Pro MMA and Invicta signed fighter Jo Calderwood gave us the inside scoop on how she got into the world of fighting and tells us how her career has taken her across the globe...
What inspired you to get involved in MMA?
I started training jiujitsu and wrestling inbetween Muay Thai fights after seeing how well some of the guys in our gym were doing. Paul McVeigh, Graham Turner and James Doolan were fighting regular on big shows, the shows looked more professional than most of the thai shows I was involved in and I found in general the MMA guys were getting treated more like professional athletes than the thai boxers. If anything inspired me it was just the guys I was around in the gym everyday, there work ethic and they always seemed to have fun.
I've been along to the Griphouse where you train and there seems to be a great support network among the guys and girls who fight do you feel this has helped you to get to the level you're at?
My main thing has always been to fight and when I moved to the Griphouse I knew everyone else there was on the same page as me, including the head coach and founder of the Griphouse gym Guy Ramsay who's helped me and some others pursue fighting full time. the level of experience in the gym is incredible and that's helped me and the other fighters coming through the ranks.
Everyone at the gym work really hard and push each other to do that bit more or go that little bit further, the gyms more like a family than a team, we are all there for each other not only in the gym but in real life stuff. We train hard but have a laugh as well.
Everyone at the gym work really hard and push each other to do that bit more or go that little bit further, the gyms more like a family than a team, we are all there for each other not only in the gym but in real life stuff. We train hard but have a laugh as well.
What does your weekly training regime entail?
When I dont have a fight confirmed I work off season strength and conditioning and tend to work on developing my skill set in boxing, wrestling and jiujitsu. I love learning new stuff so really enjoy this.
When I get confirmed for a fight I usually train 6-8 weeks specifically for that date, I train 6 days a week, 5 full days with 2-3 sessions and a midweek half day. My coaches plan the sessions weeks in advance and it usually involves one intense session and one technical session most days covering everything from strength and conditioning, striking, wrestling, jiujitsu, wall work and sparring.
When I get confirmed for a fight I usually train 6-8 weeks specifically for that date, I train 6 days a week, 5 full days with 2-3 sessions and a midweek half day. My coaches plan the sessions weeks in advance and it usually involves one intense session and one technical session most days covering everything from strength and conditioning, striking, wrestling, jiujitsu, wall work and sparring.
You’ve been popping up on my newsfeed regularly all over the globe, where has your career taken you to date?
I fought Muay Thai all over the place and spent a lot of time in Thailand, in the last year doing MMA I've fought in Glasgow on On Top promotions twice, Dehli India with the Super Fight League in front of 10'000 people and in the states twice its been pretty cool. Getting to America and Invicta has been amazing, it's where I wanted to be and the level of professionalism there is second to none.
What advice would you give any women looking to get involved or try out MMA?
If they are already thinking about it id tell them to find a gym and check it out, even if you don't like it you've still tried it and won't regret not trying it. Its actually really fun and a great way to keep in shape and build confidence, don't think you need to fight either, only a small amount of people who train actually compete.
What are your long term goals and where do you want to take your career?
I'm actually ahead of schedule with my goals, long term I wanted to sign to an international organisation and I've done that with Invicta, I also wanted to break into the world rankings and again I've done that after I beat Ashley Cummins I'm ranked number 8 in the world now. My goals now are to keep busy, keep getting better, get more girls in scotland into MMA and to fight the best girls at 115 around. The Invicta title and world number one spot would also be cool.
Do you follow any other sports?
To be honest I don't even really follow my sport. Only really keep up to Date with the guys on my team and i will wath ufc the odd time. I'm so busy with training I hardly get any time to do/watch anything else.
Off the top of your head – What one piece of advice have you been given that always serves you well?
The best advice I ever got was you only get out of fighting what you put in, if you want to be successful you need to work your ass of every day, your trying to master 3 or 4 martial arts at one time for MMA without even taking conditioning into consideration. If you want to get to a high level in anything you need to put in the hours. You get nothing for nothing.
"The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses - behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights. " Muhammed Ali
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