Hi. It’s nice to catch up with you once again and I hope you’ve been keeping well just like myself. I thought I would take the time to sit down and write this blog of mine before I head out for the evening. Training of late has always been regular and fairly intensive although this week I’m training a little lighter than usual as I am heading to Spain on Sunday to see my mum which is always a good thing.

I wanted to spend some time throughout the weekend to do some writing to remember my truly amazing dad and everything he did not just for me but for others too, however as always with these things I have moments when despite wanting to say so much I find that the paper stays blank and at points, I really don’t think I can say it better.

Dad like myself was a community activist but in South Africa challenging the apartheid system and white supremacy and it’s because of his legacy and my family’s upright and upstanding attitude towards challenging racism and injustice wherever it raises its head that I’m the man I am today. In fact both my mum and dad gave me a strong moral compass and a good set of principles at an early age.

I think you learn some of these things through martial arts training but with myself, it’s really helped me walk taller than I did before and reinforced that part of me that has always believed in helping others. If you’ve followed me on Twitter or know of the work I do to help my community you’ll know that the police have tried and failed to make my life hell simply for doing the right thing. Sometimes I wonder what my dad would say if he was here right now but really I know just like the rest of my family and my Mum, he would say to keep fighting it will inevitably come right in the end. Like me, he had to challenge the police and he won.

If there was one thing I know he would say to me right now it would be to remember to get on with my life and to look after myself. I’m sure he would also be very pleased to know that after seventeen years I’m still training in Muay Thai and will be for a long time. As I always say I’ll be training when I’m sixty.

I’ve wondered recently if I would ever consider doing anything remotely competitive with the sport again and despite being a forty-something I’m pretty confident I could hold my own. Maybe Mike Tyson has rubbed off on me (Ha ) but I’m also happy to accept that I’ve achieved a lot and have spent a good few years doing something I never thought I would. Right now I’m training to improve and that’s why it’s a little frustrating to spend this week and next with more time out of the gym than I’d like. Ok, there is the sun and beaches but maybe Muay Thai is still importanter.

My dad was a sportsman playing cricket in South Africa and again in the UK. He played for Cambridge and I remember him taking me to play cricket in my youth. I had potential. Left-handed bowler and I was a right-handed batsman. I lost interest after a time like kids often do with hobbies and I think he was a little disappointed. He was pleased to know I started Muay Thai in 2007 but like my mum was generally surprised when I started fighting in my early thirties. Everyone thought I was younger and a twenty-something. Although I lost my first fight everyone said I won.

Moments like that showed me who I really am when it counts the most. Walking up to the ring for the first time and climbing the steps and over the ropes was my Rocky moment. After my fight my friend grinned at me. “it’s good innit?” she said. “Yeah.” I beamed. At that point actually getting in the ring had been enough for me. Although I’ve only had 19 fights I’ve enjoyed the journey and most importantly the company. Never say never. Thanks, Mike.

I remember winning my amateur WRSA Muay Thai area title and how proud my parents were. “Never ever give up!” I yelled down the microphone after the ref put the belt on and everyone told me I was a different fighter that day. My dad was in this incredibly proud and utterly bemused place, his little boy was a Thai boxing champion. Mum has a photo of me in our house in Spain with my old trainer and one of the pro fighters for my old gym at the time standing next to me. My parents even had it framed. Now that’s something to be proud of.

I’m looking forward to getting a bit of Muay Thai in my life tomorrow afternoon before heading out to Spain on Sunday and I’m making sure I get a good couple of runs in too. Training brings me a lot of joy. it rebuilds and gives me strength when I feel low and most importantly it shows me I can walk taller than I ever thought I would. Although the rest of Friday night is ahead I’m pleased I’ve taken the time to catch up and will no doubt write some more before the end of the week. As always I have a lot to say and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Have a good weekend, train hard and just like the last time. I’ll see you on that road.