Contacts:
Chris Turnbull RBSD
07923 187110
This week its my great pleasure to introduce a very good friend and my ex coach Willie Scott, Willie owns and teaches at his club in Edinburgh. Details of which can be found here http://www.cagekombat.co.uk/ Willie built this club from nothing and is now amongst the most respected in the UK. I had the good pleasure of training under the guy for the best part of two years. Having had a go at many different systems i can honestly say if you really want to learn and miss out all the ego 'my stuff is the best' form of fighting, his the place I recommend first and foremost.
Willie has a very long and respected history in the fight game and is most definately still a very very capable instructor fighter. I was lucky to spend many hours training under Wille and although not the most technical (cos he doesnt have to be) you come away from each lesson more able and more knowledgeable as opposed to full of complicated 6 point striking systems and useless blocking techniques. Anyone who has had the pleasure of attending his 'CAGE KOMBAT' shows in edinburgh will see from his fighters the man knows his stuff, anyway enough of me promoting the guy as any of the guys at the club already know i hold the chap in high regard. So below is a quick interview that will give you some background from the horses mouth, enjoy.
Now for the Interview......
HI WILLIE, FIRST OFF THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME OUT TO DO THIS INTERVIEW FOR US AS I KNOW YOUR RUSHED OFF YOUR FEET WITH THE CLUB AND YOUR NEXT EVENT CAGE KOMBAT6, HOWS THINGS LOOKING FOR THE EVENT?
Many thanks Chris for giving me the opportunity to do this interview. The cage kombat events can be very stressful to organise but this one seems to be shaping up quite well.Already got quite a few good domestic match ups to look forward too as well as four title fights..
SOUNDS LIKE ANOTHER EXCELLENT SHOW, AS FAR AS I KNOW EVERYOINE HAS AND IS A SELL OUT SO THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES, ANYWAY WHAT GOT YOU INTERESTED IN THE FIGHT GAME AND MARTIAL ARTS?
I was brought up quite rough so fighting was kinda second nature to me.My father did abit of boxing and wrestling in his day so I suppose I just followed suit.
SO OUT OF THE MANY YOU HAVE TRAINED IN I UNDERSTAND BOXING AND VALE TUDO ARE YOUR FORTE/FAVOURITES? IS THIS CORRECT? IF SO WHY DO YOU FAVOUR THESE?
Yeah I boxed for over 16 years and trained in many styles of martial art trying to find a system that best suited my kinda fighting range ( dirty boxing / headbutt range ) I found that vale-tudo and boxing helped me in my jobs ie bouncer/minder fighter..
WHEN I TRAINED UNDER YOURSELF YOU WERE/ARE VERY MUCH A BELIEVER IN WHAT YOU BELIEVED TO BE VALE TUDO AS THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND DANGEROUS MARTIAL ART ABOUT, CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY AND HOW YOU CAME TO THIS DECISION?
Vale-tudo means “anything goes”in portugese and it basically covers all ranges in a fight,it is well documented that if a student is well versed in vale-tudo he is regarded as one of the most dangerous martial artists on the planet.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF ALL THESE MARTIAL ARTS INSTRUCTORS CLAIMING TO BE FULL ON MMA INSTRUCTORS AS THIS SEEMS TO BE THE FASHION THESE DAYS?
Ive personally no probs with this as long as they are teaching techniques in a safe way , these instructors are only as good as the students that attend their classes,ive been quite fortunate that I was one of the first in Scotland and have a good few top students training with me..
WHO HAS INFLUENCED YOU MOST AS AN INSTRUCTOR OR FIGHTER OVER THE YEARS?
Lots of guys have had an influenced me over the years that ive actually trained under but if it was hero types then boxing was Roberto Duran and vale-tudo was Marco Ruas.
I KNOW YOU WORKED DOORS FOR YEARS, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE STANDARD OF DOORMEN THESE DAYS, ESPECIALLY THANKS TO THE USELESS SIA?
I don’t get out much lol but ive personally felt that doormen these days face to many restrictions on the door and are more mollycoddled than in my day when bouncers were bouncers..Its always been a difficult occupation with shit pay and no real thanks for your efforts.I say give these guys more cash and the freedom to slap neds lol
WILLIE, YOU FOUGHT BARE KNUCKLE FOR CASH SEVERAL TIMES, TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THIS IF YOU CAN?
I found myself homeless, penniless and in a real mess many years ago , I was kinda coaxed into fighting a guy at the back of a pub for £300 which was like gold to me then , so we went outside and I proceded to throw a few punches, they landed, he fell and I was in the money.I have lots of friends who are in these circles so it kinda went from there , I had abit of a reputation then and there are always guys looking to take that away from you and gain extra cash..
AS WE BOTH KNOW EVERYONE HAS THEIR CRITICS (USUALLY FROM THOSE THAT HAVE NEVER FOUGHT) DID THIS USED TO BOTHER YOU OR WAS IT ALWAYS WATER OFF A DUCKS BACK SO TO SPEAK?
Never bothered me Chris , if folk are critisising me then they must have valid grounds to be doing it,although they never seem to tell me to my face lol
YOUR SCHOOL IS AMONGST ONE OF THE LARGEST AND MOST RESPECTED IN THE UK NOW, WHERE DO YOU SEE THE CLUB AND YOURSELF IN TEN YEARS TIME?
Not sure if we are that big yet in Britain but im trying to get there.Ive been blessed with having loads of great students , 2007 has been a fantastic year for me , two guys becoming british champions and three successful cage kombat events.I can only hope that 08 is the same for me…
YOU ALWAYS LOVED TEACHING AND APPLYING YOUR SKILLS IN A “STREET” SITUATION. WHY IS THIS? YOUR SENSE OF REALISM IN “STREET” BASED STUFF IS SECOND TO NONE IN MY EXPERIENCE, DO YOU THINK THIS COMES FROM REALLY LIVING THE STREET GAME?
Probably yes Chris , id like to think im a fighter (if called upon to be )first and a martial artist second , I love reality based fighting..
WILLIE, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND ALL THE BEST FOR THE FUTURE WITH YOUR CLUB AND CAGE KOMBAT EVENTS IN THE FUTURE.
Many many thanks Chris its been a pleasure.
Chris Turnbull.
www.outcoldfightclub.org