Fighting for the cause
COURAGE Training Centre owner and operator Ian Bone has made it his life’s mission to see people reach their full potential.
Bone concedes his methods are not everyone’s cup of tea but the results speak for themselves.
Bone has overseen the development of numerous young mixed martial arts fighters and also helped turn everyday people into fitness machines who take on the world with a firm, confident attitude.
Starting his first coaching gig as a 14-year-old, Bone joined the army and honed his training methods before starting his martial arts coaching career in 2008.
“Personal safety is for everybody, and personal growth is for everybody,” Bone said.
“Everyone here is really positive and ‘ on a mission’ so to speak, and I like to really focus on the attitude side of things.
“The most rewarding part of my job is taking on someone is who weak and is now strong.
“They may come in as a bit of a meek person, and two to three years later they are a different animal.”
Bone is a former pro MMA fighter and fought under the name “Hitman”.
He finished his fighting career in 2013 with 10 wins, seven of those by submissions and three by knockout.
“The key word is that I ‘was’ an MMA fighter,” Bone said.
“I had five knee surgeries and what not, but I still like to get in and train.
“My life revolves around coaching, and I travel regularly to be coached myself. I think that’s very important for being a good coach.”
Bone says almost anyone can become involved in martial arts.
“We started out with about 20 kids, now we have 120,” he said.
“We have whole families who are involved and we like to think of ourselves as a one-stop shop for people wanting to compete in martial arts
“I takes a large amount of courage to take the first step – hence our name – and it also takes commitment to stay.
“There’s the boot camp culture where classes run for a few months, but you compare it to a three-year apprenticeship.
“At the end of the apprenticeship you still have a lot to learn, so what’s the 10- or 15-year plan going to be?
“That’s what we’re about, and I”m 100 per cent invested in the team.”
Bone is among the dozens of coaches nominated by Townsville Bulletin readers as being among the city’s most popular.
Keep reading as we profile city’s most outstanding coaches. the