Hello again Fight Friends!

HAPPY SEPTEMBER LONG WEEKEND!

I am up in Sherwood Park for a wedding, but brought my computer with me to get this AWESOME podcast out and maybe help out making the long weekend commute a little shorter for my friends travelling this weekend.

SPEAKING OF AWESOME PODCASTS! - in this episode I get to sit and chat with one of the real old skool legends of Canadian Muay Thai, Mr. Gerald Ching of MAFA in Mississauga! I won't lie to ya, I have known of Gerald for a long time, we have met several times - But I always watched him as a coach/cornerman at events and noticed he's always the same! very stoic/unchanged in demeanor as well as behaviour, win or loss - and because of this, I wasn't sure really how to read him. But it wasn't long into this podcast that I was reminded why I like to speak with the old school on the pod.

We have a chat about when Gerald first laid eyes on Muay Thai and his immediate obsession in the 80's. Their wasn't Muay Thai happening much in the Great White North at the time, so Gerald took it upon himself to go and seek the information, training and knowledge to being back to his students and for himself, before being introduced to Ajahn Suchart. We also get into his and Eric Rocha's unique relationship (Eric was the last episode!) from student to fighter/coach to running a well oiled machine of a fight team! AND - I get called out for letting my inner bitch come out a bit being a trainer/padman! Gerald has a few years on me and is still in GREAT shape and very active in the trainer lifestyle, and he didn't let me use my excuses haha, in all honesty - I loved it!

I am always a student in Martial Arts, my cup is always 1/2 empty and I listen to those who came before me. So speaking to one of the Master Splinters of Canadian Muay Thai was a real treat and I'm grateful. These are the kinds of podcasts where I actually take something away from it and try to apply it to my own life - I suppose you might call that inspiration!

My favorite podcasts are often the ones where we talk beyond the "punch and kick" and talk about the life that surrounds the punch and kick - and this is one of those pods!

thank you for the great chat sir! I am genuinely grateful. SHOUT OUT TO YOU GERALD!

Hello again fight fam!

once again, we are Zooming out to Eastern Canada to chat with one of the best trainers AND FORMER FIGHTER - in Canadian Muay Thai - Mr. Eric Rocha!

Although I never met Eric before.... 2017? 18? 16?.. anyway, I met Eric down in Mexico, he and one of my fighters were fighting on the same event. I was very familiar with Eric by this point, but met him in Mexico for the 1st time and i've been following and in contact ever since! Eric is also one of the most recognizable faces in Canadian Muay Thai from him fighting around the world and on some of the biggest stages, to seeing him at ALL the events personally or pictures of him at events cornering his team, to his awesome and clever Muay Thai videos for the socials - This man is everywhere! haha

Today we chat about his change of rolls from champion fighter to champion trainer, the "Clark Kent" routine he had to pull off the keep work life separate from fight life, his travels around the world with Muay Thai, a couple awesome wins and a few not so awesome losses. And in particular, one fight we chatted about in person years ago at my gym that was a turning point in his fight career and turned me into a close follower of his.

I like Eric! I am a fan of him as a hard AF fighter, a phenomenal trainer with a real love for Muay Thai and a down to earth guy who I genuinely look forward to seeing at events! this podcast was WAY overdue in my opinion, but as always - we MAKE IT HAPPEN!!

Great chat with a great cat! SHOUT OUT TO YOU ERIC!

Hello Fighty Friends!

Summer is winding down which means FIGHT SEASON IS BACK 'ROUND THESE PARTS! In the meantime - Coming off of a MASSIVE win on the RWS and just as equally impressive previous 3 months of fighting - We have Morgane "TINY TANK" Pouliot on the podcast!

I have had the pleasure of commentating several of Morgane's fights from title fights, the Road to One tournament on the Muay Thai World Cup to Morgane winning the Capital Punishment title in Ottawa. AS WELL, we got to commentate together once and now a podcast! the last few months of Morgane's return to the ring she's won a big fight on the RWS in Thailand, become the WBC world tournament gold medalist in Italy and as mentioned, the Capital Punishment champion in Ottawa. WHAT A RUN!

Of course we discuss and breakdown her most recent fight against a HIGHLY ranked opponent as well as her recent big wins around the globe, her return to the ring after a much needed break which was almost permanent, how Morgane found Muay Thai and talking about what is next after deciding to stay in Thailand after booking another fight!

Morgane is one of my favorite fighters in Canada - I am a big believer in fundamentals to start, you mix it with grit, great stance and balance, hungry to fight and dangerous boxing - you have Morgane! with all that, it makes it real easy to be a fan!

Great chat with with a great person and real champion! I am grateful for the opportunity to chat coming fresh off a big W - SHOUT OUT TO YOU MORGANE!

Hello again fight friends!

Happy August!

Today I had a chance to sit and gossip with my friend, co worker, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY - the centre ring voice of the Muay Thai World Cup AND BEYOND! Mr. Jonathan Weal! I have been working with Jon now for a few years with the MTWC, but we have also travelled to Ontario a few times for commentating/announcing duties, so you definitely get to know a fella after a few years!

In this podcast, we reminisce about some of our favorite fight nights together, how Jon started and became "The_Ring _announcer" as well as his family history in boxing to start his love of combat sports. Beyond that, Jon and I discuss what fighters need to do outside of the ring and off the mats to catch eyes and be seen - we would all like to say "I just fight" - but in todays world, that's not going to cut it on your way up!

good chat, with swell chap, WHO JUST GAVE THE BEST INTRO EVER! haha. SHOUT OUT TO YOU JON! - see you ringside in October!

Hello Fight Fans!

I am hoping everyone is having a TOP NOTCH summer! (see what I did there!) speaking of top Notch, today I got to have a conversation with Dale Macknowed - the head instructor and owner of Top Notch Muay Thai in Kelowna, BC. Dale has had Top Notch Muay Thai open since 2021 and has been ALL GAS/NO BREAKS with building his community, getting involved in the fight scene and pumping out fighters!

being a kids from the 80s/90s myself - we talk about the common story from that era of watching Van Damme movies, playing Street Fighter and taking martial arts classes here and there. But for Dale - Ong Bak changing EVERYTHING and his Muay Thai obsession was born! We discuss his early training and a few fights Dale has had, the development of his gym and team, but than we get into a POPULAR topic as of late - life after fighting! and when the "dream" gets taking from you, which is what happened to Dale. Dale tells me the events that stopped his world championship dreams with lasting effects STILL! and more importantly - how he climbed out that dark time following to find a new purpose with Muay Thai and in life. THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT TOPIC! - it ends for all fighters, but when it's really over how do you let it go?!

All I can say for now, is that "you're going to be okay"

Great chat with a great guy who's got ALL the energy and passion for what he loves - Family, community and Muay Thai!

SHOUT OUT TO YOU DALE!

Hello again Fight Friends!

On the podcast today - I got a chance to visit Ruff House in Calgary and sit down with one of the rising starts in Canadian Muay Thai Shae Wedderburn, along with former fighter, champion and coach to go along with the title "Dad" - Markhaile Wedderburn!

This was my first time getting to chat with a father/daughter fighter dynamic so I was very curious to know how they navigate that situation. It it clear on this podcast that they have a VERY close relationship to the point they can look at each other and know what each other were thinking. we hear this from fighter and coach just before fight time often, but I gotta believe the Father/Daughter bond during that moment must be INTENSE!

Both Markhaile and Shae tell their story about how they found Muay Thai, Shae lets us in on when the turning point in her career happened and things needed to get serious as a professional. Of course we break down her most recent fights and the buzz surrounding them - Shae is hopeful for the possibility of a rematch for the WBC Canadian title in the not too distant future. AS WELL AS A WMO WORLD TITLE FIGHT THIS WEEKEND! and obviously the top 3 question.

I really enjoyed being in the background a little bit on this one and listen to what's obviously a very strong and unique relationship between Father and Daughter. You can clearly see the strength they carry comes from real belief they have in each other, in both rolls as fighter and family. RESPECT!

SHOUT OUT TO YOU MARKHAILE AND SHAE!!

Hello again Fighty Friends! HAPPY SUMMER!

Today I got to sit and chat with not only one of the best fighters from Canada, but someone I have a LOOOONG (and good!) history with - SANDRA BASTIAN!

right out of the gate we talk about retiring from the fight life and having to find life after fighting (youngins - we keep bringing this topic up on many podcasts - PAY ATTENTION!) which lead to Sandra leaving Alberta for BC and eventually opening up a gym - HEART & SOUL MUAY THAI - and into promoting events - INFANITE MUAY THAI SERIES - on Vancouver Island.

OF COURSE I get her to tells us all the titles and championships Sandra has won including best female fighter at IFMA (what?!?!), winning world titles, European titles and North American titles to name a few. It was awesome breaking down the timeline from first class visit to what's happening in Sandra's Muay Thai life now - it's really cool and a privilege to watch the journey come full circle for Sandra!

I get to ask Sandra some fan questions and questions I have always been curious about. ALSO, Sandra and myself started our Muay Thai journey at a similar time in the same gym - although different stages in life - so we talk about how and where we started, WHICH GOT ME A LITTLE EMOTIONAL! it just all hit me at once that we were different people than which was a lifetime ago, but yet feels like yesterday, mixed with everything we have done with Muay Thai since - PROUDLY! My martial arts history is important to me and the lessons I learned (and received lol) really have molded me and I hold those lessons close.

Sandra, didn't chase titles, fame, recognition or accolades. She did it because it fun and she enjoyed it, SIMPLE! and to be honest I found it a little refreshing.

What a great chat with a great fighter from the Great White North! it was special to go down memory lane and catch up what we have been doing after so many years. SHOUT OUT TO YOU SANDRA!

Hello again Fight Friends!

Talking to Jason Fenton a few podcasts ago, we dove a little into the IFMA tournament and one of the topics was choosing who fights for team Canada, well - YOU WIN THE CMTO IF YOU WANT ON THE TEAM! and it's Darkside Darryl steering the ship!

We discuss how Darryl even decided to take on and tackle such a task! what goes into running a tournament as well as the growth of the "TBA's of the North" in such a short amount of time. ALSO, we get into some of the politics that surround the Ontario circuit and I have to admit, I really did enjoy Darryl's honest, open and forward opinion on the subjects discussed. Politics is always a sticky subject - but how do we improve as a country collectively, if we won't ask and talk about the sticky subjects?

Great chat with a great guy doing great things for Canadian Muay Thai, I personally want to thank Darryl for the work he's doing to help and push and grow Canadian Muay Thai - SHOUT OUT TO YOU DARRYL!

- see you in August at the CMTO - REGISTER NOW BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!!!

Hello again Fighty Friends!

We keep heading out to Eastern Canada as of late (love it!) and today is no different! today I got to talk to one of Canada's best fighters who's been at the top of his divisions - AS IN MORE THAN ONE! for a LONG time - Mr. Rich "The Ninja" Pham!

I have known about Rich for over a decade, got to commentate his fights both out East and in the West of the country, and after our recent interview for the Muay Thai World Cup - it was obvious we needed to have a chat, I had so many questions about his style, his background and of course, the fights and finishes I got to see live from this champion!

Rich talks about his background in kung-fu and how he tries on purpose to mix those styles for full contact. We discuss his concussion pre cov!d and not just the obstacles around that, but how it affected him from wanting a strong come back in the ring to having some hard as hell fights!

Outside of ring, Rich has a heavy emphasis on healing his body and the bodies of others with a background in kinesiology - which we get into of course! I also ask Rich a bunch of fan questions and questions I personally have and as always, I ask Rich his top 3 favourite fighters of all time.

I had a great chat with great and humble warrior who's been on the top of the Canadian scene for a minute! Rich's traditional martial arts background, humbleness, and absolute warrior mentality in the ring is why I am fan of the NINJA!

SHOUT OUT TO YOU RICH!

PS - Rich has one of the best finish's in the ring I have seen with my bare eyes!!

Hello once again Fight Fans!

today I got a chance to sit down with a man who's become one of the most respected voices in global Muay Thai - Joe Comerford! I started following Joe after he started putting out high quality videos about the Muay Thai scene in Thailand, traditions and cultures, fighter highlights, etc and also adding in a commentary job in the top promotions in Bangkok! Joe still pumps out awesome content like top fighters from different countries, travel tips if you're planning to train in Thailand and some of his behind the scenes work commentating on such promotions like the RWS!

Online content aside - Joe does tell his story about how he got into Muay Thai, but more importantly - his exit from Muay Thai as a fighter which I think is an important topic! Joe talks about traveling to Thailand to try to reignite that fire for fighting, and quickly coming to terms that the fighter lifestyle is no longer something he wants. We discuss his transition to a life after fighting living in Bangkok, how creating Muay Thai content started for him and his busy commentating schedule - all on his is way to becoming one of the best and most popular Muay Thai content creators you'll find online! - SO FOLLOW HIM! YOU'LL LOVE HIS STUFF!

SHOUT OUT TO YOU JOE!