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Interview with Jon Williams |
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What other hobbies / sports have you done? ‘Music, I used to really be into music and played bass in a popular local Metal band – mostly when I was underage in pubs and clubs. We had quite a big local following and got write ups in rip it up and the Evening Post. Apart from that I have joined the gym this year and started to work on core strength and I still enjoy video games.’ When did you start training at VUW? ‘I’d been interested in Muay Thai for a while but they didn’t have any clubs in Nelson, when I moved to Wellington I started training. And initially joined for about 5 months back in 1990 with Master Tan, I had done 4 years of Tae Kwon Do so I was fairly confident that I knew what I was doing. At the end of my first session I was asked if I wanted to spar as I had trained in other martial arts before. So I gloved up and sparred with head punches for the first time against Mark Norton and got schooled. I realised then that this was a place I would be able to learn and develop a better fighting style. I came back again in 1991 and have been here ever since.’ What is your biggest achievement? ‘Jumping in the ring and fighting for the first time. I never imagined that I would be able to fight and the whole idea scared me. I was really nervous in the week beforehand, but on the day I relaxed. My nerves started again when I got swept while going for a high kick in the first few seconds of the fight and I had to fight through them and come back hard to refocus and win the fight. Apart from that doing the 50Km run last year was good.’ What are your goals at VUW? ‘I still enjoy both the challenge of training and helping other people out. Sparring is good because it is the best way to see how people have improved – especially beginners. I like helping the club produce the best fighters while continuing to improve my coaching, cornering, reffing and judging skills.’
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