Muay Thai a ticket to the ‘big leagues’ Local athletes compete to represent Canada in Italy By: Massimo De Luca-Taronno Posted: 5:34 PM CDT Thursday, Mar. 13, 2025

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This article was published 13/03/2025 (241 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s a Saturday morning and the city’s original kickboxing gym — although not packed — is buzzing with excitement.

Two teenagers and one boy stand in the middle of the fluorescent-lit gym, awaiting their next training drill after warming up with 15 minutes of jump rope.

“Jab! Jab, cross! Jab, cross, kick!” the coach orders as invigorating music roared through the speakers.

The athletes follow suit and shadow box, mirroring every movement their instructor demands. Sweat drizzles down their faces, their cheeks flush a deep, tomato red.

They continue to punch and kick for more than 45 minutes, pushing themselves to prove the years of hard work will pay off.

On March 8, at Double Dragon Kickboxing & Muay Thai gym, the World Boxing Council (WBC) held its Muay Thai Team Canada tryouts in Winnipeg — marking the first time the city has hosted such an event.

Winnipeg is one of five cities across Canada — along with Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, and Calgary — offering Muay Thai athletes the opportunity to showcase their skills on the international stage.

In late June , 800 athletes from 90 countries will compete in the Amazing MuayThai World Festival in Verona, Italy, representing their home countries while helping elevate the sport’s global presence.

Muay Thai, with roots in ancient Thailand, is a full-contact, stand-up striking sport that utilizes punches, kicks, elbows, knees and clinching techniques.

Nine-year-old Elijah Butler, the youngest of three athletes in the youth tryouts, is determined to be one of the 50 or so Canadian athletes headed off to Italy to compete.

“They’re just amazing … I can already see the future of these athletes — bright things ahead.”–Gerrick Hodge

“I want to make it to the big leagues,” says Butler after a gruelling two-hour tryout session, which included pad work, knee and elbow striking, blocking, and pushups and situps. “I just want to fight in the ring.”

Butler has trained in Muay Thai for four years. He said the difference between Day 1 and now is night and day.

“When I first started I could barely last a minute doing any of the stuff I did today,” he says. “It’s cool to think about how much better I am.”

In addition to Muay Thai, Butler also wrestles, kickboxes, and does Jiu Jitsu. On the weekends, he plays baseball.

He discovered the combat sport of Muay Thai through video games.

“I was playing UFC one day and I was like ‘Can I go do this?’ and then I just fell in love with it,” he says.

Butler’s first Muay Thai experience was at Dave’s Gym. He immediately knew the sport was for him.

“I felt really happy because it felt a part of me — I liked getting into the ring and going against other people, just like in the UFC video game,” he says.

Kids like Butler are exactly why Gerrick Hodge, coach at Double Dragon, continues to mentor athletes after more than three decades.

“This is my family,” Hodge says. “These are my kids — I’m like the father, mother, boyfriend or husband they never had.”

Hodge began training in Taekwondo in 1972 and then kickboxing in 1979, before heading off to serve in the Canadian Armed Forces for 13 years as a teacher in combat training.

After he retired from the military, Hodge wanted to help the youth in his community. He originally taught kids from the Manitoba Youth Centre before finding a permanent home at Double Dragon.

“They’re just amazing,” Hodge says. “I can already see the future of these athletes — bright things ahead.”

After seeing the three fighters from the youth tryout and 10 from the adult tryout, Hodge feels optimistic about Winnipeg’s crop of athletes representing Canada.

“We have a great group of fighters here,” he says. “I’m looking forward to working with them and sharing my experience.”

One of Winnipeg’s top Muay Thai fighters is 25-year-old Brendon Paukovic.

Paukovic has competed since he was 19-years-old and holds an overall record of eights win and three losses.

He’s fought some of sport’s top athletes in tournaments in Montreal and Calgary, and internationally in California.

“It’s been pretty steep competition for sure,” Paukovic says.

During the tournament in California, Paukovic fought someone who placed silver in a Muay Thai world tournament.

“I can’t just sit on the couch and relax when there’s a guy on the other side who I know is a killer,” he says. “I know I’ve got to train hard and that’s why I love it.”

Paukovic trains six days a week. His weekly routine includes Muay Thai sessions with pad work, skipping, and technical drills, along with weight training three times a week and cardio.

“It’s basically 10 or 12 training sessions a week crammed into six days,” Paukovic says. Monday is his only rest day.

His love for the sport came from his mother, who began competing in her early 20s. She owns her own gym, Winnipeg Muay Thai & Kickboxing, where Paukovic frequently trains.

He says he wants to prove to everyone in Italy that all his hard work paid off.

“I’m looking forward to performing and getting my name out there,” Paukovic says. “I’ve worked really hard for this, and I want to showcase my skills on the world stage and show people what I can do.”