Happy March! We have a fighter to feature for this month, and friends have called him a trailblazing titan – Blade Pool! Congratulations to Blade!
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN TRAINING FOR ARMORED COMBAT?
For almost two years.
DO YOU HAVE ANY BACKGROUND EXPERIENCE IN MARTIAL ARTS OR OTHER SPORTS?
Jujutsu, Maui Tai, and competitive powerlifting.
HOW DID YOU LEARN ABOUT ARMORED COMBAT AND WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO JOIN?
I’ve been in combative sports as far back as I can remember. In between training for a powerlifting event, I would use Maui Tai and grappling to keep myself active and agile.
I just happened to come across the Knight Fight show on the History Channel while I was YouTubing techniques for better grappling.
I watched the entire series and immediately sought out the fighters from the show on Facebook and realized that there was a very strong presence in Texas. Grabbed a couple of friends and the rest is history.
DO YOU REMEMBER HOW YOU FELT IN YOUR FIRST FIGHT? CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE EXPERIENCE?
My very first fight experience was televised on our local news, it was just a 20-minute segment of me getting beat up. After that, I knew I was hooked on the sport.
I immediately wanted to become better.
WHAT IS YOUR PREFERRED WEAPON? DO YOU HAVE A PARTICULAR FAVORITE?
I prefer a long axe, but I’d say my statement weapon is always my beautiful executioners sword!
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ARE SOME POSITIVE ASPECTS THAT COME FROM THE SPORT?
Buhurt has never failed to impress me with the inclusivity and acceptance of all people. Every time I go to a new area to train with a new team, it’s always love, acceptance, and the want to be better in the sport.
Buhurt is love.
WHAT IS YOUR FIGHTING STYLE – IF YOU HAVE ONE?
Very strike heavy, I love the feel of folding someone in half with a good kick, or chopping someone into submission.
DO YOU THINK FIGHTING CHANGES WHO YOU ARE AS A PERSON? HOW HAS IT AFFECTED YOU PERSONALLY?
I think that all martial arts provided you’re brought up in a healthy combat environment, can provide structure, confidence, and comradeship no matter what age you start at.
Its effects on me personally gave me an avenue growing up to bring my friends together for shared hardship and healthy competition. All of my childhood fight friends, are still my adult fight friends.
WHAT WOULD YOUR ADVICE BE FOR NEW PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THE SPORT?
Try everything, have fun, fight everyone, build bonds, and don’t give up.
Every loss is a lesson, and it’s time to learn.
WHAT DO YOU LOOK FORWARD TO FOR THE FUTURE OF ARMORED COMBAT SPORTS?
In the year and some months, since I’ve been training for this sport, I’ve seen so many new fighters emerge and get started. I’d love to see it continue to grow in numbers until it’s big enough to potentially become a full-time sport, like MMA, when we can pay a fighter to be nothing but a full-time fighter, the levels of athleticism that will emerge in this sport are next level.
ANY FINAL WORDS YOU WANTED TO MENTION?
Thank you to everyone who has supported my journey so far, all the friends I’ve made, and all the wonderful people brought into my life through this sport.
This is only the beginning, I won’t disappoint you!!
