FOR Riley Fox a broad sporting passion has narrowed to a singular focus on martial arts in recent years, ANDREW ROGERS writes.
RILEY Fox’s first taste of martial arts came as child in Swan Hill, sewing the seed for what has become an enduring passion in recent years.
Fox has been involved in a number of sports such as soccer, boxing, tennis, speedway and football but when re-introduced to martial arts during year 12 it quickly became his sole focus.
Fox said he had played some senior football for Lalbert after graduating from colts but commitments with year 12 saw him training less and eventually he settled in the reserves side at the Eagles.
“[It was there] I had some of the best fun of my footy career. They were all top blokes and willing to put their bodies on the line to look after a mate,” he said.
Not long after getting his driver’s licence and becoming a bit more independent, Fox said a mate persuaded him to have a go at the local Absolute MMA club.
“All I can say is I wish I had started five years earlier,” he said.
“I loved every second of it. The caliber of people who coach and train at the club is outstanding and you can’t help but get hooked.”
It was here that Fox first came across Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and he said it has been his “real driving passion” ever since.
“It is a never ending road to self-improvement and I truly believe that martial arts is making me a better person, both on and off the mat, and I would encourage anyone to at least try it,” he said.
Since moving to Ballarat to study mechanical engineering, Fox has trained at the Ballarat Dojo and recently received a blue belt in BJJ.
While he is now solely focused on martial arts, Fox’s first introduction as a youngster saw a less committed outcome.
“My first taste of sport as a kid was soccer and I believed it was around the same time that I was introduced to martial arts… this was an awesome experience but as young kids often do I lost focus,” he said.
The main reason in Fox’s case was the popularity of football and, with a number of friends playing in junior footy competitions locally, Fox was soon having a kick at St Mary’s Junior Football Club.
“When I was old enough, my parents took me to St Mary’s and I played there throughout my junior footy,” he said.
During his junior football career, Fox took up boxing in Swan Hill and found it a good way to maintain fitness.
“It built up some upper body strength and I continued to do some boxing throughout the off seasons for nearly two years,” he said.
Fox won a club under 15 best and fairest, as well as two best and fairest awards in colts.
“My success with footy can’t be attributed to much skill, I was a pretty shocking kick and mark, but I put it down mainly due to the effort I put into my fitness and generally just enjoying it,” he said.
“I can’t speak highly enough of the coaches out at Lalbert, all of them were happy to give their time to anyone.”
Fox said he was grateful to the commitment of coaches and instructors at St Mary’s and Lalbert football clubs and at Absolute MMA.
He is still a member of Swan Hill MMA and trains locally when is home.
“To all of the coaches and parents who gave up their Saturday mornings to stand out in the cold while we played footy, and to the instructors who stayed behind the extra half hour to explain the ins and outs of a particular technique — thank you,” he said.
