NAS Xtreme Champions
The 2006 National All Styles Champions of Champions |
LUKE CROXFORD
Luke is a martial arts all-rounder, having trained in six styles since he first stepped into an aikido dojo at age seven. In the 21 years since, he has achieved his 2nd Dan in karate whilst also practising kung-fu, hapkido, taekwondo and his own martial art style, Ryu-Ki-Do.
His mixed style was well suited to the NAS tournament circuit, which heralded the introduction of a new points system. A natural kicker with speed, power and flexibility developed in his taekwondo training, Luke was happy to accept the extra points now being awarded for head-kicks and spinning kicks.
It was an umba-geri (hook-kick) to the head that turned the final bout for Luke as he fought for victory against the twice-defending Champion Ben Cunningham. When asked why he thought he’d won, Luke admitted, “It was definitely that last kick. That gave me a buffer, as there was only about 10 seconds left. In the past, kicks have only been worth one point, so I’d be doing kicks and getting the same as for a punch. I wasn’t benefiting from having that extra arsenal, whereas now some of my favourite techniques can be rewarded.”
As a teacher of his own martial art Ryu-Ki-Do (RKD), Luke tries to lead by example. “In martial arts, you’ve really got to show extra control because you’re trying to show your humble side. My students learn from me not just by what I tell them but by what they see as well. I would never get angry, my attitude is the same. If I lose, I’m disappointed, but it doesn’t go to that aggressive stage.”
Luke was committed to his six-days a week training regime. “It would be consisting of karate, gym, taekwondo and hapkido. Going to the gym, I knew what I needed to work on. I worked on more explosive anaerobic power because in point–sparring you need that power and speed. Taekwondo was my cardio. Closer to the tournaments, it would predominantly be tournament training, drills and getting on the mat with an opponent. Teaching my students also helped because strategy is just as important as the physical.”
Luke attributes his success to two major factors. The first was his renewed attitude. “You do need to believe you are going to win. I’ve heard lots of sports people say you’ve got to believe in yourself. If you don’t, then you’ve already lost. There’s a lot of truth in that.”
The second was the support he had from his students and the importance of the win to the art of RKD. “My club was behind me all the way, their cheers on the night motivated me through every bout and seeing them do so well in competition gave me confidence. I really wanted to do well for my students. I also made a promise that I would win, and that promise was on my mind throughout the day and night.
SAMANTHA SHORT
Samantha entered the 2006 NAS Championships only days before the tournament. She had been suffering from a strained hamstring and had been undecided about her fitness. A greater obstacle, however, and something that would make her victory all the more meaningful, was the recent passing of her sensei, Alan Murdoch, of Shukokai Karate.
Sam has dedicated her win to her sensei. Despite having had a difficult year, she went into the competition with a relaxed mind and the simple determination to do her best, which is something she knows Sensei Alan would have wanted.
Sam began practising martial arts in karate when she was 13 years old and entered competition a year later when she represented the ACT. She then joined Shotokan, competing in the Shotokan World Championships where she placed 5th in kata. By the time she was 18, she had demonstrated enough talent to convince her parents to move with her from Canberra to Melbourne in order for her to train with top level coaches.
“I love martial arts, as it is not just physical exercise. A lot of the time it tests you mentally. So much depends on your ability to focus, strategize and adapt, particularly in competition, all in a very short space of time. I love it because it constantly challenges me and helps to prepare me for everyday life challenges.”
In the lead-up to tournaments, Sam follows a disciplined training regime of karate and general fitness training, with a tapering-off period just prior to competition.
In terms of injury, she counts herself lucky to have suffered only a few minor problems. She admits the greater setbacks have been outside the dojo: “It was quite a difficult year for me, as I was completing my studies as a myotherapist and coping with the illness and passing of my coach and the terminal illness of my grandmother, who also passed away just before Christmas. Then there is always the difficulty of combining education, work and training and finding the money to compete at the highest level.” The year’s hardship and dedication paid off at the NAS, as Sam went on to outscore some excellent competition to win the 2006 Female Champion of Champions.
Sam regards her fighting style as attacking. “I like to pressure my opponent. My favourite technique would be gyaku-tzuki (reverse-punch) and ura-mawashi-geri (another term for hook-kick). I was able to read my opponent’s timing and to be the first in with a scoring technique. This helps to build my confidence. Ura-mawashi-geri is a difficult technique to perform in competition, and to be successful it has to be disguised and it must be performed fast, otherwise it can leave you very exposed for your opponent to score on you.”
Like Luke, Sam was able to capitalise on her kicking techniques for the extra points. “They are an important part of fighting and it is great that they are now being suitably rewarded under the new points system. They can be difficult moves to carry out in competition so when they do come off it is very rewarding.”
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