Interviews
MMATorch Interview: Lashkar Gah MMA Head Coach John Smith on Training in Afghanistan and Much More
Aug 14, 2012 - 3:45:36 PM MMATorch Interview: Lashkar Gah MMA Head Coach John Smith on Training in Afghanistan and Much More

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By: Dan Moore, MMATorch UK Contributor

With varying degrees of success, Mixed Martial Arts has exploded around the world over the past few years. Of the nations around the world where you might expect the UFC to go to next, Afghanistan is the last country that springs to mind, even after Afghan sportsman Rohullah Nikpai recently took home a Taekwondo bronze medal at London 2012. The country itself has been involved in internal and international conflict for many years now, both pre and post 9/11, and is without a doubt one of the most dangerous places on earth. The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is an organization tasked with providing security for the law abiding local populous. It's made up of soldiers from several countries (Predominantly US and UK) with troops based all over the country.

I spent the majority of my own 6 month Afghanistan tour in Lashkar Gah (LKG), back in 2010. Working there can be extremely monotonous, and in the heat of summer, soul destroying. Every day is Groundhog Day and time can feel like it's standing still, or worse still, going backwards. Whilst the job itself can be very physical, there is always an urge to do more to get the heart rate going, and this is where MMA comes into its own. John Smith is the head coach of Lashkar Gah MMA, offering training facilities and expert tutelage to all coalition soldiers who fancy giving it a go as a way to keep fight, or even just to punch something as a stress release without getting into trouble for it!

Here is what John had to say about his MMA camp over in Afghanistan:

DAN MOORE: Firstly John, what brought you to Lashkar Gah, Helmand Province?

JOHN SMITH: I'm a civilian security contractor (working alongside ISAF) and former soldier, having previously spent 13 years serving in a British Army Infantry Battalion.

MOORE: How were you involved in MMA prior to going to Afghanistan?

SMITH: I started training in MMA while I was still serving in the military. I started at a small club called 'Strike and Submit' based in Salisbury which is in the South West of England.

MOORE: Where do you train now when you're back at home?

SMITH: I train in MMA and Submission Grappling under David Faulkner a WMKF (World Martial Kombat Federation) World Champion. He is the best coach I've ever trained under. He started MMA/Vale Tudo back in the early days, being the first person to ever fight in a cage in Liverpool. He has such an open mind about Martial Arts that it's hard not to take away that mindset too.

MOORE: Do you train MMA more as a hobby? Does it also help you prepare for your job as a Security Contractor?

SMITH: It's more than a hobby, it's my life's passion. I train here for nine weeks then on my leave (back in England) I am training on a daily basis, so it's a full time sport for me. We don't teach MMA here for the self defense aspect, either for ourselves or the military, it's only for the sporting aspect.

MOORE: Have you ever competed?

SMITH: I've fought MMA once and done grappling competitions, winning Marcelo Brigadeiro's (Luta Livre) 'King of the Mat'. I also took second place at another of his events in the advanced category in Liverpool. Unfortunately I had to pull out of a fight in Newcastle five weeks ago due to injury, but once I'm healed I'll be looking to fight again towards the end of the year.

MOORE: What gave you the idea to set up classes for others to get involved in MMA?

SMITH: When I started out here, I heard that a fellow operator trained in BJJ. We both started training together on some old ripped up mats, outside of the (ISAF) camp gymnasium, all under some bamboo roofing. When we found a better location to train (a tent with no air conditioning), we decided to open up the sessions to everyone, and it soon progressed from (just) BJJ to what we do today.

MOORE: How popular is it with the troops?

SMITH: It's very popular with the troops, we have had hundreds of guys training here over before. We normally have a core group of about eight guys who train every night, then random guys and girls supplement the numbers by trying it for the first time.

MOORE: Do any of the American Soldiers based in LKG take any of your classes?

SMITH: We have a number of American students who train with us and have done so since we started last year. We even had a MACP (Modern Army Combatives Program) Instructor who would train with us to learn new skills to supplement his military martial arts program. We also have Danish, Nepalese and Bangladeshi personnel regularly take part. We've had such a wide variety of students from all over the globe.

MOORE: Are most of the students beginners? Or have some had experience of MMA training back home?

SMITH: Most of the students are beginners, however we do have guys coming in with some level of experience. For example we have two new students, one an American who wrestled in High School, and a Brit who trains Luta Livre in Germany. The way we get around it is like this, at Lee's class he teaches very basic fundamental skills so all beginners are steered towards his classes. I will teach the basics too, but also more advanced techniques. 

What I won't do is reset the class back to day one, just because one student is having his first session with us. That new student will have to pick up what we are doing, and then fill in the gaps between classes with me and Lee. For example, a new student may be learning a Peruvian Necktie, from single leg defense, on their very first day! 

MOORE: What other particular aspects of the sport do you cover in your training classes?

SMITH: As mentioned, we started off with just BJJ grappling practice, but have now expanded to cover Boxing which is run by [a great guy] called Steve Harnett who was a former Army Boxing coach. Traditional Muay Thai is run by Andre, a Fairtex Pattaya fighter who [at home] lives 15 minutes away from the Fairtex gym, and trains there full time. Judo is run by Lee who's a Judo Brown Belt, also very skilled in Jiu Jitsu, and has been training for over 10 years now. 

Submission and Grappling is run by myself. As mentioned I train under Dave Faullkner, the WMKF Submission and Grappling double World Champion, former TUF member, and all round top dude. So needless to say, we have a wide range of skills and experience to pass on to the team members.

MOORE: How about the facilities, where do you do it now, and who funds the kit and equipment needed?

SMITH: We train in a basic (12x12) military tent with no air conditioning. In the summer it's over 50 degrees celsius, and inside the tent, 64 has been the highest. In the winter it's below -5, with nearly -7 being the coldest. All our kit and equipment is bought and paid for by ourselves. Our training (classes) are free, so we just pool money together whenever we need something. We have four bags for bag work, two Thai, one Boxing and a Skittle bag. We have rings and ladders for footwork drills, slip ropes, medicine balls, pads (both Boxing and Muay Thai), and gloves and shinguards for guys who don't have any personal equipment.

MOORE: Do you get to watch any of the UFC cards, or other MMA events while you're over there?

SMITH: Unfortunately we don't have access to any of the UFC fight cards, so I go into internet lockdown during the fights, and watch them all at home recorded using my Sky TV.

MOORE: Who are your favorite fighters to watch?

SMITH: B.J. Penn, Jon Fitch (Yes Fitch, embrace the grind!!), Forrest Griffin, Nick Diaz, Chael Sonnen and of course Michael Bisping.

MOORE: Finally, how do you feel about the sport evolving in the United Kingdom?

SMITH: It is everywhere in the UK right now and there are promotions and teams in every major town or city in the country. This sport is growing massively, and only going to get bigger. It's a shame most of our newspapers and TV channels are not behind it. The BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) refuses to acknowledge it as a sport and won't report on it, which is a huge shame, especially as they run the "Sports Personality of the Year" awards. Meaning our home grown UFC stars, and other top level fighters are never recognized.

MOORE: Thanks for taking the time to speak to MMA Torch. Stay safe and good luck with everything John.


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