Warriors Gym is a great way to kick start your fitness regime

Top class full contact kickboxing tournaments have been billed regularly at venues such as the Millennium Forum, St Columb’s Hall and of course during the UK City of Culture there was a series of World Championship bouts staged at The Venue.

The success of the and growth art in and around the city is evidenced by the fact that it currently boasts two world title holders in the form of Daniel ‘Pinta’ Quigley and Natalie McCarron.

There are various outlets to learn the discipline in the city and the latest of those is housed at Rathmor Warriors Gym in Creggan which has been set up by Sean McGill. Sean began boxing around the age of about nine or ten beginning a love affair not just with the fight game in terms of being in the ring, but the discipline of the training and the personal condfidence that it brings him to this day, as well as being an avid student of the history of pugilism. Whilst there are common threads within the mainstream form of boxing and kickboxing there are also big differences in terms of the technique of using hands and feet simultaneously.

Sean quite rightly attributes the origins of the sport in this area to now retired three times world champion Paddy Toland. He said: “It started back in the late 1980s with Paddy. There was no kickboxing in Derry at all up until then. He started up a place in Abercorn Riad and it started from there. It became so popular it had to be extended. So, being a builder he built a a gym out in Killea and they started coming from all over Donegal as well as Derry.

“Now those such as Pinta Quigley, Jay McVeigh, Tomas Logue and Natalie McCarron have become inspirational figures to others. You also have the likes of myself opening up a small gym. All of these people are Paddy Toland’s protege’s. Since he retired to concentrate on other things we are carrying on where he left off.”

Rathmor warriors is already attracting widespread membership from right across the city and is packed with members every single night of the week.

Sean McGill said: “Its a community based thing and that’s what its all about-community. Membership can be affected by seasonal factors. In January, February and March after the start of a new year people sign up to get fit. But most tend to stick at it. We have kids strating aged five or six to people right up the age of 55. The kids stay in the junior class until they are about 13 or 14 and then transfer to the senior classes. Beginners classes are on Wednesday’s and Friday’s and seniors on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s.”

Those considering joining Rathmor warriors should also be aware that they will not be fired into a ring and expected to fight. In fact you will not be expected to fight at all if you choose not to. In fact the training in the art and competing for graded belts is the priority here.

“First thing we do is warm up by stretching out all over the body. Then we get the pads and gloves on and basically go through techniques-roundhouse kicks, push kicks, punches and so on. Some people may opt for full contact fighting so we do accomodate for that. Others will come here to grade for belts from white through to black. Others will come for the fun of it, to loose weight and tone-up. Everyone has their own individual needs and we work on that.

“We would never pressurise anyone to fight or go for belts, it’s up to themselves. They all have theor own reasons for being here and when they do they don’t think about bills or work. its a great stress reliever and confidence booster. It’s all about the fitness and training,” said Sean.

He said: “It gave me confidence. I wasn’t vey good at it to be honest but I wanted to do it. I lost my first five fights. But, there was something in me that I wanted to keep doing it. I loved the sport and I loved the training. Now at my age when I see younger people coming in I see the same thing in them.”

The techniques of mainstream boxing and kickboxing obviously differ substantially with all four limbs simultaneously working as opposed to just both hands. Was that a difficult thing to grasp for Sean?

“I boxed right up until I was 21 or so. The last fight I had was in Old Trafford stadium in 1991. In the third round of that fight my heart went out of it. I didn’t want to hit the guy, I just didn’t want to know. I lost the love of fighting but not my love for the sport. From then on I just concentrated on work and when I came back to live here from Belfast I wanted to fight again for some reason, but for better intentions. But, you can’t box as an amateur past the age of 34.

“I had always known and admired Paddy Toland, so I got in touch and I turned to kickboxing. However, I fractured my ribs and broke my ankle so I never got the chance to fight as a kickboxer. But I did get may grades and within about six years had a black belt.

“I did find the kicking techniques hard to start with as I was always used to only fighting with my hands. Plus having started it at a later age my legs were tight. Here was I sparring with guys using all four limbs and I was just using my hands,” Sean said.

A visit to the gym shows immediately that there is a thriving desire amongst those who have joined up to stick at the training but moreover a great sense of enjoyment for all involved. Those interested in joining can get more information on all aspects of the sport and training by contacting [email protected].