I like to fight.

And, I’m not just quoting my scrappy Irishman mentor/teacher … I just do.

I just came to this realization while learning the ancient martial art of Kalarippayattu, a 3000 year old art while in Kerala, South India.  This is all for an episode of my new show ‘Stratusphere’ in which I travel the world and tackle an activity or adventure that I’ve never done before.  In fact it was after filming this particular episode did I make some changes to my choice of activity in the other locations. As one of the producers of the show, I was able to offer up some new options, and coincidently enough, they all happened to be fighting. Besides the fact that I have acquired some new kick - ass fighting techniques to add to my repertoire from 6 different parts of the world (Iceland, India, Thailand, Viet Nam, Indonesia, New Zealand), I have also come to realize the importance of warrior culture and that the fighting ways of their past have helped define the current ways of life of many of these countries.  Interestingly enough by studying the martial arts relevant to these countries, this is what actually allowed me to get a real in-depth cultural look at these places.  I learned the importance of this art to their people as a whole and also by learning directly from the locals, I was able to interact with them - and there is no better way to get to know a place than to get to know the people.

Back to India - after  completing my training, which consisted of 4-5 hours of training in a ‘kalari’, which is what the place of training is called, in 35 degrees Celsius (95F), 100% humidity conditions for the last 2 days, surviving dehydration, ‘Delhi Belly’(my cameraman was not so fortunate), not to mention also filming the rest of the components that comprise the show – we were about to wrap this episode as I was on my way now to do a demonstration of the skills I had been taught to the master.   Now remember I’m on day 9 of a 10 day trip through India.  I won’t go into the details of what I’ve endured so far just to get to this point travel – wise (ever travel in an Indian overnight train in ‘second class’ due to a ticket mix up?), distance - wise (the Indian Himalaya have A LOT of winding roads!) and ‘shooting – a - show’ wise (making television is not always as it appears on your television!) – I’ll save that for when you tune into my show tonight and every Monday (sorry folks, only in Canada … for the time being) on CTV’s travel + escape starting 9pm (yeah, I know, that time slot sounds familiar huh?).  Just before my fight, I’m introduced to my new cameraman for the day, as our cameraman lay in his bed back at the hotel most likely trying to take in some clear fluids while cursing at the gods (and the meal he ate the night before) and he says “you must be so tired, how are you doing going to do this, aren’t you retired, why are you doing all this”?  Well, I am a little worn and a lot jet lagged … the only answer I can come up with is – “I love to fight”.