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| Sandenbergh receiving her Bantamweight Championship Belt at CFL 13 |
Sandenbergh (33) fights out of Mec's Martial Arts and Fitness in Fish Hoek and holds an MMA record of 1-0 and a K1 record of 0-1. Sandenbergh, who initially, had no interest in MMA, got involved with three years ago after a friend insisted she joined her at her weekly kickboxing class. Sandenbergh, who frequents comrades, was on a running break and decided to take a leap of faith and hit up a session of kickboxing and as we do, got hooked!
"I loved hitting things, it was fun! But more than that, I really loved the technical way that Mec taught his classes, (& still does). The strategy of striking really intrigued me. Fighting is about so much more than just hitting hard. Technique & strategy mean so much more" says Sandenbergh.
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| Sandenbergh and the fighting core of Mec's Martial Arts Left to right: Roelof Schaaf (Lof) , Lyndall Sandenbergh , Mec Crain , Matthew Landsdale (Hamsta) |
"As soon as I was introduced to MMA, I knew I had found what I was born to do" Sandenbergh continues, "I love the physical & strategic diversity that MMA offers".
Sandenbergh admits to being competitive by nature. Going to her first Cape Fight League (CFL), 6 to be specific, Sandenbergh knew that in the cage was where she wanted to be, testing herself. Outside of the cage though, Sandenbergh's life revolves around animals.
Before coaching full time, Sandenbergh was a veterinary nurse for 12 years, and spends her free time as a horseback trail guide at Sleepy Hollow Horse Riding in Noordhoek, taking tourists down to the beach on horseback rides.
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| Sandenbergh as a veterinary nurse |
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| Sandenbergh riding Ulrick |
Sandenbergh informs that she has been a horse rider most of her life and competed a lot when she was younger, spending four years on a stud farm 'backing' horses (Getting them used to being ridden). "I found that riding actually prepared me really well for fighting and still find it amazing cross training" says Sandenbergh.
Letting us in on the running bit, Sandenbergh says "I've been running last 5 years, completing 3 Two Oceans Ultra Marathons and 4 Comrades Marathons with shoes on. Last year I started running barefoot- this was mostly because of the love of my life and partner Mec Crain. I got him running, and he got me running barefoot."
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| Sandenbergh with partner, Mec Crain at the Redhill 36km |
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| Sandenbergh and Crain's feet and medals after the race |
"Other than the physical stuff I enjoy drawing, painting and designing. Nowadays most of my drawing is in the form of tattoo designs. I've designed the two that I have, and have done a few for friends. My own tattoos are both dragons, and I have several more planned, all dragons. Apparently I have a thing for dragons" Sandenbergh says jokingly with a wink.
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| Sandenbergh's tattoo from her own design |
For Sandenbergh, her biggest achievment was winning her MMA fight at CFL 13 and becoming the Woman's Bantamweight Champion, followed by completing her third Comrades Marathon, "Not because of the time I finished it in, but because I had spent 6 months running in a swimming pool as I couldn't run on the road. I had broken my left foot during a 30km race, which I finished and achieved a personal best time at" Sandenbergh explains.
Sandenbergh talks us through her fight, "The fight was quite a surreal experience. I was really focussed and in the moment. Mostly I felt it went well. We had a plan and I executed it the best I could in real time. As they say " All plans change on impact". It wasn't as neat as I would have liked, but that's ok, because I know what I need to work on for next time. The plan was to remove my opponents weapons and take the fight where I wanted it to go.
As soon as the fight started I made sure I could dictate position. She managed to corner me a few times, but mostly I was quick enough to right myself. I kept setting up entries to the clinch as it makes far more sense to take your opponent to where they are out of their comfort zone.
I got us into the clinch several times where we tussled as she tried to defend against my takedowns. She landed 2 knees to my body, but she became quite predictable after that and I managed to avoid the rest. I attempted several takedowns in the first round, some she defended and some the ropes seemed to get in the way.
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| Sandenbergh in action at CFL 13 |
At the start of the second round I could tell I had worn her out a bit in the first round. I like fighting at pace, so it worked well for me. Admittedly I was a bit too intent on entering the clinch and let my defence slip a bit more than I would have liked and took a few shots on the temple. Once we where in the clinch I started working for a particular path I wanted to follow, but I felt her shift her weight which made other takedowns available instead and I took her down. In the takedown I took mount and as I locked my position I started delivering shots to her head on the ground. She tried sitting up, but I peeled her off and continued punishing her. The referee warned her 3 times to defend herself before he finally called the fight."
Sandenbergh adds, "I was a bit disappointed I didn't manage to finish it in the first round. Nevermind. There is always next time. Really I am still so new to all this. I have so much room to improve and grow as a martial artist. This was only my first mma fight. I had only had one K1 fight before this".
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| Sandenbergh just before her victory at CFL 13 |
When asked what her worst injury has been thus far, Sandenbergh responded saying she has not yet had any injuries from fighting, however, she has broken her left arm, right wrist, coccyx, 4 ribs, 1 finger, 4 toes, both feet, collar bone and shoulder blade in horse riding related accidents.
"I've found fighting to be safer" Sandenbergh jokes.
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| Sandenbergh riding Ulrik in a dressage competition in 2005 |
Random fact: "I was a total carnivore for 30 years of my life, never ate any fruit or vegetables. Then Mec made some compelling arguments about the health benefits of going vegan. I tried it & I have never looked back. From a nutritional & ethical point of view. I feel stronger, faster & more vital & my physical performance has improved hugely"
When asked if she would like to take her fighting career to a professional level, Sandenbergh responded saying yes, definitely, "For now I am working as hard as I can to be the best fighter and all round athlete that I can be. We will see what opportunities the future offers".
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| Sandenbergh in training |
"Getting in the ring was easily the steepest learning curve I had ever experienced. It showed me how much I really want this. How much I really want to test myself & constantly be better!
I have learned that I am capable, both physically & mentally & that I can be in control of both my body & mind.
More than anything fighting has taught me about balance. How to reconcile all parts of myself. That what I do is not who I am. Just because we fight it doesn't mean we are aggressive. Just because we have compassion it does not mean we are weak", says Sandenbergh.
Role Model: "If I had to pick a fighter I look up to I guess I would have to say Holly Holm. Not because of her style of fighting (which I think is total class.), but because of her approach to mma. I wouldn't try to emulate her style of fighting, but her attitude to it certainly"
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| Holly Holm, Sandenbergh's role model |
Sandenbergh talks us through a fight night: "The process of preparing mentally for a fight starts long before fight night, but on the night I guess mostly I keep busy until quite near my fight. It allows me to think about my fight in the back of my mind without obsessing over it. My warm up is slow and I start by just getting the body moving. We have several drills and movements that we use to accomplish that. Closer to fight time I withdraw myself from what is happening around me as much as I can and start focusing inward. I have several mantras that I use to get myself into the right state of mind for my fight. Then I do a more intensive warm up on the mitts before we start."
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| Sandenbergh's victory at CFL 13 |
Sandenbergh concludes with "Fighting is one of the most natural things we can do. It is more real than anything else I have ever experienced & sharing that experience with people whether in training or competition bonds you. Being a fighter means that you not only have a sport. You have a family, Combat sports seem a bit intimidating for some, but it is far from it. All you need to do is find a gym where you feel comfortable. Not all gyms are the same. Not all coaches are the same. Find a culture that suits you & you'll grow & develop as a martial artist and a person. I Love the culture we have created at Mec's Martial Arts & Fitness. Everyone looks out for everyone else, we learn from each other & the support is awesome. It may not be like a normal family, but I think it is what families should be".
BoxingBarbieZA would like to thank Lyndall Sandenbergh for taking time out of her schedule to catch up with us, wishing you everything of the best for her upcoming fights :)
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