76 / martial arts illustrated

For the benefit of those of us who might seek short-cuts, how long did it take to win the battle over your addiction - how long did it take to achieve the results you were seeking in the fight-ing arts? There are no short cuts... Results come from hours and hours of practise. And after that, some more hours! Constant repetition is the key to perfect-ing techniques and there is never any substitute for hard work. Whether we are working on our addictions or practising our chosen art, we can never be conned into thinking we have won over either. I have not had a single drink for ten years, but I have to stay on top of my addiction for every second of every day because I know that one split-second of weakness would put me right back at the bottom of that barrel I had previously drilled a hole in... Recovery and martial arts have a lot in common - they are an ongoing process where we are always learning. If, for one second, we think that we have got it mastered then it will bite us and it will bite us HARD! Practise every second of every day, if not in body, then in mind. With my alcohol addiction, this means continu-ing to attend AA meetings, learning more about the subject and constantly clearing out the bad in life to make way for the good. With my own martial arts it doesn’t mean I constantly live in the gym, but it does mean that if I am going to go out and mix with the best, I have to be on top of my game. It is said that we can’t get full-time results on part-time hours. Constant study and practise is the key and as with all martial arts, this does not only mean fighting. We are all very lucky that to have such a great martial community, because within the martial arts community, I have met many people who have inspired me to become a better person and a number of them have become close and important friends. I have always been in awe of the support and camaraderie I’ve been shown from within the martial arts world and it is now time for me to pass that onto others. After all, ‘what use is a man who can fight the world but doesn’t even own his own soul..?’

NICK HARDY

INFORMATION: If you are concerned that you or someone you know may have a problem with alcohol, you can contact Alcoholics Anonymous on their national helpline: 0845 769 7555 or visit their website at www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk for help and advice.

I hav

e m

et m

any

peo

ple

who

hav

e in

spire

d

me

to b

ecom

e a

bet

ter p

erso

n an

d a

num

ber

of

them

hav

e b

ecom

e cl

ose

and

imp

orta

nt

frie

nds.

I hav

e al

way

s b

een

in a

we

of th

e

sup

por

t and

cam

arad

erie

I’ve

bee

n sh

own

fro

m w

ithin

the

mar

tial a

rts

wor

ld a

nd it

is n

ow

time

for m

e to

pas

s th

at o

nto

othe

rs. A

fter a

ll,

‘wha

t use

is a

man

who

can

fig

ht th

e w

orld

but

d

oesn

’t ev

en o

wn

his

own

soul

..?’

INTERVIEW

To contactPeter about

coaching, visit www.psmac.co.uk or you

can call him on 07563745729