| I imagine my story is very similar to many other | | | | bit of sparring with him one lunchtime. Sure I'd |
| people who have found themselves involved in the | | | | messed about on the punch bag in the gym and |
| world of boxing and martial arts. I started as a lot of | | | | even used some focus pads a couple of times with a |
| young men do, doing a normal 9-5 office job, eating | | | | friend but to actually try and hit another human being |
| rubbish and drinking far too much lager! This of | | | | was a completely new concept to me. |
| course did very little for my body or my anything | | | | We arrived at the gym with a huge bag of boxing |
| else for that matter so decided it was time to join a | | | | equipment, out of which he pulled two pairs of 12oz |
| gym. | | | | gloves and 2 headgears. At this point I was really |
| A couple of friends of mine were really into | | | | questioning what I'd gotten myself into but pride |
| bodybuilding, so much so that one had what could | | | | being what it is I wasn't about to back out. I asked |
| only be described as a shrine to Arnie in his bedroom. | | | | for the thickest most protective headgear he had |
| I was quite impressed by the progress they had | | | | and we got on with it! My first reaction was of |
| made so thought I'd join them a couple of times a | | | | course to swing like a madman, it was a combination |
| week. Under their supervision I started to reverse | | | | of every brawl I'd had since my teens rolled into one. |
| the effects of my unbelievable unhealthy lifestyle. | | | | Out of what seemed like a thousand punches I |
| Ten years later I was still doing the same training, | | | | caught him with one (but it was a good one!). |
| maintaining a decent physique, spending a small | | | | He then spent the next hour dancing around me, |
| fortune on supplements but found myself increasingly | | | | jabbing and throwing combos at me whilst I tried to |
| disillusioned at why exactly I was still putting so much | | | | figure out which punch was coming next. I learnt |
| time and effort into weight lifting. I had no interest in | | | | more in that hour than I had in ten years lifting |
| steroids and as such was never likely to compete. | | | | weights. I had no goals lifting weights, I was just |
| By chance and at about the same time I started | | | | plodding along unable to improve myself but fighting |
| working for a new company. There were a couple of | | | | was a different ball game completely. Bizarrely I |
| guys working for this company; one was a traditional | | | | enjoyed the experience, I'd been hit a lot and my |
| power lifter. Nice guy, very strong and nicknamed Mr | | | | jaw ached for days but I couldn't wait to go again. |
| Incredible. The other a smaller guy, lawyer of all | | | | Fighters understand this; too many people look at |
| things was really into "BJJ" and | | | | fighters with no real understanding of the skill and |
| "MMA". Two phrases that | | | | commitment it takes to actually be good at any |
| meant very little to me at the time. We trained a | | | | combat sport. |
| few times and eventually he talked me into doing a | | | | I was hooked. |