KICK IT INTO HIGH GEAR: Trio of island fighters gear up for national tournament

Published 9:51 am Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Neither Anisa Ashabi nor Laura Swanson look like the kind of girl who could easily land a devastating roundhouse kick to your face.

They hardly seem the type.

Both of them are friendly, polite, definitely not physically imposing and they would seem more likely to be at home in a yoga class rather than a boxing ring.

But these ladies are accomplished kickboxers with feet of fury.

In fact, they’re some of the best in the whole country.

Or, at least, that’s what they’re hoping to prove later this month. Ashabi, Swanson and fellow island-based fighter Josh Soliva have been invited to compete at an upcoming World Kickboxing Association national competition for a chance to qualify for the U.S. competitive team.

The event begins Sunday, March 22 in Richmond, Virginia, and — one way or another — the trio will know their place in the national kickboxing scene less than three days later.

Leading the fighters up to and through those sweet, savage 72 hours is Bainbridge Island Boxing Club owner and head trainer Ben Little, whose past charity boxing events on Bainbridge have seen sold out, packed-to-capacity crowds. Recently, Little relocated the club to a new location (9463 NE Business Park Lane, in the Coppertop Loop business park) in order to accommodate the gym’s new full-sized official WKA ring, an asset which has definitely helped these three fighters in training for the national tournament, he said.

“Right now they’ve literally put in more work than any athlete in any sport that I can think of,” Little said of his fighting trio. “And their work is starting to pay off.”

The three young fighters (Ashabi, the youngest, is 16) are at a unique point in their fighting careers, Little said, adding that as they progress — or should they make the transition to professional fighting — “everybody’s good.” But, for now, the trio remain in a position to make no mistakes as long as they train and fight hard every time.

They obviously do.

“Every time we get a fight, we win,” Little said, explaining that it has actually become difficult for the undefeated Ashabi, Swanson and Soliva to secure quality local fights now that they’ve begun to build a reputation. Sometimes they are forced to fight outside of their bracket or they face even more inexperienced opponents; sometimes the other fighters don’t show up at all, Little said.

Thus, the chance at national-level competition is all the more important to them.

The island trio were invited to the tournament because of their impressive records and reputation for quality fights.

It’s a three-day, 16-person elimination tournament, Little explained. Meaning, there’s up to 16 people per weight class and, therefore, if the bracket is full, a fighter who makes it to the finals will fight three times in two days (the first day is mostly weight-ins and acclimation).

Fighters who beat all three of their opponents earn a spot on the national competitive team, and the chance to represent America in a myriad of international tournaments throughout the year.

Little said he and the fighters are keeping things in perspective and training hard; at least six days a week, three hours a day.

“A lot of it is we just want to see where we land,” he said. “We’re anxious to see. It’s hard for us to find good competition locally, and basically having someone invite us out, this was the best thing that ever happened to us.”

Both Ashabi and Swanson agreed that, though they may be nervous now, but by the time of their first fight they will be more than ready.

“Nothing makes me happy like this sport does,” Swanson said. “I love the competition, I love the challenge. I love how it keeps me in shape. It’s the best exercise I’ve ever had.”

Swanson said she first attempted kickboxing after returning home from spending time in Nepal, and though it was at first just a way to get back in shape, it had long been something she wanted to try and it quickly became a passion.

“It’s always something I’ve been interested in,” Swanson said. “Nothing else will ever compare.”

Ashabi began training with Little at the island gym when she was just 14, though she was already the recognized champion of her household.

“I was really strong,” Ashabi remembered. “I would beat up my brother and he’d be like, ‘Ow, this actually hurts!’ And I was like, ‘Whatever, you’re lame,’ but it’s actually true. I have kind of a weird strength.”

Initially, she began a cardio kickboxing class when she was 13 with her mother, Ashabi said, and it was there that she was encouraged to pursue the sport more seriously.

What makes a potential champion kickboxer? How did two semi-casual participants stick with it and advance through such rigorous training to stand ready for a shot at national recognition?

Little said that, like any other sport, enough dedication will get a person physically ready, but in the making of a champion there’s always an “X” factor.

“All three of them, just when you start to think you might be beating them — when you hit them harder — that’s when they actually turn it up and they come out twice as hard,” he said. “Once their cage is rattled, they actually come back with more intensity, which, as a life skill, is probably the best thing you can learn in life: resilience.”

“When the chips are down, instead of giving up, fight twice as hard,” Little said. “I think it’s just great preparation for life. There’s something inside of them that rises up and just decides that they’re not going to be beat today.”

Swanson agreed, and said the trick is often literally deciding to win.

“I just have to go deep sometimes and just fight harder than I think is possible,” she said. “Am I going to give up? No, I’m not going to give up. I just have to work on staying focused and try not to think about too many things.”

The boxing club has launched a fundraising effort to assist the fighters with the costs of the tournament via the online service gofund

me.com. The response has been flattering, Little said, and the trio are greatly appreciative for the community’s outpouring of support. As of earlier this week, they remained only $1,400 short of their goal.

Visit www.gofundme.com/lquohg to learn more about the trip and how to support the fighters.

Bainbridge Boxing Club has a variety of fight-themed classes and workouts for varying degrees of competition. Visit www.bainbridgeboxing.com or email info@bainbridgeboxing.com to learn more.