Mark Castagnini is one of the key players in Australian Thai boxing. Beginning his career as a fighter, he went through traditional martial arts before taking up Thai boxing almost by accident and discovering that it bought him to the ultimate test of his training. From there, he has been involved with developing and disseminating the sport at every level, editing International Kickboxer Magazine, working as a commentator alongside Michael Schiavello on Foxsports, promoting events and running his own martial arts academy, Hammer’s Gym. Mark spends a little time telling us about his passion for the sport, what its Australian roots are and the directions the branches are moving in. Continue reading
Archive for the Kickboxing Category
Mark ‘The Hammer’ Castagnini
Posted in Journalism, Kickboxing, Real Men with tags 'John' Wayne Parr, Amsterdam, Belgium, Blitz Magazine, Bob Jones Corporation, Daniel Dawson, Dave Hedgecock, Eddie Emin, Elite Boxing Thailand, Evolution, Foxsports, Glory Live, Hammer's Gym, Ian Jacobs, International Kickboxer Magazine, John Scida, Kyokushin karate, Mark Castagnini, Mark Pease, Mas Oyama, Michael Schiavello, MMA, Muay Thai, Nick Kara, Nugget, Pattaya, Paul Briggs, Paul Danaludi, Paul Demicoli, Ring Talk, Romolo 'The Wild Samoan' Pio, Sean Steinford, Silvio Morelli, Sityodtong, Stan 'The Man' Longinides, Steve Nedelkos, The Plus Factor, Tosca Petrides, Uchi Deshi, UFC, Vital Karate on January 17, 2013 by Jarrod BoyleMel Walsh
Posted in Kickboxing with tags 'John' Wayne Parr, Boonchu, Gold Coast, IFMA, Melissa Anderson, Muay Thai, Naturopahy, New Zealand, Richard Walsh, Russia, Scott Moss, triathlon, Urban Fight Gym on December 28, 2012 by Jarrod BoyleMel Walsh recently competed at the IFMA (International Federation of Muay Thai) games in Russia, bringing home a silver medal. She talks about family and fitness as the ‘headmistress’ of one of Australia’s premier Muay Thai gyms, Urban Fight Gym. Continue reading
Fighting Injury – On the Business of Becoming Hardened
Posted in Kickboxing, Observation with tags Alex Roberts, Amsterdam Arena, Buddha, Ernesto Hoost, Gokhan Saki, International Kickboxer Magazine, K1, Muay Thai, Nathan 'Carnage' Corbett, Paul Slowinski, Peter Lewis, Tafa Misipati on December 2, 2012 by Jarrod BoyleI once trained with Nathan ‘Carnage’ Corbett while writing an article about him for International Kickboxer Magazine. He had a big fight coming up against a European opponent, and Carnage was then, as he is now, in a unique position; he’s almost never been beaten. Continue reading
Caged Muay Thai: Street, Badato and Leigh
Posted in Journalism, Kickboxing with tags Aaron Leigh, Flip Street, Mark Pease, Mark Ritchie, Mer Bulldog, Michael Badato, Reinhardt Badato, Strikeforce on November 9, 2012 by Jarrod BoyleLike it or loathe it, Wayne Parr’s new promotional venture, Caged Muay Thai, is here to stay. Some of the other featured fighters give us their two cents’ worth on the experience. Continue reading
A First, for the Last: Wayne Parr Calls it a Day
Posted in 'John' Wayne Parr, Journalism, Kickboxing with tags Angie Parr, Blair Moore, Boonchu, Buakaw, Caged Muay Thai, Dip Muay Thai, Duane Ludwig, Japan, Jenk Behic, jiu jitsu, Jupiter's Casino, K1, King's Birthday, Kohi, Lumpini Stadium, Masato, Master Toddy, Mike Zambidis, Orono, Pattaya, Ram Muay, Richard Vell, S1, Senchai, Steve 'Superkick' Vick, Super League, Tae Kwon Do, Thailand, The Contender Asia, The Karate Kid, UFC, Van Damme, Yodsanklai on November 3, 2012 by Jarrod BoyleInternational Kickboxer Magazine, Sept/Oct 2012
‘John’ Wayne Parr has reached retirement. His last fight – his 114th – was his last, and has him more excited than ever. Continue reading
Kickboxing Banned in Amsterdam
Posted in Kickboxing with tags Belgium, Eberhard van der Laan, Kickboxing, MMA on October 27, 2012 by Jarrod BoyleThis is old news, but the recently elected mayor of Amsterdam, Eberhard van der Laan, has been charged by his constituency with the task of ‘cleaning up the city’. Many people will have heard of this in relation to preventing non-Dutch people going into the city to smoke weed. Van der Laan has also moved to outlaw kickboxing and MMA ‘galas’. Continue reading
Marcel Dragan
Posted in Journalism, Kickboxing with tags Alistair Overeem, Andre Manaart, Anthony Perkins, Arad, Ashwym Balrak, Banat, Breda, Bucharest, Buddhism, Ceausescu, Chakuriki, Communism, Confucianism, Cor Hemmers, Dennis Krauweel, Dzevad Poturak, Eduard Irimia, Gokhan Saki, Golden Glory, Judo, K1, Kafka, Lao Tzu, Lugoj, Marcel Dragan, Mike Passenier, Mike's Gym, Muay Thai, Nagy Arnold, Niecky Holtzken, Orson Welles, Phaedo, Philosophy, Plato, Ramon Dekkers, Raul Catinas, Romania, Stefan Leko, SuperKombat, Taoism, The Myth of Gyges, The Republic The Symposium, The Trial, Thom Harinck, Timisoara, Zen Buddhism on October 21, 2012 by Jarrod BoyleMarcel Dragan recalls the quotation from William Blake’s ‘Proverbs of Hell’; ‘He whose face gives no light shall never become a star.’ Marcel was the first, and probably the most influential, coach of one of the world’s most talented heavyweight kickboxers, Raul Catinas. This interview provides insight into Raul, as well as Cor Hemmers and Ramon Dekkers, in addition to the culture of Romania and why a hard sport like Muay Thai flourishes under such hard conditions. It’s also a portrait of one of the most unselfish, decent trainers I have met during my involvement with the sport.
Athough, he persists in calling me Jerry. Continue reading









