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Post date: 20-Oct-2013 11:41:24
First off can you give us a short bio? Fight record, style, team etc
Paul Craig, 25 from Airdrie, fight out of the Scottish Hit Squad coached by Brian Gallagher. I don't have a style just go with the flow on the night. I Work in schools teaching Monday-Friday 9-3 and in the gym Monday-Sunday.
As a LHW Pro in Scotland like fellow Pro Rab Truesdale, do you see your self having to travel down south to get the fights ?
When I first started fighting I had to travel far and wide because no Scottish promotion company would help by bringing in LHW, but thanks to FFC (James, Barry and Alex) who strive to help up coming talent in the Scottish MMA scene, I've had a lot more fights in Scotland.
Recently I came across a few pics of your clubs hoodie -Scottish hit Squad – being sported by a young Ugandan lad, how did that come about? would you recommend this experience ?
I work for an educational charity who work across the country helping high school students to achieve their full potential. Last year I ran a program (SkillForce princess award) which saw students give back to the community with a local project. The work the students did was of a great standard and this was acknowledged by the office of HRH Prince William, who invited the students to receive an award presented by himself at St James' palace. With this came the prestigious opportunity to work overseas with one of Prince William's other charities ( The Henry Van Strbeenzee Moiral fund) in Uganda. So after all the planning myself and 7 students set off for two weeks to work in Ugandan schools building water tanks, kitchens and we also painted a memorial on a nursery. The last four days saw us undertake some activities from white water rafting, river surfing, quad biking and a 30km bike ride through some rural villages. This was an experience of a life time and has changed our outlook on life. Simple things such as running water, toilets seats and a comfortable bed, small things which we take for granted every day. The highlight of my trip was giving away my fight teams hoodie and to see such a grateful smile on the students face (not in this particular picture, as this was their fight pose!).
Did you get a chance to go rafting on the NILE? If so how did you cope with the adrenaline dumps and was it comparable to stepping into the cage ?
I spent my time rafting trying to flip the raft in the rapids (with success) for that extra dunk of adrenalin! (if you get the chance to white water raft, ask to do the flying Squirrel!) This particular adrenalin I don't get when entering the cage, I tend to stay relaxed and don't worry as I don't view a fight as any different from a good hard spar at the Scottish Hit Squad.
Do you think that Martial arts , MMA and BJJ competition is a good vehicle to inspire and motivate young folks to better them selves?
Anyone who ever goes to any gym, from weight lifting to martial arts strives for success whether it be having the biggest muscles, beating someone in a competition or a grading in a martial art. The best thing about MMA & BJJ is in any given day anyone can be beaten. I've found in my time as an MMA fighter it's the smart guys who do the best, they focus more on how to improve rather than how to beat an opponent.
Advice for someone reading this from there front room, either out of shape or just at the moment a fan of MMA on the telly, how do they take the first step ? What to expect for example coming along to a beginners session at Scottish hit Squad? Do they need any equipment etc?
The newly refurbished Scottish Hit Squad, who have some of the best coaches from former WBA boxer Lawrence Murphy, BJJ black belt Marcos Nardini, proven MMA coach Brian Gallagher, Andy Miller Scottish Thai champion, James Gallagher BJJ beginners coach, Steven Houston, who has helped produce British European and world champion Thai fighters, to my wrestling coaches, the McDonald brothers (not the singing ones!) Beginner classes at the hit squad are on a Thursday night from 6.30-8.30 and are run by myself. If you can't make a Thursday, they run classes every night, so come and have a look. The guys will make you feel like part of the family from the onset. The kit you would need are; gloves, shin guards and a gum shield. Even if you don't have them the gym have spare kit and they don't smell to bad!
Do you currently have any fights lined up, have you enjoyed making the transition to PRO?
The guys at FFC are trying to get me matched for November and apart for that I'm fighting in Northern Ireland in March at the Odyssey arena, against a guy very similar to myself with an unbeaten pro record.
Any final words – Sponsors , twitter facebook etc.
I Would like to thank my team; Brian and James Gallagher, the Scottish Hit Squad family, Marcos Nardini, Gracie Barra Ayrshire, Lawrence Murphy, my sponsors JCH plant hire and Almet doors, FFC, and my beautiful fiancé Cheryl who puts up with weight cuts, moaning and spending all our wedding savings on MMA crap!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scottish-Hit-Squad/125112084230149
Paul Craig # Scotlands MMA Broadcast # Scottish MMA # Scottish hit Squad# The MMA Show
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