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Students gripped by UFC star’s virtual discussion
An Airdrie UFC star had students gripped as he took time out from training to discuss how his educational journey has contributed to his success as a professional athlete.
Paul Craig was “only too happy” to relate his experiences of his time as a student at New College Lanarkshire’s specialist sports campus at Broadwood in Cumbernauld to current students at the college.
Having recently completed HNC and HND qualifications in fitness, health and exercise, the mixed martial arts icon chatted with sport students via Zoom about improvements in his performance levels that he attributes to enhancing his education.
Paul’s scheduled bout with American light-heavyweight Jamahal Hill at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on March 20 was postponed after the withdrawal of his opponent.
He had hoped to continue his recent winning streak after his triumph over Mauricio Rua, also in in Las Vegas, in November.
Paul said: “College was a huge eye-opener for me. I never excelled academically in school and was apprehensive about starting this new chapter of higher education.
“Upon reflection, I consider myself to have been arrogant towards my sport and my knowledge to begin with. I was a tough nut to crack.
“The style of teaching and how the staff engaged me as a learner helped to break down that barrier.
“As I began to read more and progress through the classes, I was able to see how I could apply my learning to my career in professional sport.
“I used my new-found knowledge to change aspects of my training and fight camps for the better.
“This ultimately led not only to me achieving my HNC and HND but also having huge successes within my sport.”
Paul is one of only a handful of Scottish fighters to have secured a professional contract with UFC, which regularly attracts millions of pay-per-view fans around the world.
The 6ft 4in athlete, who returned to education as a mature student to help realise his long-term career goals, is a member of the Scottish Hit Squad, a mixed martial arts gym based in Whifflet.
Broadwood campus lecturer Ally Breton said: “Paul enlightened the current fitness students with both his experiences of the college and the impact it has had on him, both educationally and in his sporting career.
“Paul provided various scenarios of classes he experienced, such as exercise to music, and how a change of mindset, assisted by his tutors, helped him shape a class that he wasn’t particularly interested in into a staple of his current sporting practice.
“He was an ideal student, always applying his knowledge to his trade. Even to this day, he constantly reads and questions his reading to better understand his sporting progress.
“Paul provided excellent advice to the students showing how his experiences at New College Lanarkshire helped improve him as an athlete.”
The college has recently announced two partnerships with Scottish football clubs.
The HNC Rangers Soccer Academy Coaching Programme is a new initiative that will give students the knowledge and skills necessary to work as professionals within football or the wider discipline of sports development and coaching.
Meanwhile, a new link-up with Alloa FC offers young footballers who are still at school the opportunity to spend an afternoon a week with the Scottish Championship club, working towards a National 5 qualification in sport and recreation.
To find out more about sport courses currently on offer at the college, visit www. nclanarkshire.ac.uk/courses/sport