0:00:03 > 0:00:06What does it take to be the best?
0:00:13 > 0:00:14Around the world,
0:00:14 > 0:00:19sports steeped in tradition create their champions.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24Men who master speed...
0:00:25 > 0:00:27..skill, endurance
0:00:27 > 0:00:30and the will to win.
0:00:33 > 0:00:38Four modern sporting heroes are about to put themselves to the test.
0:00:38 > 0:00:39Argh!
0:00:39 > 0:00:42Gareth Thomas, Welsh rugby legend.
0:00:42 > 0:00:46You don't want to lose. Nobody wants to lose. It hurts.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49Donovan Bailey, the Olympic gold medal sprinter.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52Every single day I get up and I have a goal.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55James Toseland, two-times World Superbike Champion.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58There's always a will to win. I hate losing. I've always hated losing.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00But I'm not planning on losing.
0:01:00 > 0:01:05And Iwan Thomas, whose British 400m record has never been broken.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07I've always been a competitor.
0:01:07 > 0:01:11I think I always will have that natural need to win.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15They will travel to the four corners of the Earth...
0:01:17 > 0:01:19Wow, look at that.
0:01:19 > 0:01:22..to take on some of the world's great challenges.
0:01:22 > 0:01:24Wow!
0:01:24 > 0:01:27It's super dangerous. God, it's like being on death row.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30They're about to find out who's got what it takes...
0:01:30 > 0:01:32This is combat.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34..to triumph against the odds.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38They'll compete to be the best.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41I love it. I didn't realise how much I missed it.
0:01:41 > 0:01:42But who will crumble?
0:01:42 > 0:01:44Argh!
0:01:44 > 0:01:46I'm not in. You're not in? I'm not in, no.
0:01:47 > 0:01:49Argh, argh.
0:01:49 > 0:01:50I just want to die.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53And who's got what it takes to win?
0:01:54 > 0:01:56That is the scariest thing I've ever done.
0:02:02 > 0:02:06Our athletes face four gruelling tests.
0:02:07 > 0:02:11Their first sporting challenge was a 21-mile marathon with a twist.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14Everybody's finally ready for this.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17They were racing against horses in the mountains of Wales.
0:02:17 > 0:02:18As soon as any competition starts,
0:02:18 > 0:02:21I will want to beat that person I'm facing.
0:02:21 > 0:02:23JT! JT!
0:02:23 > 0:02:25That was it, game face on, race face on,
0:02:25 > 0:02:27get to the front, I'm in the race.
0:02:28 > 0:02:32Superbike hero James Toseland was first home,
0:02:32 > 0:02:36over the finish line in an impressive three-and-a-half hours.
0:02:39 > 0:02:41Fighting injury,
0:02:41 > 0:02:43sprinter Iwan came second.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46I slipped at mile 11 and right onto my hamstring.
0:02:48 > 0:02:52Coming in third... I literally felt like I was going to die.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55..nearly broke rugby legend Gareth Thomas.
0:02:58 > 0:03:00And Donovan Bailey... Ooh, the hamstrings!
0:03:00 > 0:03:02..once the fastest man in the world,
0:03:02 > 0:03:05became the slowest man in the race's history.
0:03:05 > 0:03:06Well done.
0:03:06 > 0:03:08You done it, brother.
0:03:08 > 0:03:10You've done it, butt.
0:03:17 > 0:03:19Now, the four men are heading east
0:03:19 > 0:03:23to put their brute strength and skill to the test.
0:03:24 > 0:03:26They are about to do battle
0:03:26 > 0:03:29in one of the oldest combat sports on Earth.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33Oil wrestling.
0:03:35 > 0:03:39This ancient sport is Turkey's national obsession
0:03:39 > 0:03:41and over a thousand years old.
0:03:43 > 0:03:47Wrestlers go head-to-head in a series of knockout bouts.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56The fighter who forces their opponent
0:03:56 > 0:04:00to show their stomach to the sky for just a split second wins.
0:04:05 > 0:04:09Towns across Turkey hold their own wrestling tournaments
0:04:09 > 0:04:12and huge crowds come to cheer their heroes.
0:04:14 > 0:04:18In just three weeks, the athletes will go up against
0:04:18 > 0:04:22professional wrestlers and find out who can put up the best fight.
0:04:33 > 0:04:38Gareth, Iwan and James have arrived in Turkey to begin their training.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41At the airport to meet them, straight from Canada,
0:04:41 > 0:04:43is the team's fourth member,
0:04:43 > 0:04:46former Olympic 100m champion Donovan Bailey.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50Come on. Hello. What's happening?
0:04:50 > 0:04:52Hello. The Don is in here!
0:04:53 > 0:04:56How you doing, boss? What's up, dog? I'm good, man. How are you?
0:04:56 > 0:04:59Oh, man, I was reading some things.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04'This entire exercise is a million miles outside of my comfort zone
0:05:04 > 0:05:06'so it's definitely a huge test for myself
0:05:06 > 0:05:09'to see how far I can take it.'
0:05:12 > 0:05:15There's certain things you only get in combat sports.
0:05:15 > 0:05:17It's like two objects just meeting
0:05:17 > 0:05:20and you could have the same strength, the same skill,
0:05:20 > 0:05:24the same ability, but one person wants it more than the other.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32The boys are heading two hours north of Istanbul to Edirne,
0:05:32 > 0:05:34the spiritual home of wrestling.
0:05:37 > 0:05:41They are about to train with one of Turkey's great wrestlers,
0:05:41 > 0:05:43Ahmet Yavus.
0:05:44 > 0:05:45He's a master of the sport
0:05:45 > 0:05:48with dozens of tournament victories to his name.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54And he's agreed to help the boys master the basics.
0:05:57 > 0:05:59It's like a fashion show.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01We're, like, being pimped out.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03We're like Russian brides.
0:06:07 > 0:06:09LAUGHTER
0:06:09 > 0:06:11Oh, my God. Awkward!
0:06:35 > 0:06:37Ahmet's first challenge is a test of strength.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39Arm wrestling?
0:06:39 > 0:06:42Oh, my God. This is going to last, like, two seconds.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44What the hell?
0:06:46 > 0:06:48He's smiling. He's smiling!
0:06:48 > 0:06:51Of course he's smiling. He was smiling!
0:06:52 > 0:06:54Go on!
0:06:54 > 0:06:55He's like a gorilla.
0:06:56 > 0:07:00Can I wrestle you instead? They found him in the Congo.
0:07:00 > 0:07:01Ready?
0:07:04 > 0:07:05You've got him.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09Gareth, you've got him! Yeah, look at him!
0:07:09 > 0:07:11Look at his face compared to mine!
0:07:11 > 0:07:14He knows. He knows, mate. You had him.
0:07:15 > 0:07:17Come on, dude.
0:07:17 > 0:07:19JT's strong, I'm telling you. Power to weight ratio.
0:07:20 > 0:07:22No, he's struggling.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24You've got him, JT. You've got him.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26Never underestimate the JT.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30CHEERING
0:07:31 > 0:07:33I think someone's had a word with him.
0:07:33 > 0:07:35Let one of them win. Let one of them win!
0:07:40 > 0:07:43I felt quite bad. We were all having a laugh
0:07:43 > 0:07:47and I think we do need to remember that this is his national sport.
0:07:47 > 0:07:49There was a point where I just thought,
0:07:49 > 0:07:51actually, it's time to take this...
0:07:51 > 0:07:53serious.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56'Now Wales can attack once again on the break.'
0:07:56 > 0:07:59Gareth spent his whole career playing at the heart
0:07:59 > 0:08:00of the Wales team.
0:08:00 > 0:08:04And when he was awarded the captaincy, it meant everything.
0:08:04 > 0:08:05When you are made captain,
0:08:05 > 0:08:09you don't want to seem like you're better than them.
0:08:09 > 0:08:10But, ultimately, there's times
0:08:10 > 0:08:13where you have to be the best in the team because everybody will look to
0:08:13 > 0:08:17you for inspiration, everybody will look to you for leadership.
0:08:17 > 0:08:19'..the Welsh try scoring record!'
0:08:19 > 0:08:20It can be...
0:08:20 > 0:08:22it can be lonely.
0:08:22 > 0:08:26But the times where you feel the comfort of the team's support
0:08:26 > 0:08:30far outweighs the time you feel the loneliness.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32'What a beginning.
0:08:32 > 0:08:34'Gareth Thomas!'
0:08:34 > 0:08:36It was a shock to us when he was made captain.
0:08:36 > 0:08:39But the people who gave him that responsibility made him.
0:08:39 > 0:08:43They could see something in him and totally changed him.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46'Gareth Thomas. A dramatic try for Wales!'
0:08:46 > 0:08:49Mentally hard, I call him. Mentally hard, yeah.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01It's time for Gareth and the boys
0:09:01 > 0:09:03to get their first taste of wrestling.
0:09:03 > 0:09:05Iwan. Nice to meet you, man.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09I'm good. Hi, pleased to meet you.
0:09:09 > 0:09:13But before the start, they'll need one crucial ingredient.
0:09:13 > 0:09:14Whoa, easy tiger!
0:09:14 > 0:09:16It is literally cooking oil.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19That would cost you a lot of money in Tesco.
0:09:28 > 0:09:29Oh, OK.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41Kispet are the sport's traditional uniform.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43The highly decorated shorts
0:09:43 > 0:09:47can only be worn by experienced wrestlers like Ahmet...
0:09:52 > 0:09:56..who wants to show the boys that his sport is all about contact.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00What I don't like is the fact you get slapped.
0:10:00 > 0:10:04They've got big sausage plate hands. Yeah, like a heavyweight.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06Bang, bang. He'll knock you out.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09I mean, you're getting hit in the temple all the time
0:10:09 > 0:10:11and that has to disorientate you. It has to.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15I tell you, there's going to be some blood.
0:10:15 > 0:10:17The reaction... Head clashes.
0:10:17 > 0:10:19They're allowed to forearm to your face.
0:10:40 > 0:10:41Hey!
0:10:41 > 0:10:43Are you all right, big man?
0:10:52 > 0:10:57Ahmet uses his bulk and power to win his battles,
0:10:57 > 0:10:59but two of the younger wrestlers
0:10:59 > 0:11:02use their speed to overwhelm their opponents.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07The thing is, no-one wants to give up, do they?
0:11:08 > 0:11:12The Yannick brothers are the bright young hopes for Ahmet's team.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17They started wrestling when they were just ten years old.
0:11:17 > 0:11:21He's bleeding. His head's bleeding. And they're brothers.
0:11:22 > 0:11:24Now, they're training professionally.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30These two, I wouldn't want to go against them.
0:11:30 > 0:11:34They're like pure pedigree bloomin' race dogs. Look at them.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37That's how I used to look when I was 20.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39Whoa, easy!
0:11:39 > 0:11:41That's BLEEP.
0:11:41 > 0:11:42BLEEP.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44He just mullered him.
0:11:44 > 0:11:48This time it's the older brother, Shaffaq, who wins the match.
0:11:48 > 0:11:52I think I'd rather go fell running again. Bring me that horse.
0:11:53 > 0:11:58Ahmet's demonstration has given the boys plenty to think about.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01It's way more intricate than I actually thought. Me too. I agree.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04We're watching this and you see the difference between
0:12:04 > 0:12:07the big guys, which is all about technique,
0:12:07 > 0:12:10and then the little guys, it's technique and speed together.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13When we do this for real, there's no way they are going to say,
0:12:13 > 0:12:14"Let's go nice on them."
0:12:14 > 0:12:17I know what I would do, this is our national sport,
0:12:17 > 0:12:19let's show them how tough we are.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21They will go in hard on us. Not today for training.
0:12:21 > 0:12:23We've seen it for the first time
0:12:23 > 0:12:26and we have probably seen two pretty intense matches.
0:12:26 > 0:12:28We're watching them and thinking,
0:12:28 > 0:12:30"Oh, my God, this looks really hard to do."
0:12:30 > 0:12:33But every day we will have more of an understanding of it.
0:12:33 > 0:12:37'Seeing these guys and seeing how they fight,
0:12:37 > 0:12:39'seeing how much they care about it,
0:12:39 > 0:12:42'it reminds me of what I felt in rugby.'
0:12:42 > 0:12:44But I also realise that in rugby,
0:12:44 > 0:12:46sometimes some people are better than you,
0:12:46 > 0:12:49whether they are bigger, faster, slower, whatever.
0:12:49 > 0:12:51Sometimes they're better than you.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54So all the talk of Man v Horse was all about,
0:12:54 > 0:12:56"I'm going to finish, I'm going to finish."
0:12:56 > 0:12:59All of a sudden, we've found something that, actually,
0:12:59 > 0:13:01may not be as scary as the Man v Horse
0:13:01 > 0:13:04but because it's contact, we are BLEEP ourselves.
0:13:04 > 0:13:05I don't think our bodies will be ready.
0:13:05 > 0:13:09There's no way my neck is ready to have 92kg land on it in the next two weeks.
0:13:09 > 0:13:12'We have two ex-athletes from the same sport.
0:13:12 > 0:13:16'Doing the fell running, it was actually their comfort zone
0:13:16 > 0:13:17'because it was running.'
0:13:17 > 0:13:21Now this is something that's completely alien to what they can do
0:13:21 > 0:13:23and I think they've become...
0:13:23 > 0:13:26to me, they were, like, afraid.
0:13:31 > 0:13:35The next morning, Gareth and James head into Edirne
0:13:35 > 0:13:37for essential supplies.
0:13:37 > 0:13:39Amazing cobbled streets, aren't they?
0:13:39 > 0:13:42At the hotel, Iwan and Donovan are still reeling
0:13:42 > 0:13:45after yesterday's demo.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47When he was slapping his opponent,
0:13:47 > 0:13:49you could actually get knocked out with that.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52That's actually...you're getting slapped hard enough
0:13:52 > 0:13:55to cause a concussion. Does that worry you?
0:13:55 > 0:13:58I was a little bit, like, there's not much health and safety.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01That open hand hitting the back of the head, the temple,
0:14:01 > 0:14:04I'm looking at that thinking, I could get knocked out.
0:14:04 > 0:14:06I'm worried about that.
0:14:08 > 0:14:10There has been oil wrestling in Edirne
0:14:10 > 0:14:15since it was the capital of the Ottoman Empire almost 700 years ago.
0:14:19 > 0:14:23The city's wrestling teams are some of the best in Turkey
0:14:23 > 0:14:26and Ahmet is one of over 20 champion fighters.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29We'll need at least two, butt.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32Go on, then, get me that one. Hello.
0:14:33 > 0:14:34Thank you, buddy.
0:14:40 > 0:14:45Armed with the oil, it's time for the boys to get started.
0:14:50 > 0:14:54The right to wear the wrestlers' leather kispit has to be earned
0:14:54 > 0:14:59so Ahmet's got a beginners' cloth version for his four new students.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04I tell you what, they look strange, don't they?
0:15:04 > 0:15:06Breathe in, Don.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12It's just squished up and shoved in.
0:15:14 > 0:15:16No, this is not good.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22It's a little tight. It's a little tight.
0:15:22 > 0:15:24Look at the colour of it!
0:15:25 > 0:15:28Oh, man. I smell like a chip!
0:15:29 > 0:15:32The whole oil ritual is a bit freaky for me.
0:15:32 > 0:15:36Covering yourself in olive oil is not something you do every day.
0:15:36 > 0:15:38It's the smell more than anything.
0:15:38 > 0:15:40It really does smell like you're in a fish and chip shop
0:15:40 > 0:15:42and I don't like being clammy and sticky
0:15:42 > 0:15:44and I've got a thing with my hands,
0:15:44 > 0:15:47so this is a challenge in itself, getting all this oil on.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50'Oh, no way, James Toseland!'
0:15:50 > 0:15:53It's a far cry from a helmet and leathers
0:15:53 > 0:15:55for the former Superbike World Champion.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59My mum met a new boyfriend who had a motorcycle
0:15:59 > 0:16:02and then this new boyfriend bought me one for Christmas.
0:16:02 > 0:16:06'The crowd go wild as Toseland takes the lead again and takes command.'
0:16:06 > 0:16:09Going back to school and everybody saying,
0:16:09 > 0:16:11"What did you get for Christmas?" "I got a motorbike."
0:16:11 > 0:16:14All of a sudden, they saw past the glasses, the braces,
0:16:14 > 0:16:16the spots and my leather satchel with music in it
0:16:16 > 0:16:19and thought I was quite cool from then on.
0:16:19 > 0:16:23'Surely we are looking at the new World Champion from Great Britain.'
0:16:23 > 0:16:26From that personality to then getting on a motorbike
0:16:26 > 0:16:29and just wanting to go faster with no fear at all,
0:16:29 > 0:16:33I'm still not quite sure where that came from.
0:16:37 > 0:16:38Kitted out and oiled up,
0:16:38 > 0:16:42the boys are finally ready to get to grips with the basics.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07There's another crucial hold they'll have to master.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09Oh, hand down his pants.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11The hand down the kispit.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15Sorry, mate, I've only just met you.
0:17:16 > 0:17:18I haven't even taken him out for dinner yet.
0:17:21 > 0:17:25'I'm not used to being that close to a guy and, like,
0:17:25 > 0:17:27'this is a weird sensation.'
0:17:27 > 0:17:30It feels quite nice, if I'm honest, all the oil, but it's a bit weird.
0:17:30 > 0:17:33I almost want to apologise, "sorry, mate, my hand's in your shorts",
0:17:33 > 0:17:36but it's part of the game, it's part of the rules.
0:17:40 > 0:17:43'It's wrestling and someone's in my space.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46'And I don't like someone in my space'
0:17:46 > 0:17:48and that alone is uncomfortable.
0:17:49 > 0:17:53And then there's oil and that's really uncomfortable.
0:17:53 > 0:17:58Fans and friends around the globe will be shocked that
0:17:58 > 0:18:03I'm doing any of this, absolutely any of this, for one second.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08The craziest thing is, for me, it's probably one of the manliest,
0:18:08 > 0:18:12toughest sports that I've probably ever encountered,
0:18:12 > 0:18:15yet Donovan, he has this manliness barrier
0:18:15 > 0:18:18being this close to another man in a wrestling situation
0:18:18 > 0:18:23and I think that to gain the respect of the guys within here,
0:18:23 > 0:18:26in this sport, and the people who he's competing against,
0:18:26 > 0:18:29he has to be willing to step outside of his lane.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34Donovan Bailey broke the world record
0:18:34 > 0:18:37when he won Olympic 100m gold.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43Winning the Olympic Games allowed me to join the greatest
0:18:43 > 0:18:47and probably most extensive clubs in the world,
0:18:47 > 0:18:50where you are the number one man
0:18:50 > 0:18:53and you are the number one man for ever.
0:18:53 > 0:18:57For me, it's the biggest alpha male sport event on the planet.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00The 100m is the simplest sport
0:19:00 > 0:19:03and it only requires you really to put one foot
0:19:03 > 0:19:05in front of the other efficiently.
0:19:06 > 0:19:10But you have to do it so technically sound.
0:19:10 > 0:19:14The biggest misunderstanding of that is that everyone can do it.
0:19:14 > 0:19:18But there's only one person that can actually do it the best.
0:19:33 > 0:19:34OK, right. So...
0:19:36 > 0:19:39After only an hour's training,
0:19:39 > 0:19:43Ahmet wants to give the boys their first taste of a fight...
0:19:43 > 0:19:44I can't even get his shorts.
0:19:44 > 0:19:46..against each other.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58It's the first time they've competed head-to-head
0:19:58 > 0:20:02and, like a real tournament, it will be winner stays on.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09All of a sudden, we're going to have winners and losers within the group
0:20:09 > 0:20:12and that's going to change the dynamic.
0:20:12 > 0:20:16So you don't finish in a time and you don't get success by finishing,
0:20:16 > 0:20:18you win or you lose.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34Fair play, man. You got me.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36Butt, are you all right? Yeah, I'm good. You got me.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40Donovan and Iwan lose their fights and are out.
0:20:59 > 0:21:04Losing means Iwan's out of the action but he wants more training.
0:21:05 > 0:21:07I'm not happy about this.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11Surely we need to learn more if we've...you know.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17'I don't actually see the common sense between the two people'
0:21:17 > 0:21:21who are deemed the worst, or haven't won, being sent off.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24In my eyes, surely I should be out there learning more,
0:21:24 > 0:21:25going through the motions.
0:21:25 > 0:21:29Not hurting each other, learning the grips, learning the twists,
0:21:29 > 0:21:31learning the pulls, because we need it.
0:21:32 > 0:21:34Oh, wow. Ah, OK.
0:21:34 > 0:21:36'I want to be out there.'
0:21:36 > 0:21:38It's like not being invited to your mate's birthday party.
0:21:38 > 0:21:41You can hear the disco from down the street.
0:21:41 > 0:21:42Just try.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55That's what upset me more than anything, in my eyes,
0:21:55 > 0:21:58in any sport, if you're not deemed the best at it,
0:21:58 > 0:22:01which I'm not, you beat me, the only way I'll improve is to do it.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04And then it felt like you and JT got more time and me had Donovan
0:22:04 > 0:22:07had nothing, just sat in an empty shower, that horrible room.
0:22:07 > 0:22:11And I'm, like, I want to be out there. I want to be learning.
0:22:11 > 0:22:13That's the world we've come to.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16We've step outside of our own worlds and we've come to another culture,
0:22:16 > 0:22:19another world, and we can respect that.
0:22:19 > 0:22:22But the one thing you keep saying that I don't think
0:22:22 > 0:22:25was relevant today was, like, I think the word win or lose,
0:22:25 > 0:22:28because today was all about learning.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31For me, it just reflected my career a bit. It really annoyed me.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34Once again, I want to be good at something and it's gone.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38'Thomas is holding on through sheer strength.'
0:22:38 > 0:22:41I used to be able to really push myself to the extent I would be sick
0:22:41 > 0:22:44at training - I could go through the pain barrier and beyond.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47I believe that's why I achieved what I did as a 400m runner.
0:22:49 > 0:22:51I always feel like I have to prove myself
0:22:51 > 0:22:56and, perhaps wrongly so, I feel I have to prove myself to others.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59I like to try and be the best that I can be at everything I do
0:22:59 > 0:23:01and perhaps I need to let that go a little bit,
0:23:01 > 0:23:04perhaps I need to stop fighting.
0:23:07 > 0:23:12You know what, like, in a group, we're all different,
0:23:12 > 0:23:15but, ultimately, when we have tasks and we're all together,
0:23:15 > 0:23:16we're together.
0:23:16 > 0:23:18Yeah, man, come here. Mate, trust me.
0:23:26 > 0:23:28In just three weeks,
0:23:28 > 0:23:32the boys will be competing in their first wrestling tournament.
0:23:34 > 0:23:36But after only a day's training,
0:23:36 > 0:23:40they're taking a Turkish massage in a hammam to recover.
0:23:46 > 0:23:48I don't use muscles like that.
0:23:48 > 0:23:52Grabbing hold of someone and trying to turn them and twist them.
0:23:53 > 0:23:55He may have won last week
0:23:55 > 0:24:00but James is worried that this sport plays against his natural talents.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03When it comes down to strength, they're all over six foot two,
0:24:03 > 0:24:07all three of them, and I'm like a jockey compared to them.
0:24:07 > 0:24:09But Gareth already looks the part.
0:24:09 > 0:24:13I look imposing and when I was a professional rugby player,
0:24:13 > 0:24:15it was exactly how I wanted to be.
0:24:15 > 0:24:19Because if I stood there, six foot three and maybe 12st
0:24:19 > 0:24:22and looking tough, it meant that psychologically,
0:24:22 > 0:24:24you know, I could fight...
0:24:24 > 0:24:27on a rugby field with the best of them.
0:24:27 > 0:24:29Oh, that's lush!
0:24:42 > 0:24:46In a few weeks, the boys will be fighting in a real tournament
0:24:46 > 0:24:50so Ahmet wants to be sure they've grasped the basics.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52Oh, man!
0:25:07 > 0:25:10And after his heart to heart with Gareth,
0:25:10 > 0:25:13Iwan's changed his whole approach.
0:25:16 > 0:25:20Today, this is really good because we're going through a bit slower,
0:25:20 > 0:25:23rather than going...like, yesterday I just wanted to do more and more
0:25:23 > 0:25:27but I can see now that it's good to slow down and look at the technique.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30Donovan's struggling with the physical contact.
0:25:31 > 0:25:36And after two hours of training, his fitness is giving him issues too.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39After being with these guys for a few days
0:25:39 > 0:25:41and seeing what they do,
0:25:41 > 0:25:47I have a completely new respect for how aerobic these guys are.
0:25:47 > 0:25:49It's the guy that makes the first mistake
0:25:49 > 0:25:53and his opponent recognising that tiny window of opportunity
0:25:53 > 0:25:55to pin him or put him on his back.
0:25:55 > 0:26:00These guys clearly have spent a lifetime perfecting their craft.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03Donovan was as dedicated when he was young.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06I was motivated by sport just because I think that was
0:26:06 > 0:26:09the greatest way to get me out of the house and maybe not to study.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12I just wanted to do more. I had a bit more energy than the others.
0:26:12 > 0:26:16I liked the idea of getting my homework done as soon as possible to go outside and play.
0:26:16 > 0:26:20I don't ever remember not competing and participating in sport.
0:26:27 > 0:26:30Do you know what, I feel knackered...
0:26:30 > 0:26:33but I love it because...
0:26:33 > 0:26:36I didn't realise how much I missed it.
0:26:36 > 0:26:38It's, like, all personal.
0:26:38 > 0:26:40It's all you against him
0:26:40 > 0:26:43and who's willing to give up
0:26:43 > 0:26:45and who's not.
0:26:47 > 0:26:48'God.
0:26:48 > 0:26:50'God, what a sense of satisfaction.'
0:26:52 > 0:26:56Even though I couldn't go any more, at least I know I couldn't,
0:26:56 > 0:27:00and I went to a point where hopefully he will respect it.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05The place I come from, the hard-working environment,
0:27:05 > 0:27:08the place where people are willing to make sacrifices,
0:27:08 > 0:27:10for me gave me an understanding that nothing comes for free
0:27:10 > 0:27:13and everything you get you work extremely hard for.
0:27:13 > 0:27:15I remember certain occasions where my dad said,
0:27:15 > 0:27:19"I can't go out this week because we had to buy Gareth new boots."
0:27:19 > 0:27:21They didn't know I was going to play for Wales
0:27:21 > 0:27:24but they wanted to give me the best opportunity they could
0:27:24 > 0:27:27so by my father and my mother making sacrifices to make sure
0:27:27 > 0:27:31that I can go on the field and play local rugby on a Sunday afternoon
0:27:31 > 0:27:34is an understanding of what sacrifice is.
0:27:37 > 0:27:41The boys have completed the first phase of their training.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44To celebrate their initiation into the sport,
0:27:44 > 0:27:48Ahmet is going to prepare them a traditional wrestler's meal.
0:27:49 > 0:27:53Ahmet, who has made it to the national wrestling finals,
0:27:53 > 0:27:55is something of a local hero.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29And Ahmet's keen to make sure there's enough meat
0:28:29 > 0:28:31to feed up his budding wrestlers.
0:28:33 > 0:28:35Ah! Shoes, guys, shoes.
0:28:35 > 0:28:39Hello. Oh, shoes. I'm Iwan. Aisha. Aisha.
0:28:39 > 0:28:40All right, butt?
0:28:40 > 0:28:43Fantastic. Look at the size...
0:28:43 > 0:28:47Is this your father? Your father? Big man! Was this your dad?
0:28:50 > 0:28:52Oh, your grandfather. I thought father.
0:28:52 > 0:28:55They're not just trophies, they've got medals and everything.
0:28:55 > 0:28:58During his career, Ahmet has won hundreds of matches
0:28:58 > 0:29:01throughout Turkey and, in three weeks, he will be competing
0:29:01 > 0:29:06in the same tournament as the boys in the town of Kocaeli.
0:29:06 > 0:29:09Ladies first. Thank you. Oh, look at that.
0:29:09 > 0:29:11It looks fantastic. It's lamb and lamb, isn't it?
0:29:11 > 0:29:13Ahmet, is meat a big part of your training?
0:29:23 > 0:29:27'I have a rule that I don't eat anything that I would consider
0:29:27 > 0:29:29'to keep as a pet because I love animals.'
0:29:29 > 0:29:33I do eat meat because I don't think I'd survive if I couldn't eat meat,
0:29:33 > 0:29:35but lamb is always, kind of,
0:29:35 > 0:29:39one of them animals that you see running around a field.
0:29:39 > 0:29:42You crack me up. You're so polite.
0:29:42 > 0:29:46I couldn't eat it on its own because just the taste of it is disgusting
0:29:46 > 0:29:48so I had to get as much in my mouth as I could
0:29:48 > 0:29:52and then, without chewing it, just fill my mouth up with orange juice
0:29:52 > 0:29:54and then swallowing it whole
0:29:54 > 0:29:57because the thought of having to eat it outright.
0:29:57 > 0:29:59Done?
0:30:01 > 0:30:05After the meat feast, Ahmet has an announcement to make.
0:30:14 > 0:30:17Oh! Please be the leather trousers.
0:30:18 > 0:30:20When they return to Turkey,
0:30:20 > 0:30:23the boys will be joining Ahmet in the tournament
0:30:23 > 0:30:26wearing the traditional uniform of Turkish oil wrestlers.
0:30:39 > 0:30:42Thank you. Thank you so much.
0:30:47 > 0:30:50Ahmet believes the boys are nearly ready to fight
0:30:50 > 0:30:54seasoned professionals in the regional competition in Kocaeli.
0:30:56 > 0:30:58These kispits are such a big part of it,
0:30:58 > 0:31:02because if we rock up looking the part, then we need to perform
0:31:02 > 0:31:05because the people are going to look at us and think, this guy can do it.
0:31:05 > 0:31:07So it turned everything a lot more serious.
0:31:16 > 0:31:18The four sportsmen are on their way to Kocaeli,
0:31:18 > 0:31:21four hours south of Edirne.
0:31:21 > 0:31:24Wow, look at that. Some high walls.
0:31:26 > 0:31:29I've only just been able to turn my head to the left.
0:31:29 > 0:31:32Yeah, I mean, I'm still aching.
0:31:32 > 0:31:34'Everybody is a lot more nervous going in this time
0:31:34 > 0:31:37'because we have an understanding of what is to come.
0:31:37 > 0:31:39'I think combat sport is something, when you get into it,
0:31:39 > 0:31:44'it becomes something of self pride and I think everybody's self pride.'
0:31:44 > 0:31:47Are you feeling good now? I'm OK. We'll see how it goes.
0:31:47 > 0:31:49I think when it begins it'll be interesting to see how far
0:31:49 > 0:31:51they're willing to go.
0:31:51 > 0:31:55Here's the boys, before we get broken(!) Waay!
0:31:55 > 0:31:57As they arrive in Kocaeli,
0:31:57 > 0:32:00the boys head straight to the training ground.
0:32:00 > 0:32:04# Till then, baby are you gonna let them hold you down and make you cry
0:32:04 > 0:32:07# Don't you know, don't you know things can change
0:32:07 > 0:32:11# Things'll go your way if you hold on for one more day
0:32:11 > 0:32:14# Things'll go you way hold on for one more day
0:32:14 > 0:32:17# Hold on for one more day. #
0:32:19 > 0:32:22I don't want to ruin this day, but, excuse me...
0:32:22 > 0:32:24Four big men, semi-naked.
0:32:24 > 0:32:27Things were going so well.
0:32:27 > 0:32:30Look at the size of him! They look more brutal than the last ones.
0:32:30 > 0:32:32Holiday's over.
0:32:37 > 0:32:40As Ahmet completes his preparations in Edirne...
0:32:42 > 0:32:45..he's got his friend Mustafa, one of Turkey's great trainers,
0:32:45 > 0:32:47to get the boys ready.
0:32:49 > 0:32:51He wants to give the boys the skills they'll need
0:32:51 > 0:32:56to compete in the tournament that will take place in this arena.
0:32:56 > 0:32:58Hello. James. Gareth.
0:32:59 > 0:33:02They've got the kisbits, but if they're to look
0:33:02 > 0:33:06the part as wrestlers, they'll have to learn the ancient rituals too.
0:33:09 > 0:33:11What are we doing here?
0:33:13 > 0:33:15First they join hands with their opponents...
0:33:21 > 0:33:23..and then they start the pesrev,
0:33:23 > 0:33:26a stylised march that symbolises the hero's quest.
0:33:51 > 0:33:55What if your opponent, before five minutes, takes you to ground?
0:34:14 > 0:34:17It's an aggressive new tactic for the boys.
0:34:17 > 0:34:20Mustafa chooses Iwan to demonstrate.
0:34:22 > 0:34:23I like his bad breath!
0:34:23 > 0:34:26You're going to get pummelled, Iwan.
0:34:26 > 0:34:28He's like the Incredible Hulk.
0:34:51 > 0:34:54Do you know what, obviously he's not going full pelt at all with me,
0:34:54 > 0:34:56but I learned quite a bit from him, then.
0:34:56 > 0:34:59He was quite generous with it, but just so heavy.
0:34:59 > 0:35:03You can see how out of breath I am just trying to move him.
0:35:03 > 0:35:05I like it. It feels so much better in these trousers.
0:35:05 > 0:35:08It's just obviously not only learning the technique,
0:35:08 > 0:35:10but the strength and the weight of the guy to get him over's hard,
0:35:10 > 0:35:14but I think my advantage would be my speed.
0:35:14 > 0:35:17That's what I've got to try and use, but, oh, it's tough.
0:35:21 > 0:35:24Mustafa's boot camp is bringing out the competitive
0:35:24 > 0:35:26side in Iwan, Gareth and James,
0:35:26 > 0:35:29but it's left Donovan struggling.
0:35:39 > 0:35:43This is all aerobics, man. It's all aerobics.
0:35:46 > 0:35:48I'm tired. It's like a marathon, really.
0:35:48 > 0:35:51I'm just not in shape for that. I'm built for sprinting.
0:35:51 > 0:35:54I want to get in there, ten seconds, I'm done, finished, finito.
0:35:56 > 0:35:58It's definitely an aerobic exercise where you have to be patient
0:35:58 > 0:36:00and it's not what I do.
0:36:02 > 0:36:05The problem with Donovan is I don't think he's too bothered.
0:36:05 > 0:36:08I think he's conquered his world,
0:36:08 > 0:36:10the double 100 metre champion.
0:36:10 > 0:36:11That's what he set out to do
0:36:11 > 0:36:14and if he's not good at anything else he's not bothered.
0:36:14 > 0:36:16He's still king of his own castle.
0:36:22 > 0:36:24Training's over.
0:36:24 > 0:36:27In two days' time, they'll be competing for real.
0:36:28 > 0:36:33Are we ready individually to be chucked into a competition?
0:36:33 > 0:36:35You want to feel that you can do it mentally,
0:36:35 > 0:36:38but from a technical perspective, you can't.
0:36:38 > 0:36:40I would need months of this training to be honest with you,
0:36:40 > 0:36:43so I don't think come Sunday we'll be as ready as we could be, no way.
0:36:43 > 0:36:46I'm ready enough. Yeah, you two, I think are ready enough.
0:36:46 > 0:36:48We need to practise a bit more tomorrow.
0:36:48 > 0:36:49No, no, only ready enough...
0:36:49 > 0:36:54I've got an understanding of what to do my best on not allowing them
0:36:54 > 0:36:59to get me on my back, but I have no idea really of getting them.
0:36:59 > 0:37:03I'm thinking quick and fast and because I want to get them
0:37:03 > 0:37:05on their back as quickly as possible,
0:37:05 > 0:37:08I just have a couple of moves I actually want to try, that's it.
0:37:08 > 0:37:10Do you reckon you'll get a chance to put the moves on them?
0:37:10 > 0:37:13I don't know if I'm going to do that but if there's a tiny window.
0:37:13 > 0:37:17Today there was two tiny windows. I went at it and I end up on my back.
0:37:17 > 0:37:22My concern with you, D, is if we go in there and you come up against
0:37:22 > 0:37:26some BLEEP brute, is that a, "Do you know what...
0:37:26 > 0:37:28"we could get BLEEP?"
0:37:28 > 0:37:30No, but I've said that to you.
0:37:30 > 0:37:32I will assess this day by day.
0:37:32 > 0:37:34Tomorrow I get out there, give it a shot, but it's more
0:37:34 > 0:37:37I get out there and give it a shot and that's a no-go for me.
0:37:37 > 0:37:39I'll tell you it's a no-go.
0:37:50 > 0:37:51The next morning
0:37:51 > 0:37:54and the boys are heading for one last training session.
0:37:59 > 0:38:03They'll be wrestling professionals in 24 hours and the danger of what's
0:38:03 > 0:38:07to come has got them comparing notes on sporting injuries.
0:38:09 > 0:38:13So what's yours? Probably the biggest injury was my right femur.
0:38:13 > 0:38:17I crashed it, Cadwell, in 2000, Cadwell Park,
0:38:17 > 0:38:19and when I was on my side, my leg was up here.
0:38:21 > 0:38:25It spiral fractured and it was underneath. I was laid on it.
0:38:25 > 0:38:27What are you thinking when you're lying here
0:38:27 > 0:38:30and you're laying on your leg, which shouldn't be there?
0:38:30 > 0:38:32It's like, how the hell did that get there?!
0:38:32 > 0:38:35Something's happened. I used to do yoga.
0:38:35 > 0:38:37Just as I thought it couldn't get any worse,
0:38:37 > 0:38:41the air ambulance was quite narrow and, cos of the angle of my leg,
0:38:41 > 0:38:43they had to get it straight.
0:38:45 > 0:38:49So they rebroke it? It was shattered and they just had to straighten it.
0:38:49 > 0:38:50Oh, man! Oh, my God!
0:38:52 > 0:38:54That's painful listening to it.
0:38:57 > 0:39:01Tomorrow the boys will do battle before a crowd of 2,000 people.
0:39:03 > 0:39:06They're determined to put up a fight even if they lack experience.
0:39:12 > 0:39:15So much to learn. So much to learn.
0:39:15 > 0:39:17I wonder how many moves there are?
0:39:21 > 0:39:24Wow!
0:39:24 > 0:39:28Mustafa's focusing on Donovan in a last attempt to get him ready.
0:39:39 > 0:39:42But he still needs to master the most basic requirement -
0:39:42 > 0:39:45a killer instinct.
0:39:46 > 0:39:48OK.
0:39:52 > 0:39:54OK. Give into it, Bud.
0:39:54 > 0:39:56Er, OK.
0:39:59 > 0:40:01Use your long reach.
0:40:01 > 0:40:03Get him, Don. That's it.
0:40:07 > 0:40:10Now change hands. Stay on top of him, D. Huh?
0:40:10 > 0:40:12Stay on top of him.
0:40:12 > 0:40:14'It's about commitment and, you know what,
0:40:14 > 0:40:17'none of us are going to be experts at it
0:40:17 > 0:40:20'but we can give one thing we have
0:40:20 > 0:40:22'and that's a lot of passion towards it
0:40:22 > 0:40:25'so the way of winning respect of these people is by giving them
0:40:25 > 0:40:27'everything you've got regardless of winning or losing.'
0:40:49 > 0:40:52No, no, no, it's the other side.
0:40:55 > 0:40:58APPLAUSE
0:41:02 > 0:41:04It's too much for the 100-metre gold medallist.
0:41:07 > 0:41:09I'm always worried about injuries.
0:41:09 > 0:41:13I mean, I think that's the number one thing, is that, you know,
0:41:13 > 0:41:17Gareth has basically been in a combat sport all his life
0:41:17 > 0:41:19and JT is just good at everything.
0:41:19 > 0:41:20Iwan is giving it a shot.
0:41:20 > 0:41:25I mean, we know three, four moves out of 500 moves.
0:41:25 > 0:41:29It doesn't suffice for me to get in there and try to do battle.
0:41:32 > 0:41:38I don't know enough to participate in an actual war as Mustafa said.
0:41:44 > 0:41:47I think tomorrow it is going to be a case of survival.
0:41:47 > 0:41:50There's some cheeky little moves he was showing us at the end.
0:41:50 > 0:41:53You clench your fist to hurt a calf or trigger point the neck there.
0:41:53 > 0:41:54You missed that.
0:41:54 > 0:41:57When he was headlocking to say you can choke them out,
0:41:57 > 0:42:00the aim is not only to wear him out, but knock him out.
0:42:00 > 0:42:02Oh, cheers for that!
0:42:02 > 0:42:04Are we in or are we out? I'm in.
0:42:04 > 0:42:06I'm in but just get some oxygen ready cos
0:42:06 > 0:42:08if I get choked out I'm going to need three of you to help me.
0:42:08 > 0:42:12I'm not in. You're not in? I'm not in, no. I'm not in.
0:42:12 > 0:42:15I'm not in because... You don't need to give a reason.
0:42:15 > 0:42:18No, no, I'm not giving a reason
0:42:18 > 0:42:21because I think I need to give an excuse.
0:42:21 > 0:42:26I think that it would probably be disrespectful to believe that
0:42:26 > 0:42:32if I learn two moves I can actually get in there and do something.
0:42:33 > 0:42:38'I think that, if he does pull out, then it's not a negative
0:42:38 > 0:42:40'because it does frighten him,
0:42:40 > 0:42:43'what could potentially happen to him tomorrow.'
0:42:43 > 0:42:47You have to decide, are you doing it for yourself or are you...
0:42:47 > 0:42:50I'm doing it cos I feel that the journey is not complete
0:42:50 > 0:42:52unless I take part in the competition.
0:42:52 > 0:42:54Wonderful. I think that's awesome.
0:43:12 > 0:43:16It's the day of the tournament. Training is over for the sportsmen.
0:43:16 > 0:43:18In just a few hours,
0:43:18 > 0:43:22there'll be a winner in this second heat of this competitive series.
0:43:22 > 0:43:24It's a weird one, this, cos out of all the sports and the
0:43:24 > 0:43:28challenges we're doing, this is the one I fear for all of our safety.
0:43:30 > 0:43:32It's brutal.
0:43:32 > 0:43:35The only thing I think I have in my locker, which we all have,
0:43:35 > 0:43:38is hopefully I've still got a competitive switch.
0:43:38 > 0:43:40I'm going to need all of that switch turned to ten.
0:43:43 > 0:43:47He may face long odds, but James is coming out fighting.
0:43:47 > 0:43:48I'm pretty excited about it.
0:43:48 > 0:43:50I think I've got a couple of manoeuvres.
0:43:50 > 0:43:53If I've got someone I can lift up, then I might have a chance.
0:43:53 > 0:43:55I think I'm the most competitive, for sure.
0:43:55 > 0:43:59If I'm going to go in, I don't just want to just be an annoyance to
0:43:59 > 0:44:00one of the professional wrestlers.
0:44:00 > 0:44:02I want to give them a proper challenge
0:44:02 > 0:44:04and see if I can win maybe.
0:44:04 > 0:44:08But even the favourite's nerves are beginning to show.
0:44:08 > 0:44:10Potentially, muscle-wise and training-wise,
0:44:10 > 0:44:11I'm bigger than the other guys.
0:44:11 > 0:44:13I'm no less frightened than the other guys
0:44:13 > 0:44:16and that's the reality of it, because, again,
0:44:16 > 0:44:18the unknown is really scary for anyone
0:44:18 > 0:44:21and if you pretend that you're not afraid of the unknown then
0:44:21 > 0:44:24you're lying and I'm not a liar, so I'm afraid as anybody and I'm going
0:44:24 > 0:44:29to be in positions where I just have no idea what's going to happen next.
0:44:31 > 0:44:34MARCHING BAND DRUMS
0:44:38 > 0:44:42Kocaeli's wrestling tournament is considered one of Turkey's best.
0:44:42 > 0:44:46It draws wrestlers and spectators from across the country every year.
0:44:49 > 0:44:52The day starts with a gathering in the city centre.
0:44:52 > 0:44:56It's a chance for the boys to see what they're up against.
0:44:57 > 0:45:00Did you see the size of that man?
0:45:00 > 0:45:03He's like Jaws out of blummin' James Bond!
0:45:03 > 0:45:06THAT scares me!
0:45:11 > 0:45:15Before a tournament, wrestling tradition requires competitors
0:45:15 > 0:45:18pay their respects at the grave of town's greatest wrestler.
0:45:22 > 0:45:27Hergeleci Ibrahim became Turkish champion in 1914.
0:45:28 > 0:45:31He fought matches around the world and was renowned for knowing
0:45:31 > 0:45:33more wrestling moves than any other fighter.
0:45:35 > 0:45:39A century later, he's still a legend of the sport.
0:45:43 > 0:45:45In professional eras,
0:45:45 > 0:45:47so many professional athletes forget about roots
0:45:47 > 0:45:49because it becomes about something else,
0:45:49 > 0:45:51but I think what's great about this sport,
0:45:51 > 0:45:54like all great sports as far as I'm concerned,
0:45:54 > 0:45:55is that you participate in it
0:45:55 > 0:45:59because you understand the roots of the sport and that's what this is.
0:46:04 > 0:46:07It's time to find out who has best mastered
0:46:07 > 0:46:10the techniques of Turkish wrestling.
0:46:13 > 0:46:15We've arrived, boys.
0:46:15 > 0:46:18Oh, my God, can we just not do another lap round the block?
0:46:18 > 0:46:21Looks a bit different to training. Look at that! It's packed!
0:46:21 > 0:46:23Whoa!
0:46:25 > 0:46:29400 wrestlers from across the country have come to Kocaeli
0:46:29 > 0:46:31to fight for a place in the national finals...
0:46:37 > 0:46:41..and the chance to be crowned champion wrestler of all Turkey.
0:46:47 > 0:46:51A series of knockout bouts will be fought simultaneously,
0:46:51 > 0:46:54some lasting up to 40 minutes.
0:46:54 > 0:46:57The winner will be decided after a long day of fighting.
0:47:00 > 0:47:02Even the spectators look big.
0:47:02 > 0:47:05LAUGHTER
0:47:16 > 0:47:20Akmir, their first teacher, has arrived.
0:47:20 > 0:47:23Like the boys, he doesn't know who he'll be fighting
0:47:23 > 0:47:25till he's called for each match.
0:47:27 > 0:47:30It's different nerves. When I used to race and hear, "On your marks"
0:47:30 > 0:47:34you're nervous, you know the 400m hurts, but you train for it.
0:47:34 > 0:47:36You're training all year.
0:47:36 > 0:47:37Racing's easy. Training's hard.
0:47:37 > 0:47:40This is a different fear because, not only will I physically be
0:47:40 > 0:47:46tired and challenged, mentally, just the fear that I may get hurt.
0:47:46 > 0:47:48Listen, this is real. This is combat.
0:47:51 > 0:47:53Knock 'em dead, fellas.
0:47:57 > 0:48:00I'm excited to try it.
0:48:00 > 0:48:02It's a lot pressure because everybody's just looking at us
0:48:02 > 0:48:05and thinking, "Wow, what are these guys going to try and do?"
0:48:05 > 0:48:08So it's pressure but I'm genuinely, genuinely not nervous.
0:48:08 > 0:48:10I'm excited to try it.
0:48:10 > 0:48:13Finally, their opponents step forward for the pesrev,
0:48:13 > 0:48:15the heroes' walk.
0:48:17 > 0:48:20Mustafa has matched three experienced wrestlers
0:48:20 > 0:48:22with the sportsmen.
0:48:22 > 0:48:26They've got one chance to compete with their new skills.
0:48:30 > 0:48:33Gareth is the first to fight.
0:48:36 > 0:48:38Go on, G!
0:48:47 > 0:48:50The first thing I remember was being hit on the back of the neck
0:48:50 > 0:48:53harder than I've ever been hit before,
0:48:53 > 0:48:56and I thought, "Oh, my God, I'm in a real fight!"
0:48:56 > 0:48:58And I had no idea of what to do.
0:49:05 > 0:49:09I was just trying my hardest to keep it going as long as I could
0:49:09 > 0:49:12and he wasn't holding back a single inch.
0:49:12 > 0:49:14Use your power.
0:49:20 > 0:49:23Come on, Gareth, that's it, that's it. Counterattack.
0:49:35 > 0:49:38Gareth is forced to show his stomach to the sky
0:49:38 > 0:49:42but he held off for an impressive three minutes and 56 seconds.
0:49:43 > 0:49:47I wanted to enjoy the time I did it, feel the crowd a bit, feel the buzz
0:49:47 > 0:49:49like you used to years and years ago
0:49:49 > 0:49:52when you competed at that high level in front of people
0:49:52 > 0:49:55and just kind of savour the moment, really.
0:49:55 > 0:49:57I enjoyed what I did.
0:49:57 > 0:50:00With Gareth making a strong start,
0:50:00 > 0:50:02can Iwan use his speed to his advantage?
0:50:22 > 0:50:25WHISTLE
0:50:25 > 0:50:28'I didn't see the start so much cos I was congratulating Gareth.'
0:50:28 > 0:50:31By the time I turned round Iwan was on his arse.
0:50:33 > 0:50:36Iwan is on his back after just 15 seconds.
0:50:38 > 0:50:39I went off too quick.
0:50:39 > 0:50:41I just feel I need to apologise
0:50:41 > 0:50:44because I know I could have done better.
0:50:44 > 0:50:47It's weird cos half of me thinks I want to have another go at it
0:50:47 > 0:50:50and maybe the other three-quarters thinks, you got out alive,
0:50:50 > 0:50:53nothing's broken, go home and have a cup of tea.
0:50:53 > 0:50:57James is fired up and he's got Gareth's time to beat.
0:51:04 > 0:51:07Go on, JT. Speed.
0:51:19 > 0:51:21Go on, James.
0:51:23 > 0:51:26Halfway through the match I thought I felt his strength.
0:51:26 > 0:51:30I thought, OK, I'm at least a match strength-wise, I thought.
0:51:53 > 0:51:56James dug in hard but he's been flipped.
0:52:01 > 0:52:06I've not done anything like really competitive for a while
0:52:06 > 0:52:09and I've just found out, after four years of retiring,
0:52:09 > 0:52:11that I still really hate losing.
0:52:11 > 0:52:15His fight lasted three minutes and 49 seconds.
0:52:15 > 0:52:17That's seven seconds less than Gareth
0:52:17 > 0:52:22so the rugby international's first with James second and Iwan third
0:52:22 > 0:52:26and Gareth's enjoying a new-found respect for his fellow wrestlers.
0:52:26 > 0:52:28We know the sport. We know the people doing it.
0:52:28 > 0:52:31We know how much they care about it, so all of a sudden now it's like
0:52:31 > 0:52:34watching our friends compete in something that's
0:52:34 > 0:52:36the definition of who they are and that's massive,
0:52:36 > 0:52:38cos rugby is the definition of who I am,
0:52:38 > 0:52:42so we know what this means to these people.
0:52:42 > 0:52:45APPLAUSE
0:52:45 > 0:52:48For a slight second I thought, "Oh, man, I'd like to get out there."
0:52:48 > 0:52:51But one of the things about the decision I made is simply
0:52:51 > 0:52:56I'm 100% in, I'm 100% out, so I don't really have any regrets
0:52:56 > 0:53:00and they know that they have my support is satisfactory for me.
0:53:02 > 0:53:05The boys have fought.
0:53:06 > 0:53:10Now it's time for Ahmet, the master, to show them how it's done.
0:53:27 > 0:53:29Look at him.
0:53:58 > 0:54:01After a straightforward win for the champion, Ahmet's got some
0:54:01 > 0:54:04words of encouragement for his latest students.
0:54:15 > 0:54:18I feel like we've experienced something that
0:54:18 > 0:54:22we actually gained loads out of because we feel like we've competed
0:54:22 > 0:54:25the best we possibly could in the short time we had.
0:54:25 > 0:54:28To us, this is a nice ending where we've come, the three of us, we've
0:54:28 > 0:54:31tried a sport that we respect and now we know just how tough it is.
0:54:38 > 0:54:42It's time for the boys to say their goodbyes to Mustafa...
0:54:42 > 0:54:44Thank you. Hey.
0:54:44 > 0:54:47..and to Ahmet.
0:54:47 > 0:54:50The four sportsmen are off to their next challenge,
0:54:50 > 0:54:54with James and Gareth neck and neck with one win each.
0:54:54 > 0:54:57But, as well as winning and losing,
0:54:57 > 0:55:00their experiences are bringing them together as a team.
0:55:00 > 0:55:04The whole process of trying to come to grips with this sport
0:55:04 > 0:55:09has also brought us, as a group of people, as four ex-athletes,
0:55:09 > 0:55:10much closer together.
0:55:10 > 0:55:14Whatever the next sport is we need to remember what gelled us together
0:55:14 > 0:55:19because, otherwise, we'll fall apart and I don't want that to happen.
0:55:22 > 0:55:24# Come on now, go
0:55:24 > 0:55:26# Walk out the door
0:55:26 > 0:55:31# Just turn around now cos you're not welcome anymore
0:55:31 > 0:55:34# Weren't you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye
0:55:34 > 0:55:36# Did you think I'd crumble?
0:55:36 > 0:55:38# Did you think I'd lay down and die?
0:55:38 > 0:55:41# I will survive. #
0:55:46 > 0:55:47Next time...
0:55:47 > 0:55:51This is definitely not Bridgend anymore.
0:55:51 > 0:55:53..the four sportsmen travel to India...
0:55:53 > 0:55:57Can I have three teas, buddy? Oh, you speak the lingo!
0:55:57 > 0:56:02..to become disciples in the ancient martial art of Kalari.
0:56:08 > 0:56:10It's super dangerous.
0:56:10 > 0:56:15They'll train with hardened masters who take no prisoners.
0:56:15 > 0:56:18He hit me once on the knee
0:56:18 > 0:56:21and then once on the inside leg.
0:56:21 > 0:56:24James and Gareth might have one win each,
0:56:24 > 0:56:26but these quick combat moves...
0:56:26 > 0:56:29I'm loving this. You've got to learn it or you'll get hit.
0:56:29 > 0:56:32..could be a perfect match for the sprinters, Iwan and Donovan.
0:56:32 > 0:56:34This is excellent.
0:56:34 > 0:56:37For me, the idea of speed and accuracy is what this is all about.
0:56:37 > 0:56:41When it comes to competition day, everything's to play for...
0:56:41 > 0:56:44Gareth looks like he's going to take someone's bloody head off.
0:56:44 > 0:56:49If I hit with the aggression I have been, I could do a bit of damage.
0:56:49 > 0:56:53..when the men find out they're fighting each other.
0:57:24 > 0:57:26We do BBC School Report every year.
0:57:26 > 0:57:28My students get really into it.
0:57:28 > 0:57:32Even at lunch, you see them running around, doing interviews
0:57:32 > 0:57:34and making news reports.
0:57:34 > 0:57:37They're really engaging with the world around them.