Boxing and Kickboxing Champion, at that time Rob Zbilski was the Team Head Coach with his brother Jimmy Zbilski (who passed away a few months ago). Rob and Jimmy Zbilski were our coaches as we traveled the world competing against other countries. Rob Zbilski is currently the President of WAKO USA and ironically enough he brought me back into the fight world after retiring 10 years ago, now I am a coach and the Head Official for the Team USA Kickboxing”.
SS: “Were you personally involved as a combat athlete prior to working with Team USA?
TM: “I am a former amateur competitor in the Golden Gloves, World Tough Man, U.S. and World Kickboxing Champion. I came out of retirement after ten years so my sons could see me fight and have a chance to walk me to the ring, I won a couple more title belt, making it 12 in all”.
SS: “Have you worked with any other combat organizations or other sports (any affiliation, high school level etc…)?”
TM: “I’m not sure how to answer this question. I played football my entire life through college, not sure if that counts. I wrestled one year in high school as a freshman, which was not the year to start and have to face kids that have been wrestling for 10 years. I obviously got my butt kicked and found out wrestling was not for me. That doesn’t mean since that time I haven’t been a student of the game, I have since learned the sport to a high level. My sons now wrestle and are the NAGA champions at age 6 and 11. Its my 6 year old Braxton that is sick with an unknown illness. That kid is a stud, he has Olympic potential”.
SS: “Where are you based, and is there a gym or training center where the athletes train and prepare for competition?”
TM: “I owned a gym in Freeport IL in the past, B & Z Fitness. we specialized in martial arts and combat sport training. I now am the Head Instructor at (DSW) DeLaRosa’s Boxing & Kickboxing Club at DeLaRosa’s Submission Academy. DSW is based in Rockford IL. I also teach personal lessons where I have an area designated accordingly with heavy bags, speed bag and boxing ring at my home”.
SS: “WAKO Team USA just came back from a tournament in Ireland, how did they do and what’s next for Team USA”?
TM: “We just returned from the Irish Open, which is the world’s largest martial arts event held, all of the proceeds go a charity that raises money for battered children. The tournament had over 4,000 competitors and raised over 35,000 Euros. Our team loves to fight in Ireland, I fought there twice in the past, once in Dublin and once in Galway. This was my 5th trip to Ireland, we return again in November for the WAKO Full Contact Rules Kickboxing World Championship. We did not come home empty handed from this trip to Ireland, Team WAKO USA brought a bronze medal home, won by one of our female fighters Lakesha Springle of Augusta GA. She trains at Greubel’s Mixed Martial Arts (GMMA) where she is also a kickboxing instructor. Her boss/trainer is also the Head Coach for Team USA Kickboxing Mark Greubel, which gives her the best training on a daily basis. We also were able to solidify an iconic moment in kickboxing history as Raymond “The Real Deal” Daniels, Jack Felton, manager Hugh Smith and the American All Stars have joined WAKO USA’s Team and now Raymond Daniels and Hugh Smith will run the Tatami side of WAKO USA. This will change everything as Daniels is known as the Ali of point fighting. We have a team fighting this weekend in Prague, Czech Republic and the Czech Open. I am preparing for next month when the Team travels to Chechnya April 22-26. Then to Columbia, Las Vegas, Serbia, finishing the year in Ireland, plus whatever else pops up on my radar.”
SS: “I understand WAKO Team USA is starting a television series, can you explain to us what you hope to achieve and what the viewers can expect from it”?
TM: “The reality show is called American Kickboxer. The producer Joe Parenti is working behind the scenes and could tell you more hands on info. It is a brilliant concept that has an American Idol feel for the first part of the season followed with an Ultimate Fighter feel where the competitors are in a live together situation for the ones who are chosen from the tryouts which will be held nationwide. America will get to watch as TEAM USA KICKBOXING is formed right before their eyes, as the season narrows down they will fight for their spot as only one will be chosen in each weight class 12 men and 8 women, per the WAKO weight class divisions. Then as we fight international competitions, America can follow along on the road to the World Games. We shot the initial promo last spring and details are still being worked out. I am very excited for us to start shooting”.
SS: “If someone was interested in trying out for WAKO Team USA how would they go about it?”
TM: “Anyone interested in signing up to try out for the show can go to www.wakousa.org to become a member. All members will be given an opportunity to try out for the show and will receive email updates on the show and WAKO events. There is a website that is being designed www.americankickboxer.tv the site is currently under construction interested parties will be notified when the site is up and running”.
SS: “Is true that WAKO/ Kickboxing is going to become an official sport of the Olympics”?
TM: “There are no guarantees that kickboxing will become an Olympic Sport, however we have made recent accomplishments that are the first in our history for the sport. WAKO K-1 has been appointed as an official sport to the World Games and is recognized by the Sport Accord as WAKO being the official representative. We are officially in the World Combat Games and potentially on the short list for the 2020 or 2024 games as a trial sport. WAKO is officially recognized as the National Governing Body for Ring Sports (FCR Full Contact Rules, K-1 and LK Low Kick) in the USA. We are eagerly awaiting and looking forward to getting our IOC approval sometime in the future. Unfortunately there seems to be a lot of politics surrounding these sports. When governments and big money are involved, it is no longer looked at just for the love of the sport, many economic decisions come into play. I am just happy to be on the best team with great teammates at WAKO. My personal goal is to help get kickboxing in as an Olympic sport and to help our athletes to win the first medals in history for the USA!”
SS: “Tim, thank you so much for taking the time out of your important and busy schedule to grant me this interview, I sincerely appreciate it. I look forward to seeing more accomplishments from WAKO K-1 Team USA in the future, as well as talking with you and other members of the team as it grows.”
TM: “My pleasure, thank you for sharing our story and spreading the word for Wako K-1 Team USA, I look forward to speaking with you again.”
SS: “Any contact information for those wishing to learn more about WAKO Team USA?”
TM: “Yes we have social media Follow us:
Facebook: WAKO TEAM USA
Twitter: @WAKOUSAKICKBOXING
Instagram: WAKOTEAMUSAKICKBOXING
Website: www.wakousa.org WAKOUSA’s website
www.wakoweb.com WAKO World Organization
Contact information for Tim Mazurkiewicz:
Facebook: Tim Zurk Mazurkiewicz,
Twitter: @Zurkamania,
Instagram: Zurkamania
Email: [email protected]
[email protected] WAKOUSA PRESIDENT
[email protected] American Kickboxer Producer
Main Photo: Mazukiewicz Family Collection, used with permission, all rights reserved.
