Steve
1. Introduce yourself, name, where you live, anything else
I'm Steve Kinghan, 42 years young and I live in south Wales, United Kingdom. I'm a dad, husband, brother, and I like all sorts of things from 90's trance through to fantasy board gaming, from cyber related issues to studying languages.
2. What’s your interest in running/ju-jitsu?
I used to be really unfit and let myself go in my early 20's, just drinking too much, chasing too many good times and girls and just not living a very productive or meaningful life. One day in 2006 I came downstairs without my shirt on and saw myself in the mirror and I hated what I saw and decided to make amends. That day I went for my first run in about 6 years and also decided to start eating better. That effort transcended into a desire to start MMA as a way to shock my body into becoming fit, and the story starts from there. Fast forward a year or two and both you and I were training at an MMA club and getting fit, I started to love BJJ over anything else, and I found running a joy. The Tube in London is horrendous at the best of times so often we would cycle or run in and back from work and I knew that we were on the right path. The financial crash in 2008 forced us out of London thankfully and we both joined the Army with a view to going to Afghanistan, which we did (#veteran); the two things that stuck with me was a love for running and a love for combat sports. I find myself now back on the mats as a Masters 3 Blue Belt at 85kg, a 2 x Ironman and having run numerous marathons and an ultra-marathon here and there. I'm grateful for that moment in the mirror because I was a fat piece of shit back then and its no way to live a life.
3. In recent years BJJ has played an increasingly important role, what’s your background with it?
Approaching 40 I wanted to find something that I could do that stimulated me mentally and physically outside of running and I randomly saw a banner on a local supermarket railing for a BJJ club. I had already been thinking about returning to the mats and so in a way I think it was some sort of divine intervention. I rock up to the club, start feeling the energy again and I find myself 3.5 years later and still rolling. I might not be progressing as fast as those around me but I need to remind myself that I am 42 not 24 now and life has other draws (fatherhood, work, injuries etc.). Comparison is also the thief of joy. BJJ is a saviour for many and without sounding like I've drunk too much Jesus juice and eaten too much Acai it has saved me. I love it. I've had the pleasure of training at a number of different clubs, I've competed, met some amazing people and I am surrounded by violently capable but thoroughly awesome individuals. I'm coming off a lower back injury and was meant to be competing this weekend in a submission only competition but that can wait, need to get fixed and then continue the journey to Valhalla.
4. Can you talk about your injury to your leg? What happened and what’s the impact been?
Similar thing to BJJ really, I loved Hockey back in school, more so than any other sport. I was the Captain, used to have an eye for movement and positions etc. and so figured back in 2018 I would get back into it with a local club. Just prior in 2016 I had thrown my back out and had been prescribed a heavy weight lifting routine to fix it (sounds counter intuitive but its what works best) and I got very strong and heavy, almost 100kg at one point. That translated to some significant power downstairs and I have never been able to sprint like I could back then. Randomly one game I was warming up and felt like a small cramp in my hip and thought nothing of it, the game started, I turn to sprint for a loose ball and suddenly I hit the deck in agony. I heard a very loud pop and felt a searing sensation like nothing I have ever felt and was eventually helped off the field in absoloute turmoil. The scan revealed that I had avulsed my hip flexor from my hip bone and had a number of fractures in my hip which may have been caused by a mini dislocation. They also picked up that I had early onset arthritis in my hip too and a mini-hernia, all of which was fairly shit to hear. I thought the recovery might be tough but didnt expect it to take the 2 years it did. The recovery was a very long process and I had to rebuild everything which stayingon weight and mentally sharp. The depression came which I found oddly familiar so I was able to manage that somewhat easily. Anyways, I got the recovery and rehab done, and I am proud of that as its a very rare injury, less than 200 happen annually in the UK. I was able to avoid getting medically discharged from the Army and get myself back up to full deployability and fitness. Thinking about it now I should have half-arsed it and got a medical payout and monthly medical pension but I aint no bitch.
5. If you could train at any dojo/club in the world, where would you go and why?
Thats a hard one as you hear of all of these amazing places and see all of these hype videos from the likes of New Wave, B Team, Atos and AoJ etc. To be honest I like training at local joints with local killers. I do think I will open my own place up in the coming years with a few heads, the joy it gives people and the role it plays in people's lives is significant so watch this space.
6. What is it about BJJ that attracted you to it? Why are you on this path?
Mental and physical resilience whilst learning. Simple really. It also allows me to set a good example to my son which is a massive focus for me. If Daddy can do this at my age then he can do anything.
7. If you weren’t on this path, what would fill the void?
Coding or language study I think.
8. What’s your philosophy to training? Does it reflect your philosophy for life?
I never gave a shit about heart rate monitoring or zonal work and I would just have confidence in my ability to get after it. Ever since I got my Coros I have realised my error so I think a certain ethos would be to "get in the red once in a while and hold on for dear life". Anyone who has gone up the Storey Arms side on the Fan Dance will know what I am talking about. I don't really have a philosophy for life, other than I never want to see what I saw in that mirror back in 2006 ever again.
9. If you could train with any person in the world, who would it be and how would it go down?
Genkisudo or Eddie Bravo. Both of them get me excited (pause). Running / phys wise I quite like the likes of Goggins and Chad Wright (3of7)
10. What’s better, gi or no gi?
Both are dope but I like the Gi. I am too old and carrying too many injuries for No Gi all the time. That said, my mate observed that Gi encourages a strong defence and No Gi a strong offence so I think its best to mix it up. Anything but Absoloute, I'm not into being squashed by fat guys
11. Belt progression is not a guaranteed process or linear path, how do you maintain motivation and is the journey about the belt, or is the journey the journey itself?
I would love to get my Black Belt by the time I am 50. That might be an outside chance seeing as I have 8 years to do it but a goal is a goal. If you are training consistently and enjoying it, whilst staying injury free and not burning out then the belts will come. Anyone that rolls knows its not about the belts, its about the progression and learning. I'm just happy and honoured that I am physically able to do it.
12. If you were to die tomorrow, how would you be remembered?
I just want to be known as someone that cared deeply for other people, that lived a selfless life and that enjoyed the fact he had air in his lungs and a vision for what he wanted to do. Our time on this earth is not guaranteed so get after it and life a life that reflects the privilege of being alive.
13. Final words to sum this up:
To summarise this, if you ever find yourself in a dark place, without an idea of how to progress or where to go, without an idea of how to reverse a poor lifestyle choice or a decision made, just know that there is a route out and there is hope. I'm not saying you have to go to war and hit long distance or the mats, but, it definitely helped me. Osss