NEW ERA FOR TEAM KARABAW

Moving into a new place, there's always mixed feelings. Leaving an old place behind is not easy due to familiarity and nostalgia where memories have been built over the years. 

New place means a new chapter, a new beginning, a new era. This is Team Karabaw Sabah. This 1 September 2018 will mark a milestone for Team Karabaw, as their headquarter will move into International Technology & Commercial Centre, Penampang (ITCC-Penampang). 

Team Karabaw is possibly the biggest gym network in Borneo.

Founded by Sensei Rayner Kinsiong (former national Malaysian Karateka and ONE Championship fighter ) in 2012 , that time was it was based in AllFit gym. It was together with his Karate brothers...  

"My main aim was to keep our Karate way of life/discipline and eventually to tap into MMA/muaythai/boxing scene.

The people who started the team and still with me now is Sensei Vallerio Gumbilai, Sensei Thomas Olin and Douglas Gumbilai." 

Founding members: from right Thomas Olin, Rayner Kinsiong, Vallerio Gumbilai, Daouglas Gumbilai 

Eventually Team Karabaw set up it's own home in 2012 at Market 88. It was a two shop lot space on the 1st floor. This was a place where have seen the blood and sweat of many fighters that train here for their fight camp and also a birthplace for many new prospect that eventually became regular in the local combat sports scene.

This venue in Market 88 also has seen several events being held here. MIMMA 5 Sabah trial selection, STAND Junior, Muay Fight Night (MFN) and MFN Ladies Cup.

Team Karabaw crew  at MIMMA 5 selection at Karabaw gym Market 88

Karabaw HQ at Market 88 : The boxing ring and sparring mat 

Karabaw HQ at Market 88

"I wanted to represent who we were... wanted to show that KARATE isn't a bad place to start with...  
We built the team and now we have some world ranking Muaythai fighter through teachings with the mixture of karate and other martial arts...

We still believe strongly in the way we were brought up."

With this believe...Team Karabaw further expand.

Tamparuli branch set up in 2013, Papar 2014, Sipitang 2014, Putatan 2016, Keningau 2016 and the latest addition...Labuan 2018.

Last year Rayner was hands-on involved in building Sabah Muaythai Camp. From clearing of land, sourcing of equipment, planning layout, etc to the day it open in November 2017 with a Youth Muaythai Competition. The Sabah Muaythai Camp is a sprawling huge well equipped facilities for fighter training in Papar, believe to be the first of it's kind in Borneo. It is also the new home for Team Karabaw Papar.

Sabah Muaythai Camp

Army of Karabaws in MIMMA 3 selection at 1Borneo

Tell us what is the significance of the name Karabaw.

Rayner explains...

"KARA (KARATE WAYS) + BAW (KERBAU - the Malay word for bull) because we believe in the spirit of a bull...  hardworking, a beast in a way)"

What is your fondest memories?

"Seeing our young ones achieve what they have achieve to date....THAT always will be my fondest memories, I am sure Val and Thomas will say the same thing."

What's your message to the new generations of Karabaws?
"Keep the Karabaw spirit alive, stay as one... We are stronger TOGETHER."

What's your vision for the team?

"I want TEAM KARABAW to be known as ONE powerhouse in any martial arts in Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia...and someday be known around the world."

photo by Deb Gauges

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The new gym has a clean, minimalist white ambiance. The concept of white is actually a part of martial art. White gives a feeling of serenity. When you are a martial artist doing battle, calmness and serenity is the key to victory. Chaos is brashness that will lead most of the time to defeat.

White also symbolizes pure heart, humbleness and respect. A true martial artist will always carry themselves with honour and respect.

Team Karabaw HQ is located at ITCC Mall, Donggongon Penampang, 20 mins drive from Kota Kinabalu. It is the latest mall in Kota Kinabalu. It has ample parking space, spacious shopping area, many food outlets...and now you can go there and train in Team Karabaw Martial Arts and Fitness Academy.

Opening hours is 10am - 10pm. Currently classes available are for Muaythai, Muaythai Kids (below 13years old), Brazillian Jiujitsu, Capoiera, Personal training (Muaythai and Fitness)

There are lockers for rent, hot & cold shower rooms and changing room available.

Grand opening is on 1st Sept, which will be officiated by Datuk Seri Panglima Clarence Bongkos Malakun at 2pm. 

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ULTIMATE BEATDOWN BORNEO FEATURING RYAN FELTNER

Redemption. It’s on Ryan Feltner’s mind. He wants to wipe off the horrible lost in FMD 13 last year. It was a 5 second lost via TKO. Ever since then, American Ryan ‘Bodat’ Feltner has been focusing on training to get better and seek a fight to erase that nightmare in Bangkok.

Come 12 May, he will have his chance. Ryan will be featured in the main card for ULTIMATE BEATDOWN 28 : BORNEO. He will be fighting pro at middleweight against local Malaysian from Sabah pro debutant Mike Sidis.

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At 29 years old, Ryan has 4 MMA fights experience. 1-1 at pro. But his journey began when he was very young. At 8 years old struggling to focus on his studies and getting bullied regularly, his aunt signed him up for Taekwondo classes.

When he turned 11 he moved from Arkansas in the south to Michigan in the north, but things didn't gets better. The bullying got worse, mainly because southerners speak a different slang than northerners.

It was on a fateful day in a playground that 7 older kids jump him. Ryan did not concede defeat, he fought back even though the odds was against him. He managed to knocked out 3 of them before he was taken to the ground as they kicked and stomped on him. It was fated that the teacher on duty that day, Mr. Hutchinson saw what happened and came to break off the fight and chase the delinquent away.

He sat Ryan up and asked whether he was okay. He said Ryan was really tough and brave but that he need to learn control. Turned out that Mr Hutchinson was the school’s wrestling coach. From then on he joined the after school Wrestling Club program, in which he gets to train with the high school wrestlers.

“ I'll never forget the act of kindness and understanding that coach Hutchinson showed me. It paved a way for me to become a better person.”

Ryan didn’t compete in wrestling when he was in Michigan because he started at a considerably late age compare to others in Michigan where they train at a very early age and the local competition circuit is very high level at his age group. But the exposure and the chance to be able to train with other athletes gave him a good foundation in martial arts.

Ever since then Ryan has trained in American Kenpo (considered as one of the first MMA systems introduced to North America consists of Goju-Ryu Karate, Chinese kenpo and Judo.) He has also started training in BJJ 3 years ago along with Muaythai, Sanda and western boxing.

Jobs opportunity was tough back then and he being a person with high principle and an independent attitude, Ryan at one time was homeless and live out of his truck. He even experience rummaging through garbage bin for food just because he does not want to beg for food.

Making a huge decision one day to just leave America and use whatever little money he has, he board a flight to Malaysia. Seeing that Malaysia MMA scene is growing, Ryan felt that he found a place close to his heart, he found a place to develop his art and also to contribute his knowledge to the local Malaysian combat sports. It is also a place that he found love, where he met his wife from Penang.

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He is now a certified personal trainer and specialize in nutrition and rehabilitation. He is currently training at Batam Fighter Club with 70kg Indonesian One Pride MMA Champion Jeka Saragih.

Recently Ryan travelled to the north eastern part of Thailand ( the Issan province close the the Lap border). It is where many Thais start their careers as Thai boxers. The training here is more raw and hardcore but not many gyms here openly accept foreigners. He search around and was rejected by all until finally he found Kru Kreed.

Ryan considered the experience with Kru Kreed as the best striking coach he ever had. 

“He said I can kick and punch but I'm not using any technique. So he started me from very basic training and in my one month my technique got better than from a year of training anywhere else.
But it was not easy. The training was very hardcore and intense. My legs was bruised and battered so bad, I could hardly walk.”

But it was a no pain, no gain journey for Ryan. He felt his striking improve leaps and bounds.

Ryan is looking to showcase what he has learn from Thailand on Saturday night, combining his improved striking with his strong grappling.

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On his fight with Mike Sidis, 

“It's a classic match-up between striker and grappler. I have worked extensively on my submissions and to refine my stand-up techniques. 

I understand that my opponent is a kickboxer. You never want to underestimate someone but I've watched his tape and I'm not really impressed with his stand-up skills.

I am confident of victory. I feel I'm more athletic and more experienced and more well-rounded. I have the ability to take the fight to the ground and keep it there. Fighting against a strong wrestler is completely different than a BJJ guy. There's nothing more embarrassing than getting thrown like a child and being held on the ground knowing you can't get back up."

Ryan says that he believe that people are underestimating him quite a lot because they are judging his ability based on his last fight, the 5 second loss in FMD 13. He does not mind being the underdog. It gives him more motivation to proof them wrong.

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About Ultimate Beatdown

Ultimate Beatdown is base in Johor Bahru. It is the most successful and the longest running MMA promotions in Malaysia. Founded by Melvin Yeoh, former ONE Championship fighter and widely considered as the pioneer of MMA in Malaysia. It started off as an MMA only promotions, but has these pass few events evolved to a multi style promotions which include cage boxing and Kickboxing. There was even a cage grappling super fight in pass event.

This Saturday event is the first time UB venture out of Johor. Working together with Team Karabaw lead by Rayner Kinsiong, this special edition will be located at 1st floor, convention center of the new high-tech mall – ITCC in Penampang

Come and experience the new Ultimate Beatdown Borneo edition this Saturday 12 May. UBB will feature 14 bouts of Amateur Cage Kickboxing. 10 bouts of Cage Boxing. 10 Amateur MMA . It promise to be a night full of actions as many season fighters from Sabah, Brunei, Sarawak, Japan and from India will showcase their skills and showmanship. 

Fights starts at 1pm to 6pm. 6pm onwards is MMA bouts. 

Tickets are still available at only RM10 ( free seatings ) Please call 019-8128379

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Get to Know Your Local Fighter: LESLEY DULAMIT

If you are on the way from Kota Kinabalu to Mt. Kinabalu national park in Sabah, you will pass by the town of Tamparuli. A quaint town of mostly Dusuns population with lots of greenery & beautiful hills surrounding the town. This is also where Team Karabaw Tamparuli gym is located.

Team Karabaw is a local Sabah martial arts & fitness gym founded by Sensei Rayner Kinsiong, ex national karateka & MMA athlete. Team Karabaw has 6 branches in Sabah namely KK, Papar, Keningau, Sipitang, Putatan and Tamparuli.

The Tamparuli branch is led by ex state karateka and also MIMMA alumni, coach Vallerio Gumbilai.
This is also the gym where Lesley Dulamit is training at.

Lesley or fondly known as Guguh by his friends will be among the first few Sabahan debuting as a pro boxer in the much anticipated BoxRanx WBC BoxingFest this 9 July at Midvalley Megamal Convention Center ( read about the pre event write up here ).

Weigh in done, time for war!

Let's get to know Guguh.

Originally from Tuaran, a town 10km away from Tamparuli, his martial arts journey began at 13 when he picked up TaeKwon-Do. This gave him a good foundation but he did not participated in tournament, instead he took part in Track & Field competiitons.

3 years ago, from his late uncle Jay Banding's encouragement, Lesley picked up Boxing by joining TUBA ( Team Tuaran Boxing ). Uncle Jay was an important figure in shaping Lesley's mind and heart as he always gave him support and motivation.

One of his sweetest memories in Boxing was winning the Gold medal in 2015 President Cup.

Lesley (middle in yellow) with Tuaran Boxing Team (TUBA)

Lesley (R) winning bronze medal in his first boxing match in Ranau.  Here with his late uncle Jay Banding (L) and his best friend since childhood Dexter Ales (middle)

Winning Gold in the 2015 President Cup

To further sharpen his skills and keeping himself active, Lesley joined Team Karabaw Tamparuli. He was one of the pioneering students under Coach by Vallerio Gumbilai. Vallerio began to expose and train him in other martial arts, such as Muaythai and grappling.

Team Karabaw sent a huge team to the MIMMA3 tryout in KK in 2015, to expose their students and newcomer to MMA. Lesley was one of them. This exposure gave Lesley a good taste of many aspect of martial arts and also to learn to be composed under pressure as judges eyes are constantly on you.

Lesley (2nd from left) with his brother Ashley (3rd from left) flanked by The Kalai Brothers

In MIMMA3 tryouts

It wasn't his time yet for MMA as he wasn't selected for MIMMA3. To quench his urge for fights, Coach Vallerio enrolled him in Muaythai competition organised by the Youth & Sports Ministry and it proofed to be good investment as Lesley brought back a silver medal.

Victorious in his Muaythai debut

with his brother Ashley Dulamit

Lesley trains regularly but an injury causes him to slow down. After it healed and couple with good conditioning work, Lesley was back to training. In 2016 he again took part in MIMMA4 tryout in KK.

This time he was paired with Muhammad Hasbullah, the 2015 Jesselton Fight League Bantamweight Champion and also his Team Karabaw team mate from Team Karabaw Keningau. Hasbullah brought out the best in Lesley and Lesley was able this time to convinced the judges to select him.

At MIMMA4 tryouts vs Hasbullah

He progressed to the ladder match won it by rear naked choke but lost to fellow Sabahan Joel Nickolson in the quarter-finals.

This year he put his focus on Boxing and began training when he got fight confirmation for WBC Boxing Fest. It's definitely a dream come true for a boxer to compete in a WBC sanctioned event, let alone debuting as a pro.

As head coach, Vallerio began planning carefully for Lesley's training program. Regular sparring session was done with the Tuaran Boxing Team, sparring with Team Karabaw Tamparuli seasoned fighters; lots of pad sessions with Dylon Gumbilai and once a week Team Karabaw head Boxing coach, Ryandell Joe Kitingan will work with Lesley on tactical game plan.

Lesley with Vallerio (R) with Kent Tham (2nd from left) and Ryandell J. Kitingan (L)

with padmaster Dylon Gumbilai

with Team Karabaw Tamparuli

Debuting as a pro this Sunday, Lesley's will be facing another pro debutante, Gerald Salvador. This is a change from his initial opponent, Yuvant Mitadevar. This does not throw off their planning. As Vallerio pointed out that they prepared Lesley to face any opponent. Focusing on Lesley's strength rather than his opponent's style.

Vallerio has been a pillar of strength for Lesley. Lesley has the utmost respect for him. To Lesley, Vallerio is a great charismatic coach that provide him and his team mates plenty of motivation and encouragement.

After each hard session of training, Vallerio always ends it with team briefing and some morale boosting words. This is an important aspect of the fight game where mental preparation is as crucial as the physical part.

Vallerio Gumbilai, Team Karabaw Tamparuli head coach

Most fighters chooses a high tempo and fast music to boost their mood for training. Lots of the time young newbies full of raging adrenaline always goes into a fight with all guns swinging early on but looses steam half-way through the fight. Lesley's way of dealing with this is Raggae music.
He would immerse himself in Raggae and R&B music, during training and before he sleeps. Lesley felt that this type of music calms him down and enable him to think better during fights.

For leisure when he is not in hard training, Lesley love fishing. Rain or shine if the weekend comes he will filled his time fishing. Lesley said fishing teaches him patience and it's also a time for him to do some catch up and strengthen his relationship with his younger brother and girlfriend.

Foodwise, being a genuine Tuaran boy, definitely the famous fried Tuaran noodle ( a locally produce eggy noodle ) is on top of Lesley's  all time favorite.

Accompanying him in this weekend WBC Boxing Fest will be his Karabaw Team mate Tham Yaw Kent, whom will fight semi-pro today.

Lesley (R) at KK Int Airport leaving to KL for WBC Boxing Fest with Ryandell (Middle) and Kent Tham (L)

Lesley vs Gerald will be the 1st pro bout on 9 July 2017

Kent debut in hi semi-pro boxing on 8 July 2017

Warriors of Borneo wishes Lesley Dulamit and Team Karabaw a successful outing this weekend.

STAND : JUNIOR EDITION FULL RESULTS

STAND Junior edition concluded on 20 MAY 2017. Read about the pre-event story here:
A total of 12 teams send their junior warriors (below 18 years ) to Karabaw Gym in Kepayan.
1. Persatuan Tomoi Labuan - Labuan
2. TeamX - Kuala Lumpur
3. Teamkarabaw Papar - Papar
4. Kalai Brothers Gym - Kuala Lumpur
5. Teamkarabaw Keningau - Keningau
6. Teamkarabaw Tamparuli - Tamparuli
7. Kinabalu Kings - Kota Kinabalu
8. Klinch MMA - Kuala Lumpur
9. Teamkarabaw HQ - Kota kinabalu
10. D30 - Sarawak
11. Borneo Phoenix Muaythai - Putatan
12. Sabah Top Team - Kota Kinabalu

Below is the full results

Skills wise, these juniors may not technically be polished due to their age and lack of experience, but many of them show good fighting spirit and lots of heart in the fight. STAND is here to provide that platform for them to gain that valueable fighting experience.

Some pictures of winners below.

Champions from Karabaw Tamparuli : Wesley Oliver, Kallen Jafili & Kenny Jafili

D-30 Muay Thai team from Miri, Sarawak. A regular in fight events in Sabah

D-30 head coach Master Tang Hui Ding with his champion Aurora Chai ( right ) & Maurien Hii ( left )

48kg finals, both are from Kinabalu Kings , and they are twin brothers! Shah Aryan (right) won the fight. His brother Areen Khan on the left

MILO was there to energize the juniors and their team

The Juniors is the future, let's all come together to build great foundation for martial arts in Borneo. ( pix courtesy of Bee Jay - Kinabalu Kings )