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