MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- Reserve Sgt. Joe Sarkissian, supply administrator, Marine Air Group 46, took home the International Karate Kickboxing California State Welter Weight Championship belt Nov. 19.
The fight went the distance with a unanimous decision. The championship match lasted four five-minute rounds of extreme fighting using hands, feet, knees and elbows. The welter weight class is for fighters between 140 to 147 lbs.
Sarkissian, the 24-year-old Moreno Valley, Calif. native has trained as a kick boxer for the last ten years. He turned pro about three years ago, has more than 60 fights under his belt, and remains undefeated.
“My passion for Muay Thai Kick Boxing stems from my trainer who was a former Marine,” said Sarkissian. “I was only 16-years-old, and for the first two months all of the kick boxing students commenced to beat me on a daily basis, because they didn’t want me there. After I proved myself to them, they welcomed me with open arms because they knew I had a lot of heart.”
Sarkissian began his training with a five-mile run to his trainers house, then bike ride for five miles, and then run back home the five miles all before going to his high school classes. After school he would spend two to three hours in the gym.
“My training requires a lot of running, sparring, heavy bag work, body hardening exercises totaling three to five hours a day,” said Sarkissian. “I am also on a strict diet and I am really into nutrition and natural healing.”
“When fighting, your body takes a beating and you must condition your body to take the pain,” he said. “My shin is like a steel plate due to all of the body hardening exercises I do with the heavy bag and my sparring partners.”
After joining the Corps in October 2000, Sarkissian followed the lead of his trainer and other well-known kick boxers that were former Marines. He has maintained the high level of training while in the Corps.
In between getting recalled, deployments and Marine Corps training, Sarkissian was able to continue his kickboxing career fighting in matches and championships throughout the state.
“Everyday I train I have to learn something new and perfect something old,” said Sarkissian. “Basic fundamentals of Muay Thai Kick-boxing are preparing your body for war or total combat, that’s why I felt the Marine Corps was a perfect fit.”
Sarkissian fought for this belt two years ago, and during the match his opponent accidentally head butted him and the match was stopped due to excessive blood loss from his opponent. The match was deemed no contest. Before Sarkissian was able to fight in a rematch, he was recalled by the Corps and deployed to Iraq.
“I was winning that match two years ago and it was stopped,” he said. “I had to wait two years for this belt and now it is mine.”
In order for Sarkissian to keep his new championship belt, he must defend his belt in at least one championship fight. Once he completes his next fight victoriously, he can then advance to the U.S. Championships.
“My long-term goal is to advance to the U.S. Championship, the North American, then become World Champion in my weight class,” said Sarkissian.