More Than A Fighter
Conversations with combat athletes and coaches about sport and life beyond competition. We discuss the highs and lows of their careers, the work that goes into it, life after sport and look at what makes them 'more than a fighter'.
Episodes
20 episodes
Episode 20 - Luke Preston
In the final episode of season 1, we talk to Luke Preston. Luke is head coach at Camberley judo club and was part of the coaching team for the London 2012 Olympic Games, where he coached Camberley's Karina Bryant to a bronze medal. We talk abou...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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1:22:58
Episode 19 - Sami Smithson
This week we talk to Samantha Smithson. Sami competed for GBR in judo, was a squadron leader in the RAF and served for 18 years, before being medically discharged with a chronic hip injury. She has since worked in performance lifestyle support ...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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1:22:25
Episode 18 - Neil Eckersley
Really privileged to have this long and open conversation with 1984 Olympic Judo Bronze Medalist, Neil Eckersley. Neil had a great competitive career and competed in two Olympic Games, but chose to retire at 24 years old. He moved on to work in...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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1:06:01
Episode 17 - Lewis Keeble
Former Judoka Lewis Keeble joins us for a really enjoyable chat reflecting on his time as an international athlete competing for Great Britain, and as a member of the Royal Air Force. Lewis talks really openly about struggles with identity, con...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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1:05:27
Episode 16 - Gemma Burton (née Gibbons)
This week we are joined by Gemma Burton. Gemma won a silver medal in Judo at the 2012 Olympic Games, along with a host of other medals including a historic Bronze at the Tokyo Grand Slam. She retired from competitive Judo in 2016 to pursue a ca...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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1:07:10
Episode 15 - Jim Warren
We are joined by Judoka / Actor / Film Director Jim Warren. Jim is a real individual who lived bis Judo career exactly the way that he wanted it and takes that approach to everything he does. A fantastic Judoka with some serious wins for GBR at...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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1:03:45
Episode 14 - Ben Ellis
We sit down with undefeated Welsh MMA fighter Ben Ellis, who fights out of the Mat Academy in Pontypridd. We talk about his journey in to MMA and his ambitions for the future, with his record currently standing at 10-0 (2-0 pro). Ben also combi...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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43:41
Episode 13 - Euan Burton
We talk to Euan Burton; double Olympian and now the Head Coach for Scottish Judo. Euan won multiple medals at European and World Championships and has a wealth of experience from competing and coaching at all levels. He talks about the crushing...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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1:23:20
Episode 12 - Andy Burns
We chat to retired GBR Judoka Andy Burns. Andy trained and studied at the University of Bath and then the Scottish Judo National Centre in Ratho. He won multiple British titles, international medals and a Commonwealth Games Bronze. He reflects ...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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44:40
Episode 11 - Mason 'The Dragon' Jones
Mason Jones..."The Champ Champ", has just signed a contract with the UFC after winning his second Cage Warriors title, making him the first person since Conor McGregor to achieve this feat. Mason has an extensive background in a range of Martia...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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56:33
Episode 10 - Javier Madera
Javi Madera is a Judoka who competed internationally for Spain. He had to make a sudden decision to end his competitive career when a coaching opportunity came up in Chile..."the train doesn't stop twice" in his own words. In this interview he ...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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42:40
Episode 9 - James Austin
The Original Judo Podcaster James Austin aka 'The Big Gun' joins us to talk about his journey through Judo. James represented GBR at the London 2012 Olympics and set his sights on a grande finale at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. This plan was de...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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32:57
Episode 8 - Lucas Rowe
We chat with former GB Judoka Lucas Rowe, who came up through the ranks at Hardy Spicer Judo Club before moving on to the British Judo Centre of Excellence. Lucas represented Great Britain at the Junior World Championships but struggled to make...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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36:08
Episode 7 - Owen Livesey
Owen Livesey is a 10 time Continental Open medalist in Judo, Commonwealth Games Champion and multiple British Champion. He walked away from Judo at the end of his Junior career before coming back 2 years later to put in a massive effort for the...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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1:12:24
Episode 6 - Juergen Klinger
We talk to Olympic Judo Coach Juergen Klinger about his life in Judo and the challenges around transitioning out of high level sport. Juergen reflects on his own journey from athlete to coach, and how he is feeling now as he prepares to retire ...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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51:16
Episode 5 - Jean-Rene Badrick
JR Badrick was a young phenomenon of British Judo, winning the Cadet European Championships and representing GBR at the World Championships at just 17 years old. JR joins us to talk about his decision to retire at 21 and how he moved on to a su...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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59:10
Episode 4 - Stephanie Inglis
Commonwealth Games Silver Medalist Stephanie Inglis was involved in a motor accident that left her with a 1% chance of survival. She joins us to talk about her Judo career and her journey back from the accident, including learning that she woul...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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56:49
Episode 3 - Philip Awiti Alcaraz
Former GBR Judoka Philip Awiti Alcaraz opens up about his struggles suffering with a long term injury that ends up sending him in to one of the toughest periods in his life. We talk about how he overcame this and what he is up to now.
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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35:37
Episode 2 - John Buchanan
We chat with Judo World Medalist, Sydney Olympian and all round legend John Buchanan. John talks about his early days in Judo, his years at the top of the sport, his rivalry with Craig Fallon and his decision to retire at 28. John also recounts...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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1:14:36
Episode 1 - Winston Gordon
We chat with 3 x Olympian Winston Gordon. Winnie discusses his journey to Athens 2004 and the head to head battles with Peter Cousins that pushed him to the top of his game, the bittersweet feeling of an Olympic 5th place, his finale at London ...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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46:47