An Cosantóir

September 2012

An Cosantóir the official magazine of the Irish Defence Forces and Reserve Defence Forces.

Issue link: https://digital.jmpublishing.ie/i/81237

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sports profile | 27 BY SGT WAYNE FITZGERALD PROFILE PHOTO BY JIM O'CONNOR NAME: Vinny Di Ruscio RANK: Corporal UNIT: Med Coy, 1 LSB AGE: 30 SPORT: Kickboxing ACHIEVEMENTS: 1999 – Irish Champion (64kg) 2004 – Pro-Am European Title (70kg) 2005 – Pro-Am World Title (70kg) 2007 – Pro European Title (72kg) 2012 – Pro World Title (72k)g Kilkenny, where I stayed for ten years. For six of those years I was employed in the gym as a PTI (physical training instructor). This was great for me be- cause I'm always training anyway due to my kickboxing. Then in 2007 I changed direction in I joined the Defence Forces in 1999 and after recruit training I was post- ed to 3 Inf Bn in Stephens Barracks, my military career and underwent the 3-star medics course in the Med Sch, DFTC. After completing the course I applied for a position in Med Coy, 1 LSB, and was posted there in 2009. I have served overseas with 88 Inf Bn eight years old: I just took to it. Currently, I'm a second Dan black-belt and an in- structor in Dragon's Lair Gym in Kilkenny. UNIFIL, 28 Inf Gp KFOR and 98 Inf Bn Chad. My kickboxing started when I was for a pro world title fight in July for the vacant ISKA (International Sport Karate Association) middleweight (72kg) belt against two-time holder Fran Zucalla of England. The fight was sheduled for Saturday July 15th in my hometown of Kilkenny. I had sixteen weeks of intensive training to get me ready for the fight and as Fran was going for a record, trying to become the first three-time holder of this belt, I knew he would be seriously coming for it for a few years now, which normally means two or three fights a year, with each fight requiring twice-a-day training for up to ten or twelve weeks before each fight. In April this year I began to prepare I've been fighting at pro level On the night the fight went the full twelve rounds and it was a high- tempo, bloody, bruising encounter. With respect to Fran he hurt me a few times during the fight but thankfully I managed to emerge victorious and take the title. I will have to defend the title early being encouraged by the Defence Forces. If anybody is passionate about any activity, whether it's kickboxing or football, chess or snooker, they should be encouraged. in 2013, and it will take some per- formance to take it off me as to be honest I don't think I can give it up! Then again I go into every fight with the same view that no-one is going to beat me. I suppose it's part of the win- ning attitude that you need at the top of any sport. I'm in favour of all sports and games www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE

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