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1. What was your reaction when you first learned you had been chosen to be a gladiator?
One of apprehension and excitement. I am a keen martial arts student, a 1st Dan black belt training in the Korean art of Taekwondo. This would be a very different ball game. All the male participants were known to me, all physical training instrucotrs, and a few years younger and fitter.
2. What do you believe was your biggest triumph as a gladiator?
Besides winning a televised competition -- more luck than judgement, I believe -- I think it was gaining so much expert knowledge and understanding of the lifestyles of these people and the correct use of the weapons. I desperately wanted to get an understanding of what must have been in the minds of the people being trained to kill or be killed for the amusement of others. I feel I was able to achieve that to a certain degree over the three, four days of filming.
3. What was your lowest point as a gladiator?
Trying to compete hand, eye, foot coordination while wearing the full armor adn realizing that, in reality, I would not have lived very long!!! I am capable of taking care of myself and have a good understanding of hand and foot techniques, while having good vision of my target. Trying to master the use of weaponry to a fairly high standard, in a short space of time, was a little demoralizing. There is always someone who makes you look like an amateur. That feeling when being taught how to use the sword and shield in conjunction with correct footwork by the trainers made me realize just how much I did not know and how little time would be given to teach me to survive longer. Pick it up quickly or die -- this thought scared the life out of me.
4. Overall, how would you rate your performance as a gladiator?
Unfortunately, I had not been in a regular training regime for about three months prior to the program due to illness. I was about five kilos outside my sparring weight, which probably showed when running around in my oversized nappy. My knowledge of sparring stances and weight distribution definitely gave me a little advantage over my opponent in the final competition. He was in a lot better shape for the tournament than I feel I was at the time. But, hey, I survived and won, so one to prove knowledge and calm, levelheaded thinking can beat strength and physical fitness.
5. If you had to choose between daily life as a gladiator or as a warrant officer, which would you choose?
This is a very difficult question to answer. It was a strange sensation when first putting the full equipment on and entering the gates to the arena. The moment I placed the Thracian's helmet on, I felt insular and became part of the set. It is very difficult to put into words, but I definitely changed when I faced my opponent and I really enjoyed the feeling. I have sparred many times and entered numerous contests, facing opponents larger than myself, and that has always given me an adrenalin rush, but this was different. To have no responsibilities to anyone but myself, then I think the answer would probably be yes.
6. Has your experience as a gladiator affected or changed any aspect of how you now do your work as a warrant officer?
I have recently changed profession and am now a police officer, but in answer to the question, I would say the experience has changed my approached to many things. I strive hard to succeed in everything I do and I feel I have always had that approach to life in general, but I feel I now focus on perfection before moving on to other things. The trainers I worked with on WARRIOR CHALLENGE were very highly skilled in many ancient weapons and fighting techniques, styles which have been with us for thousands of years. I really admired their knowledge and dedication to their arts and envied their professions. Yes, I have changed. I want perfection in everything I do, however trivial, and will not settle for second best.
7. Did your experience as a gladiator live up to your expectations?
Yes, it did. I would like to have lived the full experience, though -- two to four weeks training, living and experiencing the full lifestyle and training regimes. I feel that, in all reality, these people would probably be reclusive and independent. I found in the short time we were working together -- bearing in mind I already knew the guys quite well -- we were looking for weaknesses in one another. I knew amongst our small group the strengths of the other fighters and did not relish the thought of fighting big Steve, a well-accomplished boxer. But I had already worked out my own plan of action should I be unfortunate to draw big Steve in my first match. So, in reality, the gladiators must have been aware of other fighters watching and working out their strengths and weaknesses. The guys who watched the final fight between Warren and me had already worked out a strategy with Warren, explaining it would be a better move for him to try to use his power and fitness to just tire me rather than trying to use the weaponry to score.
Warren and I had been trained together and had sparred with the weapons for two days and had some very hard matches, which had got quite competitive, even though we were only practicing. I think he would agree my prior knowledge of foot techniques allowed me to gain a better understanding of hand, sword and shield coordination, which, in stark reality, would mean I would live a little longer, regardless of age and fitness.
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