The Power and strength pocket rocket - training since 1999. Coaching beginners to pro athletes. helping with general fitness, advance strength/conditioning, muscle gain, far loss and much more.

Find out more about Znw

• At what age did you start playing sports? Tell us about this time or moment in your life.

  Growing up I actually loved sprinting. I was pretty small and nimble, like a whippet!! Any time I saw a long stretch of road I just tried to run as fast as I could.
  
  I guess I was always into sports from a young age as my Dad was a fighter and an athlete in his hay day - that most certainly had an effect on me.

• What are your favourite sports; those that you practice at a high level, a simple hobby, and a sport that you'd still like to discover?

  Ah that's tricky! I love Capoeira and gymnastics for their flare and acrobatics, I love MMA, Wingchun and BJJ for their technicalities (and camaraderie) and I love weight lifting and bodybuilding for its strength and explosiveness - All of which I did to a high level. I love track and field (especially the 100 meters) for its speed and endurance; I wish I did more growing up but there are only so many hours in a day!
  
  I would still love to learn to play basketball at a high level as well as tennis. I find the quick change in speed and direction as well as the slide of hand and misdirection fascinating and something that I feel I could really get into and enjoy.

• What gives you the motivation and passion to pursue your sport?

  The biggest motivation if I'm honest is the motivation to be in the best possible shape I can be so that I can help and protect others. As an example, last year my Mum stopped breathing in a public area. I received a call while I was at home. Without any hesitation, I ran out of the house at full speed (barefoot) nonstop for about 20 minutes to find her. Thankfully I was able to help and call for emergency services.
  
  Had I been unfit and unhealthy I would have not been able to be there for my mum and in my mind, I would have let her down.
  
  My biggest fear is to let others down simply because I allowed myself to become unhealthy. I feel like being unhealthy is a choice we make. For me, it would be a selfish thing to do as I put my own life at risk as well as severely limiting my ability to help others. I would regret it if I let someone I cared about down simply because of my actions. So it definitely motivates me to be mindful of what I eat and also what physical shape I'm in.
  
  Simply put, my motivation is that in any given situation I want to give myself the best possible chance to help myself and other if an unfortunate situation arises.

• Do you have a sporting achievement that you're particularly proud of?

  My first stand-up amateur bare-knuckle competition; where I won first place. It was by far the scariest thing I did. It also had the most lasting effect on me even almost 20 years on.

• How have your achievements and challenges made you a better sportsperson?

  I think sports and particularly combat sports have made me humble as a person and taught me to be respectful of others. It has also given me immense confidence to stand up for myself and for others and also made me brave enough to face any challenges head-on. It allows me to try new things with an objective mindset and be able to extract vital lessons with a calm mind.

• If you had to go for a jog with a famous athlete, who would you choose? And what questions would you ask them?

  It would have to be 'Sugar' Ray Robinson - he was undoubtedly one of the greatest athletes to have ever lived. The question I would ask him is, even though he was under so much oppression and difficulties, how did he keep focus and motivation to develop a style of boxing beyond his time.

• How do you help people stay motivated?

  I help people stay motivated by simply empathising with them. I feel you need to really have a deep understanding of someone in order to help them discover themselves.
  
  I never give my clients a set of exercises to do or just shout out instructions. The moment I step away, I know they will relapse or fall apart. I try to make a genuine connection and then use my life lessons to help relate to their circumstances as best as I can so that they can hopefully be motivated to see the benefits of what I am coaching them to become.

• What makes you a Superprof in sports?

  I would say all my disadvantages, failures, injuries and scars are what make me a Superprof in sports, not the accolades or achievements. Every time I failed, it was a valuable lesson that I learnt, which was then ingrained into me. This is my best teacher and it helped me grow beyond what I was capable of.