The primary sports in England are football (soccer) and rugby, which are far less prevalent here.
So when Daniel Gould moved to Canada three years ago, he had a decision to make. The 21-year-old native of Rugby, England, located just outside of Birmingham, soon saw an advertisement for a local Muay Thai training club – and decided to check it out.
At first, Gould, who lives in Symons Valley, was seeking a way to keep active. But he was soon introduced to the competitive aspect of the sport and was instantly hooked.
“I decided to get into it because it’s a good form of exercise; just something to do to keep physically fit,” said Gould, who trains with the Lil Dragons of Airdrie.
“But being a bigger guy, it kind of felt natural. There’s a lot of guys at our gym who just do it purely to keep fit and aren’t interested in the competitive side. As much as it is an individual sport, it’s also a team sport. No one can do it by themselves. You need people to train with, and the coaches have been great.”
Gould began a competitive training regimen about a year ago and fought in his first formal match at an event in Calgary on Aug. 27. The result didn’t go his way, but he wasn’t dissuaded.
“Before, I’ve never been in many fights, so I didn’t know what to expect. It was close and went to a decision,” Gould said. “I know what to improve on now and where to go. I got over the initial fears of stepping into a ring for the first time in front of about 100 people. It was pretty nerve-racking going in.”
Gould said he enjoys all aspects of Canadian life and plans to stay here, as well as continue pursuing competitive mixed martial arts.
His next match hasn’t been booked yet, but it may come at an event in late October, depending on his training schedule.
“I want to keep going for as long as I can,” Gould said. “I enjoy it and I’m probably in the best shape I’ve ever been in. I don’t see an end to it anytime soon.”
