Image Credit: Hugo Klaasen Photography

Karl Bergemann has been part of the DeadReck crew since the beginning. We don't really know where he came from but we are pretty damn stoked to have him with us on our journey.

At 31 years of age from the Mother City, Karl is an inspirational role model of determination and positive vibes when it comes to training before a fight.

As far as we can remember Karl is unbeaten in competitive K-1 thus far. A string of results including 3-time SA Heavyweight K-1 Champion, CFL U/91Kg Pro-Am Champ, Get in the Ring U/88KG Champion to list a few. By trade, Karl is a sports journo and being a 3-time graduate with BSocSci, BA (Hons) and MA (whatever those all mean) he can string together some pretty good sentences - don't let the surname confuse you!

We wanted to get to know Karl a bit better and chatted to him for 5 minutes:

1. If you had a chance for a “do-over” in life, what would you do differently?

I don't think there's much, fundamentally speaking, that I would like to change but what I think would be great to do, would be to go back and do everything just a little earlier. Time slips away so quickly, you don't even notice it, and if I could get a head start on all the things I have come to love (and maybe get over the things I don't) a little earlier, that would've made a helluva difference.

2. What is a skill you’d like to learn and why?

I've always wanted to play the guitar. I think as a kid I must have been told chicks dig guys who play guitar and besides that it just frustrates me that I can't do it. I did alright with the girls without being able to pluck a few strings and I've never had the patience to give it, or any other musical instrument, a proper go. But hell, there's a lot of things I never gave any attention to that i would love to be able to do. In another life, maybe.

3. What does a perfect day look like to you?

There are so many versions of perfect for me out there. So maybe I should start with what a perfect day wouldn't look like. It would be a day that held absolutely zero real-world responsibilities. No bills, no desk, no worries. Whether I'm chilling under a palm tree in Thailand (aaah, recent memories), cracking a coconut in Mozambique, sitting on top of a mountain soaking in the views or chilling in my undies watching TV - it's all an odd kind of perfect, isn't it?

4. What was one of your most defining moments in life?

Wow. this is a biggie. I guess there are so many. Life defines you every day if you think of it. So let me pick one huge day that made all the difference. Marrying my wife, Tamaryn, is right up there. I like the idea of that being a defining moment, flopped speech and all, but ... hahaha. 

5. What do you want your tombstone to say?

"Here lies Karl J Bergemann, or does he?" hahaha

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Shot for the chat Karl, we wish you a power year ahead, you have set the bar high, keep on lifting it! #InTheCrewWeTrust

Dead Reckoning is a South African Lifestyle Clothing Brand - www.deadreckoning.co.za