|
We take a look at trainers behind some of Australia's greatest fighters.
Ben ‘The Guvner' Edwards
Trained by Jamie Mccuaig
What's your background and how did you get involved in fighting?
I have always been interested in martial arts and grew up watching old Bruce Lee movies. I started in freestyle karate and kickboxing and have now been training for 20 years. Over this time I have been a student, fighter, cornerman, instructor and trainer.
When and why did you decide to start training fighters?
I have always been interested in training fighters, and I've been helping train them for the last eight years; it was a natural progression for me. Then two years ago my best friend and the head trainer at Bulldogs Canberra, John Verran, unexpectedly passed away. I stepped up into the role as head trainer with the support of John's wife, the students and the fighters.
What does it take to become a trainer?
It takes a good sound knowledge of Muay Thai techniques and a good understanding of each individual fighter. Then the ability to adapt that knowledge to each fighter's strengths and weaknesses so to optimally prepare them for the ring.
If you weren't a trainer, what would you be doing?
I would still be involved in martial arts, perhaps having more time to spend on my own training.
How did you come to train one of Australia's best?
When Ben Edwards first started training kickboxing, it was at Bulldogs Canberra. Ever since he walked into the gym I saw his potential to become one of the best if he showed commitment to training. Over the last two years he has been 100 per cent committed and the results are speaking loudly.
What sort of relationship do you have with your champ?
It's a relationship built on respect for each other, commitment to training and a passion for the sport. We are mates, but when we're in the gym preparing for a fight I'm not there to listen to excuses but to push him to achieve his best.
What sort of influence do you feel you have over your fighters?
The one thing that comes to mind is that I am always putting 100 per cent into training, whether it's my training or training a fighter for an upcoming bout, it's always good to see fighters pushing themselves to match whatever I put into them.
How active are you in the process of accepting or declining opponents?
While Nick Boutzos, Ben's manger, looks and does the matches for Ben's fights, we always have a discussion before accepting or declining a fight.
How do you pick your fighter up from losses?
After a loss we have a quick chat about what went wrong and what needs to be improved then once we are back at training we focus on the future and the next fight.
In your opinion, what's the worst thing a fighter can do in or out of the ring?
I think the worst thing a fighter can do is do something that brings disrespect to the sport. A fighter should fight to win but always have a bit of humility.
What makes a champ?
Commitment, heart, determination, courage and self-discipline.
What advice do you have for up and coming fighters?
The best piece of advice for an up and coming fighter is to train hard.
 ‘The Preacher' Bruce MacFie
Trained by Aaron Smith
What's your background and how did you get involved in fighting?
My background was like most Aussie kids. I started out in grade Rugby League, and my first introduction to martial arts was through my father who was very involved in karate. I started training in Muay Thai at Krop Krua in Wollongong under Danny Jones when I was 26-years-old. I loved the training and fighting but what I found most appealing was the respect you have for your trainer and the people that you train with, and with this you learn respect for yourself also.
When and why did you decide to start training fighters?
I started training fighters around four years ago. While holding pads for my personal training clients I wanted to gain knowledge and test myself, and I had the opportunity to hold pads at Ian Jacob's gym for Shaggy and Andrew Keogh, during which time they both fought for World titles and won. I really felt at home helping these guys achieve their own goals (and I think they liked punching and kicking me.)
What does it take to become a trainer?
Firstly you have to have a passion for the sport! This is very easy in Muay Thai, as there is no limit to how much you can learn. Secondly an open mind to look and learn from all different sports. I treat myself as an apprentice and I am constantly on the look out to improve my training, motivating techniques and cornering experience. Also some fight experience, it is very hard to try and convey what you really want from your fighter if you have never been there yourself.
If you weren't a trainer, what would you be doing?
I would probably still be in the Army, which I was doing before I started my personal training business.
How did you come to train one of Australia's best?
I was very lucky, getting phone call from Shannon ‘Shaggy' King asking me if I would be interested in training Bruce ‘Preacher' Macfie. Firstly, I was very honoured that my name was even brought up, and then I thought what an excellent chance to grow as a trainer!
What sort of relationship do you have with your champ?
Preacher and my relationship is like any, sometimes we agree on things and sometimes we don't. We get to spend a lot of time travelling to fights (Interstate state and Internationally) and all the hours in the gym, so you get to know your fighter pretty well. Preacher always has something special up his sleeve for you to experience though.
What makes a champ?
I used to think champions were born, but over the past couple of years I now believe you need to have a mixture of so many things. Talent is sometimes not enough, you have to be willing to take yourself physically and mentally to places that other haven't even thought of going. Champions sometimes aren't measured by belts and trophies, but what they put into trying to achieve their goals. As long as you do this and put everything in that you ask of yourself, you are always a champ!
 ‘John' Wayne Parr
Trained By Dip Yuanjit
What's your background and how did you get involved in fighting?
I'm not different from other young Thai fighters in Thailand, a poor kid in a small village in the country with a dream. I'm from the Khmer region of Surin Province, where a lot of young boys trained in Muay Thai. I was about six or seven-years-old when I started. My uncle was a professional Muay fighter and he always got me and my brothers and cousins sparring. I remember the first time I saw my uncle fight in the ring... I was hooked. I wanted to be as good as those fighters and get in the ring. I had my first fight when I was 12, and won by KO in round four and won 200 baht! I kept fighting throughout high school and University. Over a 15 year fighting career I had 89 professional Muay Thai fights and 35 amateur boxing fights in Thailand.
When and why did you decide to start training fighters?
I began training two of my cousins while I was still fighting. I get a lot of satisfaction out of training. When I was young my grandfather read my palm and he told me I would be a Muay Thai fighter, not the top or the best fighter, but I would be very good at teaching others. Juggling University and a professional fighting career was challenging and in the end I had to make a choice between my studies or my fighting. I chose my studies, but continued to train other fighters in both Muay Thai and boxing, and then when I moved to Australia I really stepped into the trainer role. Seems my grandfather was right!
What does it take to become a trainer?
The key is loving what you do. I love Muay Thai and it will always be a part of my life. I want to pass it on to new generations. It does require a lot of time and commitment and it's not the highest paying job, but when you love your job it doesn't feel like work
If you weren't a trainer, what would you be doing?
I've had a lot of other jobs in my life: fighter, farmer, shop assistant, gym instructor, government officer, massage therapist and graphic design, but I keep coming back to Muay Thai and I think it is what I do best. If I was living in Thailand I would be a teacher at a University, but I would still be training Muay Thai.
How did you come to train one of Australia's best?
I didn't know Wayne Parr was the best in Australia when I first arrived, but I did know he was a great Australian fighter who had beaten a lot of good Thai fighters. We all knew him in Thailand as ‘Jing-jo Maha Gad' which means dangerous kangaroo.
Richard Vell of Boonchu Restaurant on the Gold Coast contacted me and asked if I was interested in assisting Wayne. I worked with Wayne two or three times a week when he had a fight coming up. In the first couple of years I would do the 12km run with him up the mountain. I would have to keep reminding him that I am not a machine - he was hard to keep up with!
What sort of relationship do you have with your champ?
Just like any fighter and trainer, the relationship is different depending on what you are doing. If I am training him then I have to wear my trainer hat and he wears a fighter hat and we work together to get the job done. I think we have a lot of respect and we listen to each other.
 Nathan ‘Carnage' Corbett
Trained By Richard Walsh
What's your background and how did you get involved in fighting?
As a kid I boxed a bit, then BJC Muay Thai came to town and I went along and checked it out and fell in love with it.
When and why did you decide to start training fighters?
Not sure exactly when (about 18 years ago) but I started training fighters in a little storage shed in the back blocks of Warrnambool (country Victoria) because there was no one training me and I needed the company when I trained.
What does it take to become a trainer?
Confidence, self-belief and some good forearm pads.
If you weren't a trainer, what would you be doing?
Probably working my arse off just to pay the bills like most of my mates I went to school with.
How did you come to train one of Australia's best?
When I first moved to Queensland I walked into a gym full of champions. Boonchu was without a doubt the place to be. JWP, Shannon ‘F-16' Forrester, Paul ‘Hurricane' Briggs and a young Nathan' ‘Carnage' Corbett were the first four people I met, and I thought, shit, this is huge!
What sort of relationship do you have with your champ?
A very open one. We discuss lots of things and ideas about fighting and we are both prepared to bend and flex and try different things out.
What sort of influence do you feel you have over your fighters?
When it's fight time I get very serious, and I know the fighters can feel this. When I speak to them it's always positive and never with a raised voice or tension in my face. This influences the fighter to only think positive and therefore perform at there best.
How active are you in the process of accepting or declining opponents?
In Australia most trainers are managers too, therefore I have a fair input into most of my fighters opponents. For Australian Muay Thai to go to the next level I believe we need to move away from this style as trainers often make more emotional decisions in regards to who they are fighting, and not business decisions.
How do you pick your fighter up from losses?
As I sit here to write my answers I realise how blessed I've been over my career as a trainer. I have always had it in my head that if you have three losses in a row something major needs to happen, but thankfully I can't remember ever getting to that stage.
In your opinion, what's the worst thing a fighter can do in or out of the ring?
Lose the plot.
What makes a champ?
Hard work.
What advice do you have for up and coming fighters?
Work hard.
 Caley Reece (Lewis)
Trained By Darren Reece
What's your background and how did you get involved in fighting?
I have been involved in competitive sport as a swimmer from eight-years-old through until I was 17, as well as playing football, cricket and doing triathlons. I have been involved in martial arts since I was 19, when I started in Zen Do Kai and Muay Thai under Sean Allen. I got involved purely for self-defence and fitness, and eventually my competitive streak came out and I wanted to test myself in the ring with what I had learned. I ended up having 73 fights.
When and why did you decide to start training fighters?
I started my gym and training fighters in 2003 before I finished my fight career. For me it was a natural progression and something I knew I was going and meant to do from very early on in my years of training and fighting.
What does it take to become a trainer?
Obviously, you need experience in Muay Thai as I think the more experiences you have then the more knowledge you have to pass on to your fighters. On top of this experience you then need the ability to communicate and pass this knowledge on. Being a good fighter doesn't make you a good trainer necessarily. A good trainer is able to breakdown, analyse and communicate what they need to say.
If you weren't a trainer, what would you be doing?
I quit studying Podiatry at University because I wanted to be a fighter living away in Thailand. So I guess if I hadn't of become a fighter then I would be looking at peoples feet all day!
How did you come to train one of Australia's best?
When Caley was having her second fight under another trainer, I had a fighter on the show the same night. She took notice of my gym and the effort by my team preparing my fighters on the night and she decided it was what she was looking for. Four days later she started training at my gym and I knew from the first time she trained in my gym that she could be a champion, and I told her this.
What sort of relationship do you have with your champ?
In the gym she is my student and my fighter like all of my other fighters, but outside the gym after a five-year relationship, she is now my wife. She treats me with respect as her trainer and so our relationship inside the gym isn't really noticeable.
What sort of influence do you feel you have over your fighters?
I feel my fighters respect my experience and the number of fights I've had. My experience proves right time and time again, as well as the advice I give when they do as I say. With this I feel I have great influence over my fighters. Having said this though you still have fighters who will do everything that you say to a ‘T' and get it right and others who don't listen too well and have to find out for themselves!
How active are you in the process of accepting or declining opponents?
I'm very active. We have never declined a fight, and as a promoter as well we are always looking for challenges and great match ups. As an example, on EPIC 2 in March, we are bringing Alla from Belarus who has had about 65 fights with 59 wins, because she won the gold medal in Caley's weight division. Caley wants the challenge of fighting her so we will bring the best so she knows she is fighting the best.
How do you pick your fighter up from losses?
To be honest Caley has never had a run of losses, but when she's had a loss it motivates her to train harder and fight smarter. She thinks a lot for herself and takes no shortcuts in bettering herself by looking at areas for improvement. Win or lose we always analyse her game and how she can improve.
In your opinion, what's the worst thing a fighter can do in or out of the ring?
The worst thing a fighter can do in or out of the ring is to underestimate their opponent, leading to complacency and a lack of preparation, being over-confident and cocky.
What makes a champ?
Obviously, natural ability helps build a champ, but then so many other factors contribute and even overpower natural ability. A fighter must have heart, commitment, dedication and of course the desire to be a champion within themselves. A champion will take no short cuts and will do things they need to do while no one else is watching or praising them. Caley will always do the extra sprint or km, the extra knees on the bag or that extra set of abs! (Caley trained four times during our six-day honeymoon because she has a fight the following month!) IK |
