By Ying Yang
Tomorrow the 7th of December is an important mile-stone for Malta’s Daniel 'The Jet' Zahra, when the local World and European amateur martial arts champion turns professional in Kickboxing under the ‘World Kickboxing Network’ (WKN) banner.

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Daniel ‘The Jet’ Zahra, hails from Gudja, Malta and was born on the 19th December 1985, the youngest son of Mario and Rita, brother to Claire and Jonathan and married to Marilyn nee Farrugia, now residing in Luqa.

At the tender age of 10, he started practicing soccer. After some time he decided to switch to the martial arts discipline after being inspired by a movie. With the help from his cousin, Keith Grech, he enrolled with the Ying Yang Kickboxing Club which at that time was affiliated with the WKA. Daniel was taken under the wing of Master Noel Mercieca, a 5th Dan Black Belt in Kickboxing and founder of the Ying Yang Club.

In 1996, an international competition was organised in Malta. Daniel, aged 11, decided to take part for the first time to gain experience. The match ended with the English opponent winning by points. Undiscouraged, he took the loss as a lesson to learn from the mistakes he committed during the match. Daniel involved himself more seriously into physical training and focusing more on technique. He participated in the annual Nationals in his weight category, always finishing a winner whilst gaining more in experience.

In 2002, Master Noel decided to change federations for further opportunities, so the Ying Yang Club was later affiliated with MAAS. Soon after, Daniel was invited to compete in England under his weight category for the Amateur European Title which he won by points. Also from that same year till 2009 he was the Malta National champion in the Open-Weight Category. In this category, weighing just 72 kilos he had opponents that vary from over 80 kilos to 135 kilos. He also holds the National Best Fighter Title twice in a row.
In 2006 he again participated for the Amateur European Title in England winning by points in his weight category.

In 2007 Master Noel once again decided to change federation as opportunities were far and in between and with the help of Kencho Adrian Axisa, affiliated with the most sought after and famous federation, the World Kickboxing Network (WKN). From that time onwards, opportunities never failed for Daniel and were more frequent. In October 2007 the first WKN Amateur European Title was held in Malta against France. Daniel succeeded once again in doing Malta proud by winning all four rounds consisting of two minutes each.

With everyday increasing and gruelling physical training he had become the strongest and fastest Kickboxer on the island. Hence the nick-name ‘The Jet’.
In August 2008 he was invited to participate on an amateur level against an English ex-professional who was absent from the discipline for about six years but restarted to train eight months previous the match. This was Daniel’s first time experience without the head and leg protection. Undeterred with this fact, Daniel won the match with a Technical Knock-Out at the first minute of the first round. That night Daniel not only won the match but also won the respect from his opponent as he was heard to tell Daniel, ‘I was warned you were good but I did not expect you to be this good’.

In September 2009 a WKN Amateur World Title was organised in Malta. Matches consisted of Malta Team versus the World under different weight categories. Daniel again succeeded in becoming the World Champion with a Technical Knock-Out in the middle-weight category against Ireland.

In January 2010 a first-time event on semi-pro level, a European Title in K1 was held in Malta. Daniel wanted to widen his experience and faced his Dutch opponent without a flinch and ending with a positive result. In April 2010 he was invited to defend this title by competing in Belfast against one of Ireland’s rising stars in K1, Mark Bird. Daniel ‘The Jet’ Zahra, once again ruled. He won both matches by points that consisted of 4 rounds of 2 minutes.

The Nationals 2011 was held this past June by Gladiators Promotions. ‘The Jet’ faced ‘Super’ Steve Martin from the Wu Shu Ky Kickboxing Club in a semi-pro K1 competition for the first WKN National Title in the middle-weight category. The match consisted of 5 rounds of 2 minutes and once again, ‘The Jet’ won with points difference.

Under the World Kickboxing Network, Daniel holds to this day a European and World Title in kickboxing at amateur level, two European Titles and one National Title in K1 at semi-pro level. With his experience in this discipline, Daniel is ready to walk the last mile to turning into a professional fighter.

Thus, on the 7th December 2011 at the MFCC in Ta’Qali, Daniel ‘The Jet’ Zahra will be representing Malta for his first Professional European Title fight in Kickboxing against Jose ‘Bogas’ Oliveira from Portugal.

Ying Yang Press Release
www.yingyangkickboxing.com