Mike Angove: City Kickboxing trainer on NZ First's pledge to set up a Combat Sports Commission

One of the more unexpected policy announcement of this campaign came from New Zealand First today. It's just released its combat sports plan. It says it will establish a combat sports commission if it gets back into government. The, the commission would license combat sports events, enforce safety rules, and shut down unsanctioned fights. Mike Angove is a trainer at City Kickboxing, which is famously the gym that has been home to the likes of Israel Adesanya, and is with us now. Hi, Mike.

Yeah, good afternoon. I think, uh, good news and sensible news, although it isn't ... shouldn't ever be a, uh, a, a party partisan issue. I think it should be, uh, common sense across, uh, any government.

Unexpected though from New Zealand First?

Um, look, I, I can't really comment o- on what their drivers are, but I, I, I am aware that they have, um, have actually been in contact with the NZMMAF, which is the, uh, uh, mixed martial arts governing body, and they, they have consulted on developing the, um, you know, the initial framework, uh, to this point. Uh, which, you know, which is certainly positive and, and commendable of them. So, so from the point of view of someone in combat sports, I think starting with that kind of c- consultation and, um, legislation that, let's be fair, is, is long overdue, um, is a positive step.

Uh, Winston has said in this release that he is trying to also mitigates- mitigate against the, the criminal elements getting involved. Is that a threat?

Um, I ... Look, I, I think it's overstated, uh, uh, to be quite frank. Um, I think what is important is that, uh, you know, you have the ability to decide and discern who is a fit and proper person, uh, to be a participant in a sport or to promote a sport. That's appropriate. Uh, I wouldn't want to go down the road that, uh, say, the Boxing and Wrestling Act h- has, has gone down which is, uh, you know, police can get involved and deny licenses. I think that is, uh, well and truly overstepping the bounds and, and also, uh, presents a problem with, uh, combat sports in general and, and, and sports, uh, on a, on a broader sense. Um, that, you know, often these kind of, uh, sports are rehabilitative for, for people who perhaps came from the, the rougher side of life.

Mm.

So while you want to have, uh, the ability to decide, uh, who perhaps shouldn't be taking part, um, you also want to leave the door open to, uh, you know, uh, people who are making positive changes in their lives. So I think that's important to bear in mind. But o- overall, I think the, the, uh, the direction the sports needs to, uh, move in, is, is really about safety. Uh, it's really about developing pathways. Um, and it's really about acknowledging that combat sports extends far beyond the traditional, uh, sports which have traditionally received r- recognition-

Yeah

... which is boxing and wrestling.

Good. Hey, Mike, it's always good to talk to you, man. Thanks very much. Mike Angove, City Kickboxing trainer.

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