From October 20–24, The Clash: European Combat Sports Festival 2026 will take place at Unibet Arena in Tallinn, and on October 24, the Main Event of The Clash 5 will be held. The five-day combat sports festival will bring athletes from more than 12 countries to Estonia, but the event’s roots are firmly in Pärnu—it is here that The Clash has already been held four times.
Ahead of the fall festival, The Clash organizers are touring sports clubs across Estonia whose athletes will compete in October. The tour’s first stop was at the Invicta sports club in Pärnu, which has been associated with The Clash from the very beginning.
Invicta head coach Henri Hiiemäe said that although summer means vacation for many, the club hasn’t slowed down on training yet. “We do take breaks, but it’s still too early for that. First, we’re holding a big MMA summer camp in Tartu, but we plan to take a break ourselves in July. Otherwise, we simply won’t have the energy to keep going at the same pace in the fall,” said Hiiemäe.
A community has formed around Invicta
According to Hiiemäe, a community has grown up around Invicta over the years. Both competitive athletes and recreational fighters train at the club. “We’ve developed our own vibe and our own community. Not everyone stays here permanently—people come and go—but those who bring the same energy stick around.”
She says that combat sports can give young people discipline, a sense of belonging, and an environment where they can test themselves. Hiiemäe believes the club has influenced the lives of many people. “We’ve definitely changed a great many lives. You could say that, in a sense, we’ve certainly saved someone’s life,” he said.
The Nine Roles of a Combat Sports Coach
Hiiemäe is a former professional MMA fighter and runs the Invicta sports club in Pärnu. He says that his personal experience as an athlete helps him, as a coach, to better understand his students—both their joys and their struggles. “Since I’ve walked this path myself, it’s easier for me as a coach to understand my students and athletes—their joys and their worries. Every difficult thing in life teaches and shapes us,” said Hiiemäe.
“Every challenge in life teaches and shapes us.”
— Henri Hiiemäe, coach
According to him, coaching involves much more than just preparing for competitions. Often, you have to be a mentor, a supporter, and a listener all at once. “The nature of a coach’s job is that you take on very different roles at the same time—sometimes a bus driver, sometimes a mechanic, sometimes a psychologist, sometimes a doctor. We’re not yet at the point where it’s financially possible to focus solely on coaching, but we’re moving in that direction. Right now, it’s like having a hundred jobs at once.”
According to Hiiemäe, the idea of coaching was already on his mind during his own fighting career. One of his major goals was to open his own gym in Pärnu. “It was always in the back of my mind that if my own athletic career didn’t work out, I would definitely continue in this field as a coach. One of my biggest dreams was exactly where we are today—our own gym in Pärnu. And we made it happen.”
The event, which began in Pärnu, has grown rapidly
The Clash has been held in Pärnu for four years now, and according to Hiiemäe, its success is due to the organizers’ drive and their ability to grow the event step by step. It is the result of the long-term work and dedication of the young organizers. “They aren’t just the ‘let’s get it done’ type. They’ve been activists since their school days, active in youth councils and continuing their education. That’s definitely the key to their success,” Hiiemäe noted.
Invicta has supported and guided the organizers over the years. According to Hiiemäe, The Clash has made a huge leap forward in a short time. “There’s always room for improvement, but The Clash has made very rapid progress. Having competed in various leagues myself and currently accompanying my athletes to different competitions, I can say that the level is solid. We know which direction to move in,” he said.
- Several Invicta athletes will also step into the ring at the main event of The Clash 5, taking place this fall. Among others, Karoliine Moones, Endrike Käänik, Olavi-Tanel Kask, Markus Tammik, Kenter Metsaots, Sander Kaju, Sten-Eric Laadre, and Karol-Kenneth Lootus will compete.
- Co-funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are, however, solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the EACEA can be held responsible for them.