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