CURRENT RANK: First level instructor in BJC Muay Thai, Green Belt in Zen Do Kai and a White belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
WHICH STYLES DO YOU DO? Muay Thai, Zen Do Kai and BJJ.
ACHIEVEMENTS: (FIGHTS/COMPETITIONS ETC) I have entered the ring twice, once in a padded WKA fight and once in Thailand winning both fights, as well as achieving my First level instructor are my major achievements. The dedication to training and the fitness required for the above was difficult, but to get this achievements was worth the sacrifice.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE FROM THESE STYLES/MARTIAL ARTS? As I continue to train I hope to become a more rounded martial artists and to utilise the discipline to assist me in my personal and professional life.
INTERESTS? Muay Thai, UFC, volleyball, Crossfit.
ROLE MODELS, WHO ARE YOUR INSPIRATIONS? I have been fortunate enough to train and learn from some amazing martial artists at seminars run by Soke Richard Norton, Kyoshi Billy Manne, Saenchai, Dan Inosanto, Aleksandar Kostic as well as train with other like-minded individuals who inspire me every day to keep training hard.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN TRAINING FOR? IN EACH STYLE? I commenced my journey in martial arts back in 2006 where I commenced training under Renshi Kyl, after a close friend was injured in an assault. This showed me that I was unprepared if the incident had of happened to me. During my training I was able to achieve my green belt in Zen Do Kai and my blue singelt in BJC Muay Thai as well as commence Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Due to work commitments in central QLD and working overseas, I stopped training for from 2008 through to start of 2012, when I recommenced training concentrating predominately on Muay Thai with the aim of achieving my black singlet which I did at the end of 2013.
WHAT DO YOU GAIN FROM TRAINING WITH CHIKARA MARTIAL ARTS? For me training at Chikara represents an ability to work on myself, not just in a physical sense but also in the way I approach life and the challenges life brings, in other words Chikara has helped me mature both as a martial artist and personally as well. I think one of the most important skills Chikara has taught me and many others, is the ability to be more aware of your surroundings and therefore recognise danger earlier than I previously had been able to.
HOW DID YOU GET INTO TRAINING MARTIAL ARTS? As noted above it was due to a friend being assaulted and the realisation that I did not know how to recognise danger, or defend myself from it.
BEST ADVICE GIVEN TO YOU? AND BY WHOM? I have received fantastic advice from many people in my journeys, however the one that I think always rings true to me is that to achieve a goal you need to be willing to put in the work, and the reason for that is it applies to all aspects of our lives.
ANY ADVICE TO NEW STUDENTS OR ANYONE INTERESTED IN JOINING? Martial arts is a journey, and the journey will help define you and inspire you, it’s a journey that all great martial artists began the same way, by stepping through the door.
