Self Determination through Martial Arts: The F Word with Louis Walcott
As part of The F Word’s Black History Month series, I sat down with Louis Walcott, Vegan Martial Artist and Mindfulness Practitioner. In our interview, Louis walks us through his experiences prior to his Fitness career, whilst highlighting the transformative impact of Martial Arts in his life.
Louis launched his career in the fitness industry teaching Boutique classes in London. From his first classes, Louis grew from strength to strength in his career, where he balanced teaching HIIT and Cardio intensive VersaClimber classes with his own meditation and yoga practice. He became the Head Coach and Fitness Consultant for a unique meditation and yoga concept; an opportunity which enabled him to navigate the fitness industry in a new way.
‘I’m thankful I went into the industry because it allowed me to develop into the person I am now. When I was starting out, one of my managing directors said: “I can see you being one of the best coaches in London”, and that was the first time I really felt believed in’.
Prior to teaching, Louis participated in school sport, but his relationship with physical activity was purely recreational. He played football with friends but lacked the authentic, home-grown connection to the sport and natural team affiliation that those friends possessed. He hypothesises that this is because he didn’t share the activity with his father, with whom he had a distant relationship with at the time.
As Louis grew through Secondary School, he recognised that his young male colleagues were partaking in aesthetics-focused gym training. Louis believed this often stemmed from an insecurity that he didn’t possess, and he therefore didn’t connect with body-building sports either.
During school, Louis found studying easy, and excelled academically despite lifestyle changes and distractions common to young men of Secondary School age. He took five AS Levels and four A Levels in English Literature, Philosophy & Ethics, Maths, Economics and Critical Thinking. After receiving exceptional grades, he embarked on a Philosophy degree. However, his philosophical passion was dampened by the University’s Eurocentric approach towards philosophical issues.
‘That approach is unsurprising in an academic system built to maintain white-heterosexual male-hegemony and society which relies on the regurgitation of white-washed history to restore current political and philosophical practices’.
Understanding this, he transitioned to a Law Degree in central London, with hopes to pursue his long-term goal of a legal career. After two years of committed study, Louis was faced with extenuating personal circumstances. His life became highly pressured and University naturally fell down the list of priorities. We discussed the issue of external pressure in student life, and concluded that education can be an unfulfilling enterprise when it’s plagued by tough and unavoidable personal matters.
‘It was a poor time in my life’.
University became incredibly difficult for Louis as his resources were in demand elsewhere. He recognises that the pressure of University combined with other lifestyle factors at the time negatively impacted on his physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.
‘It was about what was accessible to me and I could feel that being a barrister wasn’t immediately accessible to me. I knew what my barriers were’.
Louis’ story highlights the all-too-common epidemic of young BME individuals unable to pursue opportunities due to financial and personal burden. Student Loans open up the possibility of university study for those who would otherwise be priced out, but the higher education structure is yet to acknowledge privilege disparities and provide the necessary support for those in difficult circumstances. It’s a lot easier to get a degree if your parents pay your accommodation every month and your Student Loan is there to fund weekly Nandos, 3-for-1 drinks and BooHoo orders. For students like Louis, lectures are missed because there’s an unavoidable demand to work considerable hours in a REAL job to earn REAL money to fund REAL life responsibilities.
‘Had I come from a position where I didn’t have other pressures and I had a desk in my room and got an early nights sleep perhaps my University life would have gone as smoothly as my school life’.
Louis is living proof that university success isn't as simple as the ‘be smart and work hard’ mantra that’s drummed into us at school. The complexities surrounding study as a young, black, working class individual aren't discussed enough in mainstream discourse.
Louis explains that:
'There are various factors to consider that are indicators as to whether something is accessible to you or not. These include your demographic, where you live, your parents earning capacity and what they can do for you’
But equally he encourages those who feel limited by their external circumstances to seek physical, emotional and spiritual liberation from within. He believes that every person has the power to put themselves in a better position for success.
‘If you’re not focused, and you’re not disciplined or motivated to do the right thing, it’s always easier to do the wrong thing. The freedom you get when in University requires more character and more discipline. I’ve had a wealth of experience and it’s been up to me to change my circumstances. For example, I chose to interact with calisthenics, meditation and yoga rather than negative practices. My lifestyle was one that I determined, I wasn’t willing to let anyone dictate what I do’.
Following his step back from University, Louis life was on a steady decline.
‘It wasn’t until completely breaking down that I realised I’d lost control of my life. It was only then that I acknowledged that I was suppressing my emotions through cannabis abuse’.
When did you realise that cannabis wasn’t serving you any longer?
'When I hit rock bottom. I looked at myself and realised that mentally and spiritually, the only way was up. Knowing that, I stopped smoking and became more focused. I strived towards becoming healthy and balanced.
Louis realised that he was the orchestrator of his life, and although he may not have had control over his circumstances throughout University, he had control over his behaviour, actions and decisions. It was then that he received a flyer for Martial Arts.
‘That was life changing’.
‘I went to the first class and it was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. I really got pushed. I finished the class and I felt so accomplished. It was a rite of passage. I felt like I was back on the African continent striving to become a man through traditional initiation. I did all of these things that were so new and so hard to me, when I finished I thought “I want to get to the point where I can manage this and be the best at this”, little did I know that it would be a lifetime commitment. As soon as I finished, I thought: “when’s the next one? I need to come again. I need to get better”’.
After the intense first session Louis endured, the other Martial Arts students were shocked by his presence in the second session.
‘From then, I attended two days a week for at least two years, I would not miss a single class. Everything in my life just became focused around getting better at Martial Arts’.
Do you think you needed that discipline and focus at that point in your life?
‘One thousand percent. It is militant. It’s not just physical too. There’s spiritual aspects of that particular environment. It’s an African Martial Art, so that was something that I really connected with. It requires a certain resilience, a certain commitment that is not just for the classroom. There are also aspects of service to the community’.
This service aspect to the Art is evident through Louis’ community work. Recently, he organised the donation of Boxing gloves and punch bags to ‘Brixton Street Gym’, ran by Terroll Lewis. The Street Gym is a hub for the Brixton community; an inclusive space for all to experience the physical and mental benefits of movement. Louis’ contribution will support individuals from all backgrounds in boxing training using safe and free equipment. Here, his story of entering Martial Arts from a place of weakness to practising the Art from a place of strength, is truly inspiring.
Not only has Martial Arts provided Louis with physical and spiritual opportunity, it has also allowed him to expand his historical understanding.
‘Through members at training I was introduced to another organisation that host a Black History course, so I enrolled onto that. That was life changing also. I developed discipline and self development as well as an understanding and love for both myself and other Africans of the diaspora. Martial Arts built my foundations firmly and rooted me in hard work through resilience and grit! There wasn’t ever a thought of going back to my previous lifestyle.’
Do you think everyone should try martial arts?
I think everyone should. I think everyone should have the experience of finding the willpower to stick at it. Because it’s not easy, you may not enjoy your first class. It may make you think ‘why is this coach shouting at me?’. Some people can’t take being told what to do from an African man, because we don’t have many strong black leaders, school teachers or black people in positions of authority.
Martial Arts really gave me a different purpose, a different drive which has literally emulated into every part of my life. I’ve gone Vegan because of it. I can’t thank the Art enough for the discipline I now have. My connection to the art hasn’t been effortless. But it’s a necessary requirement. Everyone should do it, and persevere. I’m passionate about it and everything it’s done for me. It’s the reason why I’m here.
Louis’ inspiring story of destruction and reconstruction highlights the omnipotence that movement and consistency has in our lives. What was once a recreational activity, has now provided Louis with incredible career opportunities. It’s allowed him to grow into the strong, spiritually connected and dedicated individual he is today. Louis’ liberation from struggle should in-still in others a sense of hope that our futures are determined by us, and we all have the power to create a meaningful life for ourselves.
You can find Louis on Instagram @louiswalcott
