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HomeAbu dhabiFrom La Vernia to Abu Dhabi, Ronald Anderson III faces tough competition

From La Vernia to Abu Dhabi, Ronald Anderson III faces tough competition

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IMMAF faced the picture of victory, with Ronald Anderson III being ruled the winner after a 3rd round match against Bulgaria’s Teodor Markov. The pair faced off at the (IMMAF) Youth World Championships in Abu Dhabi last month.

He’s only 16, but La Vernia’s Ronald Anderson III is playing the sport he loves around the world.

He competed in mid-August at the 2022 International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) Youth World Championships in Abu Dhabi as one of 30 athletes representing the United States.

The Randolph High School junior started martial arts training at the River City Martial Arts Academy in Adkins at age 6, competing in karate and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He started training because he was being bullied at school and wanted to know how to defend himself.

Ronald also trains with Brazil’s top team (BTT) San Antonio, which offers training in a variety of combat sports, including jiu-jitsu, wrestling, boxing, and more.

Ronald has accumulated a number of titles and honors in martial arts, including:
• ISKA Karate World Championships (point-to-point practice)
• Three-time Tseung Kwan O karate state champion (point-to-point practice)
• Karate National Champion (point to pair)
• Two-time ISKA World Champion (MMA)
• Twice named USFL National Champion (MMA)
• Gamma National Championship (MMA)
• Three-time NAGA Champion Expert Group (Jiu-Jitsu).

During the 2022 International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) Youth World Championships in Abu Dhabi last month, Ravinia’s Ronald Anderson III, who represented the United States, took aim at Bulgaria’s Teodor Markov.

According to his father, Ronald Anderson II, his son enjoys the preparation and hard work required for the upcoming tournament.

“He understands that his competitors are always trying to get better,” said Anderson Sr. “It pushed him to work harder.”

But the IMMAF Championship is not just about hard work. The teenage martial arts athlete relished the opportunity to travel and develop friendships with his American teammates and fellow entrants at the Junior World Championships.

In the end, Ronald didn’t bring home a 148-pound medal, but competing was a valuable experience.

“He was also happy to meet all the other competitors from other countries,” his father explained. At the end of the event, the players exchanged jerseys, and Ronald exchanged his own with a player from Italy.

Ronald and Annika Anderson’s fifth child — none of the others are currently in martial arts — the youngster also runs varsity track and field, competing in the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles.

His parents were proud of their son’s drive and courage.

“It takes a lot of time to get out and into the cage with an opponent you know nothing about,” Ronald’s father said. “It took someone special to volunteer.

“We are very proud of him as a respected and humble young man,” he concluded.



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