Interview with Joanne Calderwood

Interview with Joanne Calderwood

(13/02/12)  As we near the first ever Pro WMMA fight in Scotland, we spoke with Joanne Calderwood who will be making her debut at On Top 4 on Sat 25 Feb 12 at Kelvinhall, Glasgow. With a seasoned background in Muay Thai and holding a blue belt in BJJ she is shaping up to be a great future prospect for UK WMMA.

 

 

Tell us about your Martial Arts background?

 

I started off in Muay Thai boxing and have been involved in it for 10 years. I’ve had 20 professional Thai fights, beat 4 world champions, fought on the Queen’s birthday show in Thailand and picked up the WBC national title and 2 versions of European titles. I moved to the Griphouse gym in Glasgow years back and started training BJJ and wrestling in between Thai fights. I was awarded my blue belt in BJJ after winning a bunch of grappling competitions.

 

 

What led you to MMA and why do you love it so much?

 

I’ve reached a good level in Muay Thai and have struggled to be as active as I’d like to because of my record. With me already training in BJJ and wrestling, and being with the Dinky Ninjas I was always going to end up fighting MMA. I really just enjoy the challenge in fighting and putting my skills against my opponents.

 

 

What was your family and friends reaction to you becoming involved in MMA?

 

All my friends are in the gym doing the same as me so they're really supportive and understanding. Before I did this full time and had a proper job; everyone has always been supportive of me fighting. My family are great they get more annoyed with my hair cuts than the fact I fight. I’m lucky to have great people around me supporting me and encouraging me to do what I love.

 

 

What is it like training out of the Griphouse Gym and being part of the Dinky Ninjas Fight Team?

 

It is an amazing gym. I love the gym, even if you’re having a bad day you can just spend it in the gym and leave laughing, there are so many different characters. The work ethic in the dinky ninjas is second to none, it shows with the success the guys are having. There is some serious talent in the team but they mix the hard training with goofing around and having a laugh.

 

 

Who are your coaches and training partners?

 

My MMA coaches are James Doolan and Paul McVeigh, though I’m thinking about sacking them after this fight cause all they have been arguing about for the past 6 weeks is being vegetarian and gay scenes in films. My training partners is a big list of pro and semi pro MMA fighters, pro Muay Thai fighters and a lot of BJJ players. I’m lucky at the dinky ninjas though as I have my very own 7 dwarfs  (7 pro flyweight fighters) and some of the best bantamweight fighters in Europe to work with.

 

 

Who have been big inspirations for you in MMA and why?

 

I admire Cyborgs aggressiveness, Megumi Fujii's technique and Rosi Sexton's persistence and intelligence in the sport.

 

 

How is MMA commonly received in Scotland and what is the general consensus surrounding WMMA up there?

 

MMA in Scotland is doing great just now, last year there was nearly a show every weekend. The WMMA scene is pretty non-existent; it’s the same in Thai. I only hope in the next few years it grows and will do anything to help that.

 

 

What were thoughts on the recent comment made by SMP Sandra White in the Glasgow Herald stating that: “females participating in cage fighting is degrading to women”?

 

I laughed out loud when I read it, and then I did a quick google search and laughed even more when I read she was involved in women’s rights. She maybe wasn’t the best person for the press to contact for comments with her being an older woman and not really involved in sports in anyway.

 

 

I believe that following her comment you invited her to visit the gym and she accepted: how did that go?

 

After some debate on twitter Sandra visited the gym but to be honest I didn’t have any time for her. Even when she came up to the gym I wasn’t going to sacrifice my training time for someone that gives their opinion with no background or research. My coach Guy Ramsey and one of my team mates Dean Reilly spoke with her and it seems she's accepted the sport isn’t all thugs and mindless violence. She’s never going to follow the sport but at least her opinion has changed.

 

 

Your MMA debut is fast approaching; how is the preparation for this going and how are you feeling?

 

I have been waiting for this for what feels like years, I am very excited, the training has been great. I’ve got another week and a half to go in the fight camp but I feel I’m ready to go now and the fight can’t come soon enough.

 

 

As well as being your debut fight, it will be a debut for Scotland with regard to a female Pro MMA bout: how significant is this for both MMA in Scotland and for encouraging women to start out in the sport up there?

 

I’m hoping this will open doors for WMMA in Scotland and I hope other promotions will put female bouts on their cards. Hopefully this fight can set a bench mark and a standard for women's MMA in Scotland. 

 

 

Are there any particular promotions you’d be interested in signing up with in the future?

 

I’m happy to fight anywhere; International fights would be great as I like to travel. Ideally signing for an American organisation would be cool, they seem to be leading the way with woman's MMA.

 

 

What message do you have for women interested in starting out in MMA and have you got any advice for them?

 

I’d say more woman should look at the sport and don't get disheartened being a woman in what is essentially all men. Persist with the sport and we can show MMA fans that not only can woman fight but they can be in entertaining fights.

 

 

 

We wish Jo all the best for her upcoming debut fight and look forward to seeing a lot more of her in the future.