Issue 091
August 2012
The Aussie ‘Flash’ is part of a four-midable Gold Coast wrecking crew
When did you start training MMA?
TALE OF THE TAPE
NAME Jack Gooderham
AGE 18
STARTED 2010
TEAM Shindo New Breed
DIVISION Bantamweight
STYLE All-round
RECORD 6-0
“I started training about three years ago at Shindo New Breed, a mixed martial arts gym run by Kerry Dunne in Queensland, Australia. In my opinion, it’s the best MMA gym in Australia. We’re a very tight and dedicated bunch.”
The Shindo New Breed fight team made history recently, what happened?
“Four of us won or retained Australian titles on the same night – all aged 18. I won the bantamweight title, Brodee Callinan won at featherweight, Pat Iodice won at lightweight and Dan Pauling retained his welterweight title. It was a great night for the gym.”
And all four of you guys actually went to school together, is that correct?
“Yes, Benowa High was where it was at (laughs) and we all slowly gravitated towards MMA. We are all very competitive towards each other, which helps push us to higher levels.”
What made you all get into MMA in the first place? Did one of you encourage all of the others?
“When I moved back to the coast I really wanted to get into something. I had so much free time and started wasting it doing stupid things, wasting life. I found out about Shindo from a friend who was good mates with Pat and Brodee at the time. Everything came together. Everyone else had already fought and they told me how much fun it was and how nerve racking it was. I fell in love with it all and have dedicated myself to training every day since.”
You were all national champions then by the age of 18, did you expect success to come so quickly?
“Not at all. I thought I’d be training at least three or four years before any A-class, five-minute fights would be happening to be honest. I didn’t think I would be answering questions about why I started for at least another four years, but I know this is a fast-paced sport and I’m ready to run right along with it.”
Who has been your toughest opponent to date?
“The toughest opponent I’ve had to face is myself. I know how fit I need to be, how I need to think to win fights, and I’ve been lucky to learn a lot from the fighters I’ve faced.”
What are your plans for the rest of the year?
“Keep training hard. I’m going through a stage in my training where applying techniques isn’t enough; I want to understand it in full. I’m breaking everything down and seeing what I can find out. What I can reinvent and tweak. It’s a great thing having such a knowledge-filled gym. I have to defend my title in August and the year end might see me fight overseas.”
The Ultimate Fighter is switching to Sydney, with trials for the Australia vs United Kingdom season planned this summer. Will the Shindo New Breed be entering?
“We’ve all been talking about it, but I guess you guys will have to wait and see… Fingers crossed, we see a certain bantamweight fighter up there.”
What UFC stars would you most like to see as team captains for TUF Down Under?
“It’s hard to say. In the past I’ve been really excited to see how the captains/coaches work, but been disappointed by their lack of coaching skills in general. I’ll be curious to say the least on who they pick.”
Which Zuffa fighter do you most enjoy watching?
“I enjoy watching beginners up to the more advanced guys as I’ve learned from both ends of the spectrum and have fun watching both. I must say, I try take and take as much from as many fighters as I can. Watch out UFC fighters, I have stealth-like abilities to snatch your best (laughs)”
What is your career goal in mixed martial arts?
“To have as much fun doing what I love. I want to be the best and I want to, one day, train the best. I can’t see myself finding anything else as interesting and fulfilling as this. Also, the fact I can make a living from it is a huge bonus.
“I’d like to finish by thanking my coach ‘Kez’, my teammates and my sponsors Planet Max, Advance Fight Gear and World Gym Ashmore.”
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