The Stand Tall Podcast

Jimmy Choi. American Ninja Warrior.

My guest today is Jimmy Choi. He was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson’s disease, at 27. He became depressed. He gained weight. He needed a cane to walk. Then, he fell down the stairs with his three-year-old son in his arms.

Enough was enough. Jimmy changed his life.

Jimmy has participated in multiple clinical trials to further research for better treatments and hopefully a cure for PD. Physical therapy led him to running and other activities that help him physically and mentally. He joined Team Fox in 2012, and ran in his first marathon that year and he hasn't stopped since. In July 2017, he took on a new challenge and competed on NBC’s “American Ninja Warrior” to show the world that Parkinson’s will not stop him.

Jimmy travels the country using his celebrity to inspire others with Parkinson’s disease to embrace physical fitness to manage their symptoms. He tells them to exercise with a purpose. He challenges them to try new types of exercises, things that scare them. He is living proof that exercise can transform the lives of people with Parkinson’s disease.

Jimmy maintains a very active lifestyle, having competed in over 100 half marathons, 15 full marathons, one ultra-marathon, six Grand Fondo rides, multiple Spartan Races and countless 5K and 10K runs. To date, he has raised more than $450 000 for Parkinson's research with Team Fox... and counting.

Email Jimmy for details on his live streamed classes. jimmy@thefoxninja.com

Phil Hinshellwood. A lethal weapon.

My next guest is Philip Hinshelwood, a highly respected retired Police Officer, and well known martial artist. Phil’s training has included high level security courses run by elite US agencies, and was Weapons (firearms etc) and Defensive Tactics Instructor and Tactical Teams Instructor & Operative at the NSW Police Academy and various commands throughout the state.

 Phil is highly a competent and skilled instructor, both with and without a firearm and highly respected in the policing circles. After many years of martial arts training, in 1988, Phil headed to Japan and has since become an authority in the classical Japanese martial art of Yagyu Shingan Ryu Heiho Jutsu under his teacher Shimazu Kenji.  The traditional Japanese gunnery school of Morishige Ryu is also taught by him at Gunnedah, & in Sydney by Dr. Andrew Melito, and is the only one of its kind outside of Japan.

 A true modern-day warrior that does not need to prove himself. His calm demeanour and easy-going attitude mask his deadly efficient martial arts skills.

To contact Phil: 

https://www.facebook.com/yagyushinganryu.heihojutsu?fref=hovercard&hc_location=chat

A chat with Clyde Campbell. Founder of the Shake it up Foundation.

I  first met Clyde more than 3 years ago. Soon after I was dx with Parkinson’s Clyde came over to my house and we sat together discussing what this new stage of life means. This is just the kind of man Clyde is. A positive beam of light for Parkinson’s people and their families. Clyde was diagnosed 10 years ago. He went straight to the most well know Parkinson’s person, MJ Fox and together with MJ Fox’s backing Clyde set up the Shake it up Foundation.

What makes the shake it up foundation so unique is that 100% of all donations go towards slowing down, stopping and finding a cure. At present, the shake it up foundation is at the research cutting edge.

Clyde is also an engineer in robotics. He has the uncanny ability to deconstruct problems and he has been able to apply his engineering background to the research of PD.

https://shakeitup.org.au/clyde-campbell-australia-day-ambassador/

From Reptiles to Real Estate.

I often wonder what kind of person is fascinated by snakes and reptiles as quite frankly they scare me just as much as heights and spiders.  My next guest and mate, Chris Williams has written and edited several books on reptiles including: The Snake Ranch Guide to Reptile Care, An illustrated Bibliography of Australian Herpetological Titles and A Photographic Tribute to the Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia and New Zealand.  and is of the President of the Australian Herpetological Society. 

Chris has also built an enviable reputation as one of the most trusted real estate advisors in Sydneys Inner West. A licensed real estate agent and auctioneer, he consistently ranks in the top 10 per cent of agents across Australia and his professionalism shines through in everything he does.

Chris shares his pearls of wisdom with us. He can be contacted on cwilliams@dijones.com.au

Interview with Rick Paulin

There are so many weird and wonderful people training in martial arts, My next guest is no exception , a third degree black belt in Northstar Ju Jitsu and is what I would call an intensely quirky genius that has a great skill of being able to analyse and break down just about anything to its base components, and re-build a better far more efficient model. Highly entertaining as an adults and kids martial arts trainer, able to lift unnatural weights of kettle bells, master of the Bulgarian bag, and is working on a cancer treatment that will revolutionise how cancer is treated.https://andydickinson.com.au/

Interview with Darren Higgs

He achieves what ever he sets his mind to.

An award winning financial adviser, a 7th degree black belt in Northstar Ju Jitsu, a 3rd degree black belt in Budo Ju Jitsu and World Sports Jujitsu Champion 2019.Darren has competed in Japan on numerous occasions. A very successful Financial Advisor and in between everything else, he is also runs his own highly successful Dojo; Quantum martial arts where he leads more than 1000 students in his weekly classes. https://quantummartialarts.com.au/

Interview with May Lai Paulin.

Every now and then. People, over time achieve extraordinary results. May Lai's secret to success in martial arts is due to her consistent and focused effort, long term. 

She is now the head trainer overseeing 100+ Black belts at Northstar Ju Jitsu. A great achievement as at the beginning of your journey, I really did not think that she had what it took. I was so wrong. Now a 6th Dan Black Belt in Northstar JuJitsu, the highest grade in the system so far.