1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,480 Speaker 1: Well, my next guess has recently returned from the w 2 00:00:03,800 --> 00:00:08,960 Speaker 1: MF World muy Thai Championships in Thailand, bringing home a 3 00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:15,200 Speaker 1: gold medal Ladies Alist Springs based fighter. Well play Rut, 4 00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:16,840 Speaker 1: Good morning to you, play. 5 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 2: Good morning to you TKD. 6 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:20,919 Speaker 1: How you doing, Yeah, really good, It's so wonderful to 7 00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:23,079 Speaker 1: have you on the show, mate. When did you head 8 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:26,120 Speaker 1: across to the to these championships in Thailand? 9 00:00:27,640 --> 00:00:31,000 Speaker 2: It was like they started on the twelfth of Mic 10 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:33,680 Speaker 2: to the twentieth, Yeah, but I had it over a 11 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:37,199 Speaker 2: bit earlier, Jess and Honor just at the start of 12 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:39,400 Speaker 2: him actually and talk. 13 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:42,720 Speaker 1: Us through though. So the fights happened in Bangkok, Is 14 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:43,200 Speaker 1: that right? 15 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:45,960 Speaker 2: That's exactly right, yep, mate. 16 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:48,159 Speaker 1: How many like, how many bouts did you have to 17 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:50,160 Speaker 1: go through to sort of get to the point where 18 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:50,880 Speaker 1: you then won? 19 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:54,480 Speaker 2: I have to fight three times in the same week, 20 00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:58,200 Speaker 2: so in five days I had three fights to win gold. 21 00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:01,720 Speaker 2: So because the tournament, so you know, you win one 22 00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:05,000 Speaker 2: fight and then the other countries fight someone else and 23 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:06,560 Speaker 2: if they win their fight, then you go to the 24 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:09,800 Speaker 2: next round and then you fight them. So I ended 25 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:12,880 Speaker 2: up fighting Sri Lanka for the first one, and then 26 00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:15,759 Speaker 2: I fought Canada on the second day, then I had 27 00:01:15,840 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 2: arrest and then on the fourth day I fought Kazakhstan 28 00:01:19,959 --> 00:01:20,880 Speaker 2: to win gold. 29 00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:25,120 Speaker 1: Oh how awesome. Look little known fact about me. I 30 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:30,440 Speaker 1: absolutely love contact sport. I love watching the fighting, whether 31 00:01:30,520 --> 00:01:34,640 Speaker 1: it's Muay Thai or boxing. I reckon it's quite incredible. 32 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:37,080 Speaker 1: And the strength that you guys have to have. But 33 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:39,640 Speaker 1: then also your fitness levels, like how long do your 34 00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:40,400 Speaker 1: bouts go for? 35 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:46,840 Speaker 2: So these ones was about two minute rounds. You get 36 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:49,800 Speaker 2: a one minute arrest and then it's three rounds. 37 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:53,720 Speaker 1: What kind of training has to go in to these 38 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:54,600 Speaker 1: kind of fights? 39 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:58,520 Speaker 2: A lot of running, yes, and then a lot of 40 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:00,760 Speaker 2: a lot of a lot of hitting, missing the gym, 41 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:05,800 Speaker 2: hitting bag, hitting pads, doing pad work with your coaches. Yeah, 42 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:07,840 Speaker 2: a lot a lot goes into it. And plus you 43 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:09,480 Speaker 2: got a diet as well. You know, you gotta watch 44 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:11,040 Speaker 2: what you're eating. Like I said, you're not having too 45 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:14,800 Speaker 2: much sugar. Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah, just got to get healthy. 46 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 2: It's a commitment. 47 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:19,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, it truly is. Blay. What sort of weight division 48 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:20,240 Speaker 1: do you fight in? 49 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:26,200 Speaker 2: I thought on that one on seventy five kilos yep. Yeah. 50 00:02:26,240 --> 00:02:29,079 Speaker 2: So when I headed over to Thailand, I was around 51 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:31,200 Speaker 2: eighty or eighty two, so I had to lose a 52 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:34,239 Speaker 2: bit of weight go down to seventy five seventy four, 53 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:35,480 Speaker 2: and that's that's where I thought. 54 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:38,040 Speaker 1: What did also? Was it heaps of running and watching 55 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:38,800 Speaker 1: what you're eating? 56 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:43,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, basically eating helps me. A lot of running and 57 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:44,440 Speaker 2: a lot of training. 58 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:44,880 Speaker 1: Yeah. 59 00:02:45,520 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 2: Train yeah, yeah, you gotta train every day. Yeah, you 60 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:50,720 Speaker 2: get a Sunday off. Yeah. 61 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:52,640 Speaker 1: Oh ma, I reckon this is I think this is 62 00:02:52,680 --> 00:02:55,960 Speaker 1: absolutely incredible. So tell me were there are other Territorians 63 00:02:55,960 --> 00:02:58,280 Speaker 1: that also went across for the championships. 64 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:01,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, so there was another guy the Northern Tation from 65 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:05,360 Speaker 2: Alice things as well, my teammate Jackson, He's amazing. Therese 66 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:09,600 Speaker 2: people from all over Australia as well, some other fighters 67 00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:11,480 Speaker 2: from Australia. We did really good. I think we had 68 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:16,680 Speaker 2: fifteen fighters so and I think we won ten gold 69 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:22,080 Speaker 2: for Australia, three silver medals and one bronze, so we 70 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:22,799 Speaker 2: did really good. 71 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:26,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, it sounds like Australia did incredibly well, so play 72 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:28,520 Speaker 1: you know, how did it feel for you to be 73 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:32,559 Speaker 1: able to win on such a huge international stage. 74 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:36,600 Speaker 2: I felt amazing, honestly, and I just loved the whole experience. 75 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:39,760 Speaker 2: It was awesome Ribers in Australia to have that flag 76 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:43,680 Speaker 2: around me, you know what I mean country now and yeah, yeah, 77 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:44,240 Speaker 2: it's amazing. 78 00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:49,880 Speaker 1: What's been the reaction from from the people of Alice. 79 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:52,560 Speaker 2: A lot of support actually, a lot a lot of support. 80 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:54,120 Speaker 2: You know, people were saying, oh, yeah, I was in 81 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:56,160 Speaker 2: the news or something like that. You know, I wasn't 82 00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:58,800 Speaker 2: expecting all that, but you know, they really did support me. 83 00:03:59,040 --> 00:04:01,960 Speaker 2: Like I got in, I got in yesterday, you know, 84 00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:05,400 Speaker 2: you know, I love Yeah, I couldn't be happy, honestly. 85 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:07,880 Speaker 1: How awesome. Now, tell me a little bit more about 86 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:11,400 Speaker 1: the about your club and and you know your coach 87 00:04:11,440 --> 00:04:14,240 Speaker 1: and and you've touched on your training, but just how 88 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:16,000 Speaker 1: much works had to go into it as well to 89 00:04:16,080 --> 00:04:17,880 Speaker 1: even get to the point where you're going across to 90 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:18,799 Speaker 1: Thailand to fight. 91 00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:21,680 Speaker 2: Well, I'll tell you the truth. I used to be. 92 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:23,880 Speaker 2: I used to weigh one hundred and forty killers before 93 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 2: I started this year. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I was. 94 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:30,880 Speaker 2: I was a big boy. Yeah, I found I found 95 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:34,640 Speaker 2: So I'm training at Boils Traking Academy at the moment, 96 00:04:34,680 --> 00:04:36,320 Speaker 2: but that's the first time that I went to where 97 00:04:36,320 --> 00:04:40,080 Speaker 2: I started training and I got in there. I loved it. 98 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:42,840 Speaker 2: He was super nice, you know, the coaches were so good, 99 00:04:43,279 --> 00:04:48,120 Speaker 2: Tommy Lee and yeah. As soon as I started, I'm like, 100 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:50,640 Speaker 2: this is so hard. You know, I was so unfit, 101 00:04:51,080 --> 00:04:52,599 Speaker 2: but I loved it. There was something about it that 102 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:54,159 Speaker 2: I love the fact that you know, scared to go 103 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:58,640 Speaker 2: to training as well, you know, wereek aspiring. It was hard. 104 00:04:58,680 --> 00:05:02,800 Speaker 2: I'm like, damn, okay, this is it's something interesting. And yeah, 105 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:06,080 Speaker 2: Alice brids has been great for it. You know, it's 106 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:09,760 Speaker 2: a small town, but you've got great people. We had 107 00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:14,880 Speaker 2: heat the fighters at the gym helping out and yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, 108 00:05:15,040 --> 00:05:15,800 Speaker 2: yeah great. 109 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:18,200 Speaker 1: So Blake, can I ask how old are you mate? 110 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:24,279 Speaker 2: Twenty eight February, Yeah, and how many? 111 00:05:24,400 --> 00:05:27,599 Speaker 1: So how long ago did this journey start? 112 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:30,880 Speaker 2: It only started three years ago, which is really it's 113 00:05:30,960 --> 00:05:33,359 Speaker 2: not has not been long at all, you know, I 114 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:36,080 Speaker 2: wish I started earlier, yea, when I was like twenty five. 115 00:05:36,440 --> 00:05:40,000 Speaker 1: That is incredible, Like I love a good story of triumphs, 116 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:42,919 Speaker 1: but that is incredible, like one hundred and forty kilos 117 00:05:43,320 --> 00:05:45,560 Speaker 1: and you only started a few years ago, and now 118 00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:47,720 Speaker 1: you've gone away, you know, gone over to Thailand and 119 00:05:48,560 --> 00:05:56,880 Speaker 1: obviously one at the WMF World Wait Tie Championships. Yeah yeah, 120 00:05:57,240 --> 00:06:01,279 Speaker 1: like honestly, it's so it is so wonderful And look, 121 00:06:01,320 --> 00:06:03,679 Speaker 1: I love hearing about Territory and is doing great stuff 122 00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:05,640 Speaker 1: and by the sounds of it in Allie Springs, you 123 00:06:05,640 --> 00:06:08,480 Speaker 1: guys have got an awesome club there with the Boil 124 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:11,599 Speaker 1: Striking Academy. Like, have you got quite a few people 125 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:14,120 Speaker 1: that are there training each day? 126 00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:16,919 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, yeah, there's quite a bit. So you know, 127 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:19,720 Speaker 2: it's separated into a fighters class and general class, So 128 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:24,160 Speaker 2: general you'll have a lot more people in fighters. Uh 129 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:27,039 Speaker 2: maybe a year ago there was a lot like maybe 130 00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:29,400 Speaker 2: fifteen of us would have would go to fight shows 131 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:31,400 Speaker 2: and they'd be like so many of us fighting. Yeah, 132 00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:33,680 Speaker 2: it's a little bit less now, but there's more kids 133 00:06:33,680 --> 00:06:35,720 Speaker 2: coming up, you know, like there's there's there's heaps of 134 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:39,080 Speaker 2: kids coming up to the fighters class and yeah, yeah, 135 00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:42,200 Speaker 2: so it's a little bit smaller now because obviously it's 136 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:44,680 Speaker 2: not it's not a massive it's not a massive it's 137 00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:45,480 Speaker 2: not a massive town. 138 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:45,920 Speaker 1: Yeah. 139 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:49,040 Speaker 2: Wow, there's more people coming into the gym every every day. 140 00:06:49,080 --> 00:06:51,240 Speaker 2: You're getting more fighters coming in every day, you know. 141 00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:53,880 Speaker 1: Play when you started just a few years ago, did 142 00:06:53,920 --> 00:06:55,680 Speaker 1: you think that you get to this point, like do 143 00:06:55,720 --> 00:06:58,000 Speaker 1: you did you think that you get this good at 144 00:06:58,320 --> 00:06:58,960 Speaker 1: at fighting? 145 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:02,719 Speaker 2: Nah? Honestly thought I was doing it for fitness, until 146 00:07:02,920 --> 00:07:05,160 Speaker 2: you know, I decided I'm not. I'm not, I'm not 147 00:07:05,160 --> 00:07:06,919 Speaker 2: too bad at this. Let me try to take it 148 00:07:06,920 --> 00:07:08,039 Speaker 2: a little bit more serious, you know. 149 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:11,280 Speaker 1: Oh my, good on you? I reckon, this is so good. 150 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:15,000 Speaker 1: Like I love a great sports story, and this just 151 00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:17,840 Speaker 1: sounds incredible. What are you doing to celebrate your achievements? 152 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:23,360 Speaker 2: Well? When when? When the when the competition did finish? 153 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:25,520 Speaker 2: You know, we went out of the group of you know, 154 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:31,360 Speaker 2: Australians and whatnot, hit up, hit up the city, had dinner, 155 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 2: few drinks here and there. Yeah, now I'm back and 156 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:37,760 Speaker 2: it's just back to training. I've got another fight coming up. 157 00:07:37,800 --> 00:07:39,840 Speaker 1: So yeah, right, when's your next one? Where are you 158 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:41,240 Speaker 1: going to be fighting next? 159 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:43,880 Speaker 2: I'm going to be fighting in Darwin actually on the 160 00:07:43,920 --> 00:07:45,640 Speaker 2: twenty seventh of this month. 161 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:49,320 Speaker 1: Wonderful stuff. And who's your opponent for that one? 162 00:07:51,440 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 2: Sorry? I actually forgot his name, that's a right, but. 163 00:07:53,320 --> 00:07:55,440 Speaker 1: He's he a Darwin boy or is someone from Yeah? 164 00:07:56,480 --> 00:07:59,760 Speaker 2: I think I think he's either from Darwin or from Press. 165 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:00,280 Speaker 1: Yeah. 166 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:03,440 Speaker 2: Right, they're having what types of all down the twenty seven. 167 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:06,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, oh, wonderful stuff. Well mate, it is great to 168 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:10,000 Speaker 1: talk to you this morning. Congratulations on your win. Like 169 00:08:10,040 --> 00:08:12,640 Speaker 1: I said, I think it's wonderful to hear about territori 170 00:08:12,680 --> 00:08:14,960 Speaker 1: Ands doing great stuff and it sounds like you guys 171 00:08:14,960 --> 00:08:17,800 Speaker 1: out of Alice Springs having a great time training but 172 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:19,960 Speaker 1: doing incredibly well in the process. 173 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:23,480 Speaker 2: Definitely, Na, thank you so much for giving me this 174 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:27,560 Speaker 2: interview and you know, letting me explain myself and my story. 175 00:08:27,720 --> 00:08:31,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, anytime, no, any time, Blay. Lovely to talk to 176 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:33,440 Speaker 1: you this morning and keep us up to date with 177 00:08:33,520 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 1: when you're in Darwin and when your next fight is. 178 00:08:37,280 --> 00:08:38,400 Speaker 2: We'll do no problem. 179 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:40,079 Speaker 1: Good on you mate, Thanks so much.