Christian Andrés Toro Berríos from Chile managed to pass through a lot of difficulties to make his dream come true – to take part in the HMB World Championship Battle of the Nations. It was in 2015 and Christian with a company of two friends from his HMB club started their BotN journey together. 

“It was personally my first trip by plane and my first departure outside the Continent. There were only 3 fighters from the Batallón Draconia, my HMB club, represented Chile that year. We managed to do it after a great effort to prepare ourselves and get the necessary funds for the trip. We wanted the flag of our country to fly along with the flags of other participating countries and we really needed this experience, to learn and see how high was the mountain we wanted to climb”.

As at that time it was still not possible to participate in Duels without having a Buhurt Team of 5vs5. Chilean fighters were upset but Antonio de Zio, the captain of the Italian national team helped and invited them to fight in his team in the mass category 21 vs 21: 

“It was my second personal experience in buhurt… going from 5vs5 to 21vs21 has been a tremendous thing. My two comrades and I gave everything we had, really everything fighting in the list. We fought together with Team Italia and I was happy to get such opportunity to fight. During all days of the Championship I lived with HMB sport on my mind and after wake up, I just wanted to return to the list”, recalls Christian Andrés Toro Berríos.

The experience that Christian got in Prague changed his life. He made a choice and now he still on his HMB way. 

“I learned a lot about the characteristics of Weapons and Armor, but at the same time, I learned a lot about what it is and means to be part of this great international movement. The solidarity, support and respect between fighters, something that really made me feel that when I opted with my people for this discipline… I took the best option. We are proud of this first participation, this historical milestone for a country like Chile. We fought and fall with honor. We made a first step to demonstrate that being Chilean and being part of BotN IS POSSIBLE, with effort and commitment…but still it is possible. One of the best experiences of my life, and a beautiful memory in a beautiful city with my brothers in arms from the Batallón Draconia, the HMB Club that brought the flag of our country to the Battle of the Nations 2015!”

HMBIA News appreciate Christian Andrés Toro Berríos for this interesting conversation and his touching stories. We are hope to meet him and his National team on the lists of the BotN lists on 2021. 

HMBIA News