
FP #25: From Prison Guard to Coach: True Stories from the Mat
In this episode of the Fight Podcast, Xavier visits Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal, to sit down with his good friend and ICCS Portugal director, Armando. Together, they explore Armando’s journey from decades of martial arts experience—including karate, kickboxing, and especially Muay Thai—to becoming a respected coach and prison guard with real-life fighting experience. The two share stories about the old-school atmosphere in Armando’s gym, training beneath a soccer stadium, and the deep family spirit that defines their community.
They dig into the importance of real, hard sparring for effective self-defense, calling out the dangers of martial arts instructors who...