Sam Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, put on his gloves to spar with a former world kickboxing champion in Wrexham.
Mr Rowlands was visiting the boxing gym of local legend, Russ Willams who is the Wales and UK representative for Muay Thai and Kickboxing.
He said:
It was great to meet up with such a talented sportsman who has done so much to promote the sport in Wrexham and Flintshire for many years.
Russ is a former three times World Champion and I was delighted to have the opportunity to step into the ring and learn a few moves.
He is truly inspirational and passionate about kickboxing and the benefits it can bring to keep us all fit and healthy.
I was also honoured to look at his collection of belts which he has won throughout his extremely successful career.
Apart from being a Muay Thai kickboxing ambassador for Wales and the UK, Russ has also trained many celebrities in the sport including the Last Darth Vader, actor, Spencer Wilding. He also appeared on Michael Portillo’s Great Asian Railway Journeys in Thailand with his former trainer Master Toddy.
Russ was an Undisputed World Kickboxing Champion and Professional European Muay Thai Champion. He was the first person in Wales to fight, teach and promote the sports of Muay Thai, boxing and kickboxing. He also helps set up instructors with clubs throughout Wales and North West UK areas.
He has trained and promoted many fighters up to World Championship level and has been paid to travel the world teaching and taking his fighters to compete. He concentrates now on helping people control their emotions, give them confidence & learn to defend themselves.
Has a large fully equipped Muay Thai, kickboxing and mixed martial arts studio/shop in the centre of Wrexham, and on the Square in the centre of Caerwys, in Flintshire.
Sam Rowlands AS yn ymweld â chanolfan crefftau ymladd poblogaidd yng Ngogledd Cymru
Gwisgodd Sam Rowlands, Aelod o’r Senedd dros Ogledd Cymru, ei fenig bocsio i gamu i’r cylch gyda chyn-bencampwr cicbocsio'r byd yn Wrecsam.
Roedd Mr Rowlands yn ymweld â champfa focsio'r arwr lleol, Russ Willams, sy'n cynrychioli Cymru a'r DU yn y campau Muay Thai a chicfocsio.
Meddai:
Roedd hi'n wych cwrdd â chwaraewr mor dalentog sydd wedi gwneud cymaint i hyrwyddo'r gamp yn Wrecsam a Sir y Fflint ers blynyddoedd lawer.
Mae Russ wedi bod yn Bencampwr y Byd dair gwaith ac roeddwn i wrth fy modd yn cael y cyfle i gamu i mewn i'r cylch a dysgu ychydig o symudiadau.
Mae'n wirioneddol ysbrydoledig ac angerddol am gicfocsio a'r manteision y gall ei gynnig i'n cadw ni i gyd yn ffit ac yn iach.
Roedd hefyd yn anrhydedd i mi edrych ar ei gasgliad o feltiau y mae wedi'u hennill trwy gydol ei yrfa hynod lwyddiannus.
Ar wahân i fod yn llysgennad cicfocsio Muay Thai i Gymru a'r DU, mae Russ hefyd wedi hyfforddi llawer o enwogion yn y gamp gan gynnwys Darth Vader, yr actor Spencer Wilding. Ymddangosodd hefyd ar Great Asian Railway Journeys gyda Michael Portillo yng Ngwlad Thai gyda'i gyn-hyfforddwr Master Toddy.
Roedd Russ yn Bencampwr Cicfocsio'r Byd Cydnabyddedig a Phencampwr Proffesiynol Ewropeaidd Muay Thai. Ef oedd y person cyntaf yng Nghymru i ymladd, addysgu a hyrwyddo campau Muay Thai, bocsio a chicfocsio. Mae hefyd yn helpu i sefydlu hyfforddwyr gyda chlybiau ledled Cymru a Gogledd Orllewin Lloegr.
Mae wedi hyfforddi a hyrwyddo llawer o ymladdwyr hyd at lefel Pencampwriaeth y Byd ac mae wedi cael ei dalu i deithio'r byd yn addysgu ac yn mynd â'i ymladdwyr i gystadlu. Mae'n canolbwyntio nawr ar helpu pobl i reoli eu hemosiynau, rhoi hyder iddyn nhw a dysgu i amddiffyn eu hunain.
Mae ganddo stiwdio/siop cicfocsio a chrefft ymladd cymysg Muay Thai llawn offer yng nghanol Wrecsam, ac ar y Sgwâr yng nghanol Caerwys, yn Sir y Fflint.
