18, impressionable and the realisation that I won't get drafted to the AFL has hit all equals a bad combination.
I was a good footballer but my problem was I relied on athletic talent and not hard work. The year I played mariners (state under 18 side) I was too busy trying to be cool & partying instead of focusing on my football and being the best I could be. I got best on ground in our first game against the now gold coast suns but as the season went on the more I drank and partied the more my performance dropped off. I was barely getting a kick by the end of the season.
Once my dream of being an AFL Footballer was through, I spiralled out of control focusing my time on drinking and delving into the world of party drugs!
I was lost, with nothing to keep me grounded I started pushing the limits and made partying my new sport!
How Martial Arts saved me I started seeing a girl and her ex boyfriend (who was 6f 5" and 130kg) scared the S#!t out of me one night on the town. I woke up the next morning and came to the realisation I wasn't as tough as I thought I was. I decided I needed to swallow my pride and reach out for help so I contacted a family friend who had an MMA club at the time and started training.
My first session with Heath I spewed, he took a no BS stance towards training. As I did a little bit of Muay Thai with him as a kid he thought I would pick back up right where I left it. He was wrong but I instantly fell in love with martial arts and Now I had a goal- to have a MMA fight.
For the first time in years I had a clear mind; focused on getting into ring. I didn't drink for 6 months and spent every moment I wasn't working, training or learning as much as I could about Muay Thai, boxing, BJJ and wrestling.
The adrenaline rush of getting in the ring and winning can't be replicated by any drug. I was addicted!
Needless to say it wasn't until I started training under my now coach and business partner Zach Robinson that I truly learnt what hard work and sacrifice was about. I lost my 2nd fight, and Zach in his own way asked 'Do you honestly think you trained hard enough for this fight'? Once I was honest with myself and evaluated that I didn't train hard enough, something in my mind clicked. I went from that cocky kid who thinks he deserves the world to the quiet humble guy that works when everyone else is asleep.
Once my mindset had changed not only did my success in the ring change but in my life as well. I started applying the work ethic I learnt from Muay Thai to my work and eventually started my own business. Instead of waiting for a hand up I decided to go & get it myself!
Muay Thai & fighting tought me to sacrifice - you can't expect to be a champion by skipping training and going to the pub.
It taught me to be humble - no matter how good you think you are there is always something to learn and or some one better than you out there.
Muay Thai tought me that the world doesn't owe you anything - who your dad is or what school you went to doesn't mean S#%t when you are standing in front of an opponent who's trying to knock you out. You can't hide in the ring and It will show if you haven't put in the work.
Muay Thai tought me to be disciplined - not everything happens over night. You can't become a champion in 1 week of training, it takes years of hard work. Being disciplined is getting up at 6am in the middle of winter for your run no matter how warm your bed is.
Conclusion No matter if it's Muay Thai, BJJ, boxing or wing chun; martial arts can give you focus and will-power that you can take into day to day life. Along with burning off frustrations and helping you keep fit, martial arts can save your life like it has mine!
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