The Champ Is Here

Not everyone that trains kickboxing dreams of becoming a Champion.  For most, getting into shape and learning technique is exactly what they’re looking for. That isn’t the case for Cody Ridout. Cody had dreams of Gold.

North American Kickboxing poster.

 TFC sat down with North American Kickboxing Champion Cody Ridout to look back on his road to success.

A former high-level football player, Cody had quite the athletic base before starting his training. Football had given him strength, agility and confidence; tools that would be very useful for a new kickboxer. Cody believes it was this base that allowed him to step into the ring for the first time after only four months of training. He described the experience for TFC:

“Standing in the ring was the most out of place I've ever felt. Looking across at a guy who had done this before, I just tried to look like I wasn't scared. I Pictured the guys on TV. "What do I do? Should I look tough? Look like I'm relaxed and don't care? Do I bounce around on my toes and get fired up right now?"

Cody had has hand raised in victory after a gruelling 3 rounds. Feeling more tired and sorer than after any football game, Cody knew he’d found his sport.

Cody celebrating a knockout win.

Cody was quick to point out that in fighting, you usually learn more from a loss than a win. Losing is not an enjoyable experience, both physically and mentally. However, Cody used a big knockout loss to help his body find another gear and reach a new level of success.

“Before my biggest fight I felt like I had to win. I lost badly 5 weeks before at a national tournament so I felt like I couldn't lose twice, I had to win this one, this was for the North American Title against a guy I've seen fight before. He was big and strong but I knew he lifted a lot of weights so I thought I could have a speed and skill advantage. That was my biggest test of not worrying about what my opponent looks like. I had to think about me and what I had to do, I learned a lot that day. After winning it was a huge feeling of relief. Seeing my opponent quit and walk back to his corner in the second round as the referee waved his arms in the air to call the end of the fight didn't seem real. Having my hand raised in Toronto as the North American champion is my biggest accomplishment in any sport I've played.”

Cody Ridout wins the North American Kickboxing Championship

Becoming The Bat

Inside the Dojo Syed trained at in Okinawa.

The Caped Crusader

Syed trains using his Tonfa.

Syed Hussain wanted to be a Super-Hero.  

Like many children, a young Syed was obsessed with the Batman.

He wasn’t drawn to the flashy lifestyle of Bruce Wayne, or the gadgets of the Caped Crusader; Syed was fascinated by Batman’s dedication to Martial Arts. A fascination that continued to grow until Syed left his hometown for University.

Starting The Journey

At age 18, Syed was finally able to fulfill the lifelong dream of beginning his own Martial Arts training.  He joined a dojo in St. Catharines and began his journey as a white belt.

Syed focused on a style called Meibukan Karate, which means "house of the pure minded warrior." 

His Martial Arts training instilled a confidence Syed had never experienced before, both physically and mentally. This confidence helped Syed reach new levels of success at University, where he graduated from Brock university. His newfound confidence was also seen in his training as Syed continued to improve at a dramatic pace. Then, at age 22, Syed embarked on a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Syed at a temple in Okinawa.

Okinawa

While holding his Brown Belt and preparing to test for his Black Belt, Syed took his training to the next level by heading to Okinawa, Japan, the birthplace of Karate. While training with Masters in the art of Martial Arts, Syed was able to learn new techniques and increase his mental fortitude, two crucial elements needed to attain his Black Belt.

Syed Hussain may not have Batman’s gadgets, but they both look good in Black.

Bowing In

Rachel's Dojo - Black Lotus Kickboxing

The Beginning

Slip. Counter.

Rachel Hodges works on the bag.

For kickboxer Rachel Hodges, these terms meant something completely different before she walked into a dojo.  Then a 19-year-old college student and waitress, Rachel spent the majority of her time serving drinks or studying, very far from the world of kickboxing.  Now a 21-year-old with in-ring experience, Rachel joined The Fighter’s Corner to look back at her experience as a kickboxer.

Bowing In

Rachel began dating a kickboxing student and after watching a few classes, decided to give it a shot. Like many, part of the draw was to get in better shape before beach season. It doesn’t take many viewings to realize that training gets you in very good physical condition. However, Rachel said it was the chance to challenge herself that really pushed her into bowing in.

According to Rachel, that’s what training is, in many ways. Challenging oneself to do something you never thought you could. Do that pull-up, hit that head-kick, run another lap when you thought you would fall over 2 laps ago. These challenges brought Rachel onto the floor, and overcoming them kept her there.

Competition

After a year of steady training, Rachel signed up for her first official competition. It was a modified competition, designed to help new fighters get in ring experience without getting injured. The new fighters were paired with more experienced competitors who could control their strikes, while still pushing the tempo.

Rachel knew this was the perfect opportunity to overcome a new challenge, competing in the ring. Feeling terrified, nervous, sweaty and excited, Rachel bowed to her opponent and began her fight.

“Slip! Counter!”

Rachel heard her cornerman shouting instructions and reacted instinctively. These words, foreign just one year ago, now guided Rachel around her opponents strikes as she landed her own. 3 rounds later, Rachel stood in the ring with her hand raised, overcoming one goal while already creating another.

According to Rachel, that's what training is.

Making Them Tap

Our next story takes TFC into the world of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, or BJJ as it is commonly known.  BJJ is an incredibly intricate style that utilizes technique to finish an opponent.  These techniques, referred to as “submissions” can either incapacitate an opponent or cause so much pain that the opponent taps out to end the bout. BJJ also incorporates strikes such as elbows and knees.

Here are some of my favourite examples, featuring UFC fighters using submissions to finish their fight.

Scott Bridge is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu fighter with almost twenty years of training. Beginning at the age of 7, Scott has spent the majority of his life “rolling” in a dojo. Now 25 years old, Scott sat down with The Fighter’s Corner to look back on a life of training.

TFC: What first brought you into a dojo?

SB: Like a lot of kids, I was bullied. It was pretty bad, really. I was a small kid and didn’t have much confidence, so bullies loved me. I started doing karate when I was 7, just as a way to build confidence. I sure didn’t expect to be training 25 years later.  After a bit of karate, I started BJJ and fell in love with it.

TFC: Did the training help with your confidence? What about BJJ appealed to you so much?

SB: It definitely boosted my confidence, not just in my physical abilities but with my mental strength as well. Knowing I could physically defend myself definitely helped my confidence when standing up to bullies, but it was the mental strength that helped the most. I learned to control my emotions and how to use words instead of fists. Plus, I was still small, so fighting wasn’t the best option even with training. That’s why I loved BJJ.

TFC: It’s good for small guys?

SB: More that you didn’t have to be big. BJJ is all about technique. If a big guy grabs you, proper technique will help even the odds pretty quickly.

TFC: As you grew up and gained experience, did you compete?

SB: Many times, mainly between ages 16 to 19. I had lots of training and loved putting my abilities to the test. Plus, competing helped my teammates and coahes as well. When you compete, you’re putting your training against there’s. If I lost, we could look at what they did and see if our training could improve at all. BJJ, and martial arts overall, it all about learning.

TFC: You’re 25 now, do you still compete?

SB: Not anymore, I had my fun. I went to University and am working on my Masters in Psychology. I’m actually writing a paper on the benefits of martial arts training and the possibility of it one day being taught in gym class. I still love to train and can’t see myself ever stopping, but competing takes more dedication than I can give it.  If one day, I can help more kids everywhere receive the mental strength and confidence that martial arts gave me, I’ll consider that better than winning any amount of championship belts.

TFC: It’s always fascinating to hear why people choose to get hit for a hobby. Thank you Scott, good luck with the paper and send a copy our way when you’re done.