Get to gripswith life

By Bridget Brady
HE LOOKS tough, but Craig Cole is a softy at heart.
When he is not gritting his teeth and acting rough as a professional wrestler, Mr Cole, 41, works with disengaged school students as part of a life skills-based program with “a martial arts flavour”.
The Cranbourne resident, who is gearing up to perform in a War Zone Wrestling show in Hampton Park on 23 April, said his work with the primary and secondary school children gave him great satisfaction.
“I love it. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done,” he said.
He said to watch their progress was wonderful.
“You can’t put a price on that.”
As part of the Martial Arts Therapy (MAT) program, Mr Cole said children were taught a martial arts skill, such as how to break a board, and the life skills needed to achieve the feat. These skills might include goal setting and focus, he said.
“Every exercise we do, we link back to a life skill.”
Mr Cole said the students were intrigued to hear about his work as a wrestler.
“It is a good ice breaker because at first they think who is this guy telling me what to do.”
Mr Cole has been a wrestler for about six years and said his character, Pitbull, was an aggressive and “in your face” showman.
“He doesn’t pull any punches. He gets the job done.”
Mr Cole said the show in Hampton Park would be present the cream of Australian talent and feature two of the country’s best technical wrestlers, Shane Haste and Damian Slater.
Mike Petersen, 21, who has a background in Olympic-style wrestling, will also feature in the show and said the crowd could expect a quality line-up which was suitable for all ages. For information on the show at Arthur Wren Hall in Hampton Park visit www.warzonewrestling.com.au.