I recently had the pleasure of speaking with ISKA European K-1 champion Bonny Van Oortmerssen who is recently had her first MMA fight in India under the CCF. She is best known to UK Muay Thai fans for her victory of World Champion Lucy Payne back in 2012 for the ISKA European title. Following her victory she seemed to disappear off the Muay Thai scene and hasn’t fought since. The Londoner is now living in Goa, India and headlined “Combat Cage Fight 2” Goa’s first and only MMA promotion. The fight is took place on March 15th 2015 where she went up against Monika Malik from India. I had an opportunity to catch up with Bonny before her upcoming fight to find out more about this female champ and how she ended up in Goa.
You’re well known on the Muay Thai circuit but could you introduce yourself to those readers who may not have heard of your achievements?
I was born in South Africa and loved sports from an early age. I loved to compete, in primary school I represented our school in swimming, track and field (discus, shot put, high jump and long jump), tennis, netball, hockey and chess. My break times were always spent playing games – hockey, tennis, cricket, football and always with the boys.
High school wasn’t much different, only by now my passion was focused on basketball and hockey. I played at National Championships, captained my school first teams and received honours awards for both sports – finally receiving Sportswoman of the Year Award in my final year.
I continued playing basketball when I started university, where I played at the National Student championships, was selected for the national student team and went on to win gold for South Africa at the CUCSA Games (African Student Games).
I started at University in Business, changed to Engineering, then my family emigrated to the UK. I joined them in London and this was when I discovered martial arts, at the same time I started a diploma course in Sports and Remedial Massage, finally finding a way to incorporate all the things I am passionate about – sports, the working of the human body and mechanics.
Tell me about you martial arts background?
I found martial arts in 2002, after moving to the UK. I had joined a local gym and come across a “kickfit” class taught by Winston Fraser. It was a pad work based class, and I was hooked after one session.
At that time, Winston was running his own group, Sniper’s Gym, as well as teaching Thai at Bob Breen’s Academy and some fitness classes at various gyms. Very soon I was training at all his classes and was being exposed to all aspects of the art.
Saturday sparring sessions will be etched into my memory for all time – up to 20 hard core martial artists, battling it out for three hours. We would leave battered, bruised, drained and yet elated – such deep friendships forged in the gruelling training sessions. Even 13 years on, spanning many continents, those bonds still remain strong.
I went to my first Thai show in 2003, and I knew I wanted to fight. By this time, Winston and I were dating and so began a powerful partnership that would last 10 years.
The fact that we trained and lived together, made our partnership a potent mix. It meant that in reality I was always in training – whether it was physically in class, or at home, where we would discuss strategy, training, philosophy and the psychology of fighting, analysing sparring sessions, comparing how we had broken down our opponent (or not!) that day. Such a wealth of knowledge and understanding I gained from these discussions.
What influenced you to move into Muay Thai?
It was luck, I guess that I ended up fighting under Thai Rules, but really I see myself as a martial artist, rather than any specific discipline. I have had the good fortune of training with a wide variety of martial artists from many disciplines and I try to incorporate anything that works for me into my art. Moulding it into something better, stronger, more efficient. More me. Constantly re-evaluating and evolving. Improving and expanding my arsenal, tweaking what I have and open to add that which I lack.
To me, this is the beauty of martial arts. This never-ending journey of self improvement, growth and study.
What is your Muay Thai fight current record?
My fight record currently stands at:
- 15 fights, 11 wins (2 TKO), 4 losses
- 2 x English Champion
- 1 x British Champion
- 1 x European Champion (ISKA K1)
You have been inactive for I believe 3 years, was this due to injury?
Initially it was due to injury, a broken bone in my ankle in my last fight, against Lucy Payne in April 2012 for the ISKA European K1 Title. The injury happened in the first round, I through a low kick, connected with my shin, my foot snapped back and a ligament ripped a chunk of bone off of my ankle. I managed to fight on and won the fight on a points decision, but the result of kicking for five rounds with a broken bone meant a very long road to recovery. Doctors didn’t know what to do with it, pin the bone back or remove it…
Then I was offered a job working as a massage therapist on a yoga retreat in Turkey. A two week job turned into a three month stay, practicing yoga for a few hours each day. This did the world of good for my ankle, realigning it and meaning I have managed to recover without surgery.
It was while in Turkey that I decided to make some serious changes in my life. My personal life was a mess and all this intensive yoga and meditation helped me to realise that I had lost myself somewhere along the way. I needed to break away and start a new chapter in my life – hence the decision to travel to India on a soul-searching journey of self re-discovery.
It was the toughest decision of my life though, leaving behind a ten year long relationship, my small business, my training, my friends and virtually starting again from scratch.
After six months of travel and a bizarre series of event (bike accidents, injuries, strange illnesses and being bitten by a stray dog!) the time came to make a decision on where I would settle.
Goa was my choice, I started teaching some private fitness sessions and as word spread I was approached to start a women’s class incorporating yoga, conditioning and martial arts. The mums then started asking me to teach their kids and so began Tribal Warriors. I now have a group of nearly 40 young, talented and dedicated martial artists and a small, but steadily growing adults class.
I always intended to fight again, but know I would have to find a trainer who I believed in and respected enough to take me further along my fighting path. And after ten years with Winston as my coach, I knew this would be a tough task
Out of all the disciplines (if any) you have studied which did you find most difficult?
Again, I try not to separate martial arts into disciplines, though I do recognise that they exist and that others class themselves within these boundaries. For me, there is no single way, only the one which we create for ourselves.
What would you say is your most memorable Muay Thai career moment?
Most memorable career event has to be winning my last fight and becoming European Champion. I had trained so hard for that fight and had a some disappointing performances in the previous years (British Title fight losses to Sheree Haliday and Sarah McCarthy). We’d had to work hard to come back from those, then good fortune came when Touchgloves was looking for a match for Lucy Payne. We volunteered and the fight was set. At the time we were both British Title holders so ISKA put up the vacant European Belt.
By the time we stepped into the ring, Lucy had beaten Miriam Uslu of Germany, for her World Title. So the pressure was on. The night of the show, our club had four fighters out (three title bouts). The guys all lost their fights and I was the last one out, so besides all the personal pressure from the build up, I felt a responsibility to the club and all our supporters to put on a good performance.
It was a great fight and after five rounds we knew we had won, when they announced the decision I just broke down, collapsing to the floor with tears of joy, relief, pain, elation… A moment I will never forget.
What was it like stepping into the ring for the first time?
I spoke before about the intense training I went through when I started and the incredible martial artists I was blessed to be working with.
Our sparring sessions were wars, I was training with monsters, pushing me to my limits and beyond. Blood, sweat and tears were par for the course. They always reminded me that no one had asked me to fight, it was my decision and that they as my family had the responsibility to prepare me and make me mentally and physically as strong as possible.
I remember walking out for my first fight ( a K-Star show, up in Birmingham), my family had driven up from London as well as a few car loads of friends and supporters from our gym.
I had my most respected martial artists/fighters/friends walking out by my side as my coach and corner team – I felt invincible. The fight lasted 54 seconds, the referee stopping the fight after I gave my opponent a kick to the head, resulting in ten stitches.
How did you get involved with the CCF?
One of the sponsors of the CCF knew of me and we’d chatted previously about the possibility of there being a show in Goa. When things for CCF were in motion, he contacted me and asked if I was interested in getting involved. I was and so he took me down to meet the owner/coach of Tiger Boxing Club, Fabrizio Petroni. I have to admit to be a little apprehensive about training for an MMA fight at a boxing gym under a boxing coach. Thankfully I went with an open mind and any doubts I may have had were quickly quelled. I found a hard-working, disciplined group with a wealth of experience in the fighting arena.
I have found at this club a new family of fellow fighters and martial artists. And In Fabrizio, an incredible coach and friend.
The fighters are mostly boxers and the club has many regional and national champions as well as international fighters. All of us are breaking out into MMA, so it’s a very exciting time to involved in this organisation.
Fabrizio has done a fantastic job of getting me fit, conditioned and most importantly psychologically prepared for this fight.
He has also taken what knowledge and technique I had and built on it, adding to my skill set and creating a new and improved fighter. It’s a pleasure working with such a passionate and professional team.
What can you tell me about the martial arts scene in Goa?
Amateur Boxing is very big and Karate is well established and there is a growing interest in Wu Shu (I think a Kung Fu based, stand up martial art). There are Capoeira classes and Thai boxing which is drawing an interest, but there is no professional fight scene to talk of. So, again, this is very exciting time to be involved as the CCF is the beginning of a new era.
Is it hard to get fights in Goa?
Yes! The CCF is the only platform for fighters, so we really hope that the shows are successful and the organisation continues to grow.
How do you see the future for martial arts in India?
The potential is huge. We have a blank canvas and a country that loves competitive sports. Very exciting times!
Who is your biggest hero from martial arts history?
My hero has to be Bruce Lee – his passion, drive for perfection, his philosophy of martial arts as a way of life.
How has martial arts influenced your life?
Martial arts IS my life. I draw on it every day in so many ways – the psychology, the strategy, the work ethic, discipline, respect and understanding of others, the inner strength, to name but a few.
What would you say to anyone apprehensive about trying Muay Thai/MMA?
Don’t be! It is life changing step and you’ll never look back. Only to wonder why you never started earlier…
Bonny it’s been a pleasure to talk with you and we wish you every success in the future.
