From beginner to champion in only five months? Local kickboxer Clint Martin must be really good or really lucky.
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For the 22-year-old Augusta native - winner of the International Kickboxing Federation North American Amateur middleweight championship in November - it's a little bit of both.
"I found out pretty fast I was good, but it's only because I'm lucky to have the best training anywhere," Martin said. "I'm training with the very best."
Martin works several times a week with Mark Greubel, a two-time U.S. amateur champion. His brother, John Greubel, a four-time national champ who still competes, also helps with Martin's training.
"Mark's a champion himself who stopped fighting because he had a few injuries, and John has also won numerous titles," Martin said. "That gives me an advantage over other fighters because a lot of those guys aren't training with people that had been there fighting at high levels themselves."
After training in karate and kickboxing on and off for six years as a youngster, Martin had given up the sport and focused on baseball and football at Westside High School.
Several months ago, Martin started "messing around" with kickboxing again, and Mark Greubel convinced him to enter a tournament in Valdosta, Ga.
"Clint's an exceptional athlete with a lot of natural abilities," Greubel said. "He's tall, he has a great chin, a good set of lungs and his attitude is icing on the cake. He hates to lose."
Those attributes helped Martin knock out his first opponent in Valdosta in 1:45. He then went the distance in a grueling three-round bout with the East Coast champion. Martin lost by decision, but realized he had the potential to succeed in the sport.
"I have a long way to go, but I think I'm heading in the right direction," said Martin, a student at Georgia Military College in Martinez who works part time at Somewhere in Augusta. "I've only had five fights, and I need 10 total to fight in the world championships. That's the goal now - to get as many fights as I can and stay healthy."
Martin plans to transfer to the University of Georgia next year and continue fighting, with designs on someday turning professional.
In the meantime, kickboxing in the perfect way to stay in shape and satisfy his competitive spirit.
"It's a good, healthy way to take out your aggressions after a bad day at work or school," Martin said. "That's about it for now."
Gruebel believes his prized pupil has the makings of a world champion.
"Clint can go as far as he wants to go," Greubel said. "He's like the Terminator. You keep hitting him and he never quits. He just keeps coming at you."
Reach Rob Mueller at (706) 823-3425
