0:00:04 > 0:00:07What does it take to be the best?
0:00:13 > 0:00:19Around the world, sports steeped in tradition create their champions.
0:00:22 > 0:00:24Men who master speed...
0:00:24 > 0:00:25SWORDS CLASH
0:00:25 > 0:00:28..skill, endurance...
0:00:28 > 0:00:30and the will to win.
0:00:34 > 0:00:38Four modern sporting heroes are about to put themselves to the test.
0:00:39 > 0:00:40HE SCREAMS
0:00:40 > 0:00:43Gareth Thomas, Welsh rugby legend.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46You don't wanna lose. Nobody wants to lose.
0:00:46 > 0:00:47It hurts.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50Donovan Bailey, the Olympic gold medal sprinter.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52Every single day I get up and I have a goal.
0:00:52 > 0:00:56James Toseland, two-times world Superbike champion.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59There's always a will to win. I hate losing. I've always hated losing.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01But I'm not planning on losing.
0:01:01 > 0:01:02And Iwan Thomas,
0:01:02 > 0:01:06whose British 400-metre record has never been broken.
0:01:06 > 0:01:07I've always been a competitor.
0:01:07 > 0:01:11I think I always will have that natural need to win.
0:01:11 > 0:01:13THEY PLAY DRUMS
0:01:13 > 0:01:16They'll travel to the four corners of the Earth...
0:01:17 > 0:01:18GONG IS HIT
0:01:18 > 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 > 0:01:23SWORDS CLASH
0:01:23 > 0:01:24Whoa.
0:01:24 > 0:01:26Super dangerous.
0:01:26 > 0:01:28Guys like me on death row.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31They're about to find out who's got what it takes...
0:01:32 > 0:01:33This is combat.
0:01:33 > 0:01:34..to triumph against the odds.
0:01:34 > 0:01:36Can he handle it all? Can he handle it all?
0:01:36 > 0:01:39They'll compete to be the best.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42I love it. I didn't realise how much I missed it.
0:01:42 > 0:01:43But who will crumble?
0:01:43 > 0:01:44HE SCREAMS
0:01:44 > 0:01:46I'm not in. You're not in? I'm not in, no.
0:01:48 > 0:01:49HE GROANS
0:01:49 > 0:01:51I just want to die.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53And who's got what it takes to win?
0:01:55 > 0:01:57That is the scariest thing I have ever done.
0:02:03 > 0:02:05In their second sporting test...
0:02:05 > 0:02:07Look at that, it's packed. Whoa.
0:02:09 > 0:02:13..the four men were in Turkey to face an ancient challenge.
0:02:13 > 0:02:15This is real. This is combat.
0:02:15 > 0:02:16Oil wrestling.
0:02:17 > 0:02:19Iwan struggled to master the moves.
0:02:19 > 0:02:21Knock 'em dead, fellas.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24Donovan quit halfway through training.
0:02:24 > 0:02:26I'm 100% in or I'm 100% out.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29And while James, with one victory to his name,
0:02:29 > 0:02:32fought hard in the final showdown...
0:02:32 > 0:02:33I really hate losing.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36..it was Gareth who lasted longest in his fight.
0:02:37 > 0:02:39Come on Gareth, that's it, that's it!
0:02:39 > 0:02:40I enjoyed what I did.
0:02:46 > 0:02:50Now the sportsmen are travelling to Kerala, Southern India.
0:02:50 > 0:02:51Hello. How are you?
0:02:52 > 0:02:53Drive on, drive.
0:02:53 > 0:02:57Gareth and James, with one win each, are the first to arrive.
0:02:58 > 0:03:00Look at that, Hotel Benzy Palace.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03And they're heading far off the tourist trail to Calicut.
0:03:06 > 0:03:07This industrial city is home
0:03:07 > 0:03:11to one of India's most famous fighting schools.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15Run by masters of the ancient martial art of Kalaripayattu.
0:03:18 > 0:03:20Look at that, three on a moped.
0:03:20 > 0:03:21Oh, my God.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24This is definitely not pretend any more.
0:03:24 > 0:03:25THEY LAUGH
0:03:27 > 0:03:31It's such a different, like, way of living, the culture, the people.
0:03:37 > 0:03:39I've been told some horror stories about Delhi Belly
0:03:39 > 0:03:42and "Watch what you eat and drink" and all that, but, um,
0:03:42 > 0:03:44but other than that, my first impressions have been really nice.
0:03:50 > 0:03:51For the next week,
0:03:51 > 0:03:54the four sportsmen will study this unique form of combat.
0:03:56 > 0:04:01Considered one of the oldest fighting systems in existence,
0:04:01 > 0:04:04it's said to be the root of all martial arts
0:04:04 > 0:04:06and is practised all over India.
0:04:07 > 0:04:11Its mix of acrobatic moves and lethal weaponry
0:04:11 > 0:04:13requires extreme agility, precision and control.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20The boys will train in three key disciplines
0:04:20 > 0:04:22with local Kalari champions
0:04:22 > 0:04:26before they finally go head-to-head in combat...with each other.
0:04:33 > 0:04:38Iwan's due in tomorrow and former Olympic sprinter Donovan has
0:04:38 > 0:04:41joined them from Canada, and they're getting to know the town.
0:04:42 > 0:04:43You know what's funny?
0:04:43 > 0:04:45I bet you any money this is really healthy for these guys.
0:04:45 > 0:04:47Maybe they live to be 100. Who knows?
0:04:50 > 0:04:53Martial arts is something that I think is pretty awesome.
0:04:53 > 0:04:58I think that every kid has that kung fu-type, Bruce Lee-type thing
0:04:58 > 0:05:01and we're four boys, really, and we're trapped in men's bodies.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03Can I have three teas, buddy?
0:05:03 > 0:05:04Three teas?
0:05:04 > 0:05:06Oh, you speak the lingo?
0:05:06 > 0:05:09He speaks the language, he knew exactly what you wanted.
0:05:09 > 0:05:11It's JT. JT does everything.
0:05:11 > 0:05:13Not clams, just a tea, buddy, please.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18It's like this big Welsh guy walking down the street and everyone,
0:05:18 > 0:05:21like, stops and they just literally, like, stare.
0:05:21 > 0:05:25I have never felt so out of place in my entire life.
0:05:25 > 0:05:30Outside of sport, my, my, like, frame doesn't match my personality.
0:05:30 > 0:05:34The reality is not this big, imposing person who is, like, tough.
0:05:34 > 0:05:39Some people expect my personality to match what they see.
0:05:39 > 0:05:44And cos I know it doesn't, then, you know, it kind of intimidates me.
0:05:44 > 0:05:45We really do stand out, don't we?
0:05:45 > 0:05:47Yes, we do.
0:05:47 > 0:05:48Oh, my God.
0:05:48 > 0:05:50You're not enjoying this, are you, pal?
0:05:50 > 0:05:51I don't know, it's just not me, like.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54You like the beach and you like sand.
0:05:54 > 0:05:55And the sea.
0:05:55 > 0:05:56Yeah, in Wales.
0:05:56 > 0:05:57And a cup of tea.
0:05:57 > 0:06:01Imagine if it was a Saturday, maybe it would be packed even more.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03THEY LAUGH
0:06:14 > 0:06:17The boys will be spending their first night in India...
0:06:17 > 0:06:19Oh, boys, that's a lush breeze, isn't it?
0:06:19 > 0:06:21..on a Keralan houseboat.
0:06:23 > 0:06:25Are you looking forward to the martial arts, then, kid?
0:06:25 > 0:06:27It's going to be kick-ass tough, right,
0:06:27 > 0:06:29that we're going to be beating crap into each other,
0:06:29 > 0:06:33but make an oath before we've even learnt it that, whatever we have
0:06:33 > 0:06:36to do as the final challenge, the fight in it, you're going to do it.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39Are you saying that I'm not giving it 100?
0:06:39 > 0:06:42Er, no, I'm not saying that, I'm saying that I want you to fight it.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44I want to see Donovan Bailey from the track.
0:06:44 > 0:06:46So, make your vow.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48Which heart? That one, that heart.
0:06:48 > 0:06:49The real heart or the other heart?
0:06:49 > 0:06:52The real heart. The real Donovan Bailey 1996 heart.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54I thought it was quite interesting to have him
0:06:54 > 0:06:57put a pledge out there that, regardless of whether he can
0:06:57 > 0:06:59or can't do it, he's going to stick with it till the end.
0:06:59 > 0:07:04ANNOUNCER: Olympic champion and gold-medallist representing Canada,
0:07:04 > 0:07:05Donovan Bailey.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:07:08 > 0:07:11I want to do something that gets me completely out of my comfort zone.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13Maybe it's a new challenge, maybe it's testing myself.
0:07:15 > 0:07:16And in order to do that,
0:07:16 > 0:07:19you definitely have to do things that are outside your realm.
0:07:32 > 0:07:36It's 8am and the temperature is already hitting 30 degrees.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39Tell you what, that's a special view in the morning.
0:07:39 > 0:07:40Beautiful.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42It's too hot, though, it just makes you feel lazy.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45Need to get cracking doing something today. Oh, yeah, yeah.
0:07:47 > 0:07:52Iwan Thomas, the former 400-metre sprinter has arrived from London.
0:07:52 > 0:07:54Here he is. All right. It's only 40 degrees.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57All right, man? Hello, mate. All right, buddy. What's up, dude?
0:07:57 > 0:07:59How are you, mate? Nice to see you.
0:07:59 > 0:08:00We're all different shapes and sizes,
0:08:00 > 0:08:04so every sport has its advantages and disadvantages for each individual,
0:08:04 > 0:08:06so I think it'll be interesting to see what it's all about
0:08:06 > 0:08:08and who's going to come out on top. Probably JT.
0:08:08 > 0:08:12He's probably been to Kalari school when he was 12 in Sheffield, but, er, we'll see.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14This is a bit of a blank page, this one.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17Well, they're all quite small, apparently, so JT's good. THEY LAUGH
0:08:17 > 0:08:20The boys have one week to see how well they can master Kalari
0:08:20 > 0:08:22and who will triumph in combat.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29They'll be trained by Kalari master Sunil Kumar.
0:08:31 > 0:08:35His ancestors have helped to preserve the martial art through the generations.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46Ah! THE CHILDREN SCREAM
0:08:48 > 0:08:49Nice to meet you? You know Kalari?
0:08:49 > 0:08:51HE MAKES KARATE NOISES
0:08:51 > 0:08:52You know the sport, you know?
0:08:52 > 0:08:54What have you got?
0:08:54 > 0:08:55THE CHILDREN SCREAM
0:08:55 > 0:08:56THEY LAUGH
0:08:58 > 0:09:01His Kalari school is in the jungle outside Calicut.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04Students begin a strict training regime
0:09:04 > 0:09:05here from the age of seven.
0:09:07 > 0:09:09And some of master Sunil's older fighters
0:09:09 > 0:09:11are considered the best in India.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15Hello. My name is Iwan.
0:09:15 > 0:09:16I'm Sunil.
0:09:16 > 0:09:20For 1,000 years, the training areas have been dug
0:09:20 > 0:09:23out of the earth to keep fighters cool in the intense heat.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26Oh, it's quite deep.
0:09:26 > 0:09:27It's quite deep, yeah.
0:09:27 > 0:09:30And we'll be using these shields, these weapons? Yes, yes.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33I need a bit shield to hide myself from Gareth. I'm going to kick his ass.
0:09:33 > 0:09:35Are they whips?
0:09:35 > 0:09:36Yeah, that is...
0:09:36 > 0:09:38Don't get too excited, G.
0:09:38 > 0:09:40We're not in some air-conditioned, lovely gymnasium,
0:09:40 > 0:09:44we're in a...tarpaulin, kind of, well, from the outside it looks kind
0:09:44 > 0:09:47of like a mud hut, but the truth is it's actually beautiful inside.
0:09:52 > 0:09:56Kalaripayattu was used by an elite class of warriors
0:09:56 > 0:09:59specially trained to protect kings.
0:09:59 > 0:10:00If their master was attacked,
0:10:00 > 0:10:04they'd fight to the death using a formidable arsenal of weapons.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07It looks a bit vicious when you look at the shields and the swords
0:10:07 > 0:10:09and stuff, but I'm quietly quite excited about this one.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15The sportsmen are about to see Kalari close up.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18Hello, please be seated.
0:10:18 > 0:10:19Thank you.
0:10:19 > 0:10:23Master Sunil starts with the urumi, a razor-sharp,
0:10:23 > 0:10:25whip-like sword unique to Kalari.
0:10:28 > 0:10:29Whoa.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33THE SWORDS CLASH
0:10:35 > 0:10:36Look at the sparks.
0:10:36 > 0:10:37Whoa!
0:10:40 > 0:10:42THE SWORDS CLASH
0:10:42 > 0:10:44There's sparks off the floor.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54Oh, my God.
0:10:54 > 0:10:56Never seen... Oh, my God. It was close, though.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58See the sparks come off it?
0:10:58 > 0:11:00G, I've never seen you that scared.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02I don't like knives and stuff like that.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04The urumi is reserved for experts only.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11The sportsmen will learn three key Kalari techniques.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14They'll start with a yoga-like routine
0:11:14 > 0:11:16to test their flexibility and focus.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22Decent, decent.
0:11:22 > 0:11:26Experienced fighters can make an eight-foot jump look easy.
0:11:26 > 0:11:27Oh. Yes!
0:11:29 > 0:11:32They'll then learn kettukari, long stick fighting,
0:11:32 > 0:11:35a lightning-fast test of mental discipline
0:11:35 > 0:11:37that demands nerves of steel.
0:11:37 > 0:11:38THE SWORDS CLASH
0:11:40 > 0:11:41Whoa, dude.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43Wow. Oh, my God.
0:11:43 > 0:11:47The third and final stage is sword and shield combat.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50SWORDS HIT OFF SHIELDS
0:11:50 > 0:11:52THE FIGHTERS GRUNT
0:11:58 > 0:12:01THEY YELP
0:12:05 > 0:12:07THEY APPLAUD
0:12:07 > 0:12:09Oh, man. Oh, that's serious.
0:12:09 > 0:12:10We have to do that by Tuesday?
0:12:10 > 0:12:12Yes, actually, but we're going to...
0:12:12 > 0:12:14Instead of a sword, we can use stick.
0:12:16 > 0:12:17In the final competition,
0:12:17 > 0:12:21Master Sunil will have his new students fight with kettukari sticks.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25The swords are just too dangerous for beginners.
0:12:25 > 0:12:26It's pretty crazy.
0:12:26 > 0:12:28You see the reason why... that they start very young.
0:12:28 > 0:12:33The demonstration alone looks like it takes years and years and years of practice.
0:12:33 > 0:12:35You might have the mind of an old athlete,
0:12:35 > 0:12:37but, er, there's a reality.
0:12:37 > 0:12:39This is about precision, it's about flexibility
0:12:39 > 0:12:42and it's about years and years of training.
0:12:42 > 0:12:46Let's have a little practice. Oh, come on, then. Ready? THEY LAUGH
0:12:46 > 0:12:49See, what scares me, in all seriousness, even watching that demo
0:12:49 > 0:12:52if you get one...even that, a rap round the knuckles... Yeah, like that.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55Ah! IWAN LAUGHS
0:12:55 > 0:12:57See, but even that hurt.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00So, I mean, that... IWAN LAUGHS
0:13:05 > 0:13:07Before they can start training,
0:13:07 > 0:13:10the boys need to be initiated as Kalari students.
0:13:13 > 0:13:15Every time you come into the Kalari, you have to pray,
0:13:15 > 0:13:18you have to go through a spiritual routine.
0:13:18 > 0:13:22It's not like when I was an athlete, I'd just turn up and say to the man on the gate, "All right, mate?
0:13:22 > 0:13:25"Yep, just warming up!" and I'd do my little warm-up and I race,
0:13:25 > 0:13:27this is more of a... A way of life.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30You feel like you're part of something bigger than sport.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32It's life.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34The school is a sacred space.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37Fighters must make offerings of flowers to the Hindu gods
0:13:37 > 0:13:41and pray to protect themselves against injury.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43It is a little bit weird if you're not religious
0:13:43 > 0:13:46and believe in gods, um, which I really don't,
0:13:46 > 0:13:49but it's important to them, so we're being taught how to do it
0:13:49 > 0:13:51and this is part of it, so better respect that.
0:13:51 > 0:13:54I think the most difficult thing was Donovan actually more or less
0:13:54 > 0:13:59touching someone else's feet, worshipping someone's feet!
0:13:59 > 0:14:00In just one week,
0:14:00 > 0:14:03the boys will compete before a panel of Kalari masters.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08The winner will show the greatest skill in movement, and will
0:14:08 > 0:14:12have mastered stick-fighting and stick-and-shield combat.
0:14:14 > 0:14:15I'll show you first, actually.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18In each leg, we will balance our body,
0:14:18 > 0:14:20so stay like this, then we're going to start.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23Wullup nairi.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25Training's begun. Wullup nairi.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28'First, they'll have to memorise a 28-move sequence,
0:14:28 > 0:14:32'designed to develop a fighter's combat reflexes.'
0:14:32 > 0:14:35Step back and balance your body. Step forward and breathe.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38It's tough. You know, stretching's always been difficult for me.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41In rugby, I never focused on stretching.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44Then again, start. Wullup nairi.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48Wullup nairi.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51I did Taekwondo when I was 11 for, like, a year,
0:14:51 > 0:14:53till I got roughed up by a bigger boy and I left
0:14:53 > 0:14:57and never went back, but I seem to be quite flexible still.
0:14:57 > 0:14:59Step forward, balance. Close the arms.
0:15:02 > 0:15:04OK, please, put your left leg in front.
0:15:04 > 0:15:05Left leg in front.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08Step forward and raise your right leg and balance.
0:15:08 > 0:15:11Stay there, stay there. Stay there, stay there, don't jump. OK.
0:15:11 > 0:15:15I knew I'd be all right with the balance, cos, you know, with riding bikes,
0:15:15 > 0:15:17the balance is a big part of that, with the core strength and that,
0:15:17 > 0:15:20so I knew that was all right, but I haven't got much flexibility
0:15:20 > 0:15:22in my legs, though, so I couldn't kick that high.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26Wullup nairi. Wullup nairi. Wullup nairi. Step forward!
0:15:26 > 0:15:28Turn!
0:15:28 > 0:15:29You just need to go slower.
0:15:29 > 0:15:32You're going through the whole thing, it's too much to take in, I think.
0:15:32 > 0:15:34'It's the same as when I was a 400-metre runner.'
0:15:34 > 0:15:38You don't sprint the whole race whatsoever. I'd break it down in my head, so I'd think about,
0:15:38 > 0:15:42"Right, think about your blocks, your first 30 metres, then think about down the back straight,"
0:15:42 > 0:15:45and that's exactly the same principle in this sport.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47For me, I just wanna break it down into sections
0:15:47 > 0:15:51and then it'll become complete. So, at the moment, I'm thinking, "Just teach me the first piece
0:15:51 > 0:15:54"of that jigsaw, then I'll learn the middle bit of the jigsaw
0:15:54 > 0:15:57"and then hopefully, at the end, the jigsaw will form a lovely puzzle."
0:15:57 > 0:16:00"I don't wanna see the big puzzle, because it's a bit scrambled."
0:16:00 > 0:16:02Raise your arm, take back your left leg.
0:16:02 > 0:16:04'Donovan, true to his promise, is pushing himself.'
0:16:04 > 0:16:06Oh, God, I'm dying.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09My hamstring's falling off, my spine is about to pop.
0:16:09 > 0:16:10Like this, kick.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15Clearly realising how good a life I've been living
0:16:15 > 0:16:18and I probably need to get out and exercise a little more.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21Turn!
0:16:21 > 0:16:22I'm getting a sweat.
0:16:22 > 0:16:24Well, I think I can do the first two.
0:16:24 > 0:16:26The first two poses, yeah.
0:16:26 > 0:16:29So, I can get to, like, three metres into it.
0:16:29 > 0:16:32Everybody's a bit, like, at different stages at the moment.
0:16:32 > 0:16:36So me and Gareth are at the same, but, well, we'll see how Iwan and Donovan's doing.
0:16:36 > 0:16:38Hey, come on, you know I'm going to give it a shot.
0:16:38 > 0:16:40I'm going to give it a... You know, a shot.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43I think practice makes perfect and, at the end of it, you know,
0:16:43 > 0:16:48I might surprise you and you might be a perfect ten.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51While Donovan's hoping to prove his critics wrong,
0:16:51 > 0:16:55Gareth's doing better than he'd expected.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58I was quite surprised how quickly I picked it up,
0:16:58 > 0:17:03by how it seemed, at the start, to be an impossibility to even
0:17:03 > 0:17:07get, like, halfway through it, let alone to be getting to the
0:17:07 > 0:17:10point of where you're getting it all the way to the end.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17To give them a deeper understanding of Kalari,
0:17:17 > 0:17:20Master Sunil has invited the boys to his home...
0:17:22 > 0:17:26..and they've offered to pick up some fresh tuna for a classic South Indian curry.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31Whose idea was this? It was my idea. Oh, nice, JT.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35A tuna? The smell is quite overpowering, isn't it?
0:17:35 > 0:17:38Fish is right at the heart of Keralan food and culture.
0:17:38 > 0:17:42The fresh catch is brought to this market each morning.
0:17:42 > 0:17:44Big prawns, aren't they?
0:17:45 > 0:17:48Do you know what tuna looks like, JT? Er, yes... Big.
0:17:48 > 0:17:50JT's idea was a nice one.
0:17:50 > 0:17:52You know, if we could go there with a big tuna
0:17:52 > 0:17:56and they can cook it for us, it'd be an authentic meal.
0:17:56 > 0:17:57Whoa.
0:17:57 > 0:17:58HE HEAVES
0:17:58 > 0:18:02It's the little ones that make me feel squeamish.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05I knew India was different to everything I'm used to,
0:18:05 > 0:18:09but that, I think for anyone, that's like a crazy experience.
0:18:09 > 0:18:13Claustrophobic atmosphere that's in there and, you know,
0:18:13 > 0:18:16the smells are just, kind of like... It's overpowering.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18Everything about it is really overpowering and, for me,
0:18:18 > 0:18:21it's so far away from what I like.
0:18:21 > 0:18:25I like open spaces, I like my fields, I like my fresh smells.
0:18:25 > 0:18:27No way! Sharks!
0:18:29 > 0:18:31Tuna? That is tuna.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34JT, here's your tuna. What do you reckon, them two?
0:18:34 > 0:18:36They're not very big though, are they? How much?
0:18:36 > 0:18:39We might need two of them. Go on, JT, there you are, mate.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42Oh, my God, you've gotta carry them like that? Oh, you're joking, man.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46Oh, my God! THEY LAUGH
0:18:46 > 0:18:50Hey! Don't BLEEP around. Donovan!
0:18:50 > 0:18:52Go on, need to get them cut up. BLEEP!
0:18:52 > 0:18:54We've gotta put them in ice, haven't we?
0:18:54 > 0:18:56GROANING This is really bad.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59Can we stand back a bit, cos I'm getting splattered with the blood?
0:18:59 > 0:19:01I tell you what, there's a lot of fish though, there. Yeah.
0:19:01 > 0:19:03It's amazing how red the flesh is on the tuna.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06Yeah, that's what I was saying, looks pretty rich.
0:19:06 > 0:19:08But it's all proving too much for Gareth.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11Oh, my gosh, it just gets cut and put into a dirty bag.
0:19:12 > 0:19:14Oh, man. You want me to stand in front of you?
0:19:14 > 0:19:17My eyes are shut and they're not opening until we start to move.
0:19:17 > 0:19:19Come on, pal. We're nearly there.
0:19:19 > 0:19:22Thank you. Thank you very much. Let's go. Come on, G.
0:19:26 > 0:19:30So, we've bought tuna to go tonight, to cook for supper,
0:19:30 > 0:19:33which, again, is another brilliant thing, cos I hate fish.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36So the day just gets better.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42Day two of training.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45The sportsmen are moving onto the next stage of their Kalari studies,
0:19:45 > 0:19:50and meeting Master Sunil in the open grounds of the school for kettukari,
0:19:50 > 0:19:51stick fighting.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56Kettukari is considered to be the foundation of all
0:19:56 > 0:19:58Kalari weapons training.
0:19:59 > 0:20:01Ah!
0:20:01 > 0:20:04Mate, seriously, it's time to stop.
0:20:05 > 0:20:07Can I beat him with a stick?
0:20:07 > 0:20:09LAUGHTER
0:20:21 > 0:20:23Holy...
0:20:23 > 0:20:27In Kalari, weapons are seen as an extension of the body,
0:20:27 > 0:20:31and success in stick fighting relies on precise coordination
0:20:31 > 0:20:33of hand and body movements.
0:20:39 > 0:20:41THEY CLAP
0:20:43 > 0:20:45That was pure aggression, but controlled.
0:20:45 > 0:20:47They've obviously been doing it all their lives.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49What worries me, initial impression, I might have my knuckles
0:20:49 > 0:20:53in slightly the wrong place, Donovan might, and a little crack is going to hurt.
0:20:53 > 0:20:55I'm just wondering how quick I can get my leathers, helmet,
0:20:55 > 0:20:59boots and gloves to India. That was impressive. Impressive.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02If I could pole vault out of here, I would.
0:21:02 > 0:21:04So, please come.
0:21:04 > 0:21:08So, stay like this, hold. You use your palm and most
0:21:08 > 0:21:11of the time, actually, you won't move from... Both sides, actually.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14Both hands must be kept on the stick at all times.
0:21:14 > 0:21:16We are going to learn. All right.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19And fighters are in constant eye contact
0:21:19 > 0:21:21to anticipate their opponent's next move.
0:21:23 > 0:21:25And forehand, like that.
0:21:25 > 0:21:27So, this is defence,
0:21:27 > 0:21:30and then attack, just like... What he's doing to me, basically.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33Again. Look my eyes, then defend.
0:21:33 > 0:21:35You've got someone coming at you with a stick,
0:21:35 > 0:21:38so, if you don't concentrate, you're going to get hit.
0:21:41 > 0:21:43Up, up, up.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46Down. Up.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49I picked it up quite quick, but I didn't have much of a choice though,
0:21:49 > 0:21:52with the Charles Bronson lookalike. He came at me with that stick
0:21:52 > 0:21:54like I'd just nicked a tenner off him.
0:21:57 > 0:22:01He hit me once on the knee, and then once on the inside leg.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06Start.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09The posture's important, because it's giving you balance
0:22:09 > 0:22:12and strength, so they actually get quite low and they described
0:22:12 > 0:22:15it to me and explained, if you're a tall man and you stand up too tall,
0:22:15 > 0:22:17your surface area's larger, you're more likely to get hit.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20One! Your turn! Yeah, that's good, that's good.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23When they compete, the sportsmen will be judged on two precise
0:22:23 > 0:22:27sequences of attack and defence.
0:22:27 > 0:22:29That I told you, this part of the cane, no?
0:22:29 > 0:22:31Ah! Yeah. Sorry, man.
0:22:31 > 0:22:33It's super dangerous.
0:22:33 > 0:22:37Like, super on the edge, man. Super on the edge.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41They think they're not hitting very hard, cos they're practising,
0:22:41 > 0:22:44but actually, they are, they're hitting really hard.
0:22:44 > 0:22:46Pick it up, pick it up, pick it up!
0:22:50 > 0:22:54In 2011, after 17 years of international rugby,
0:22:54 > 0:22:56Gareth played his last game.
0:22:57 > 0:23:01When you finish your career, you either step into that
0:23:01 > 0:23:04and embrace it, or you're just afraid of it
0:23:04 > 0:23:08and you lock yourself away, and then you can just be that,
0:23:08 > 0:23:12kind of, ex-rugby player who, in time, slowly gets forgotten,
0:23:12 > 0:23:15he's not kept himself evolving.
0:23:15 > 0:23:17So, every day, whatever challenge comes my way,
0:23:17 > 0:23:20like I did in the rugby, I try to face it and that way the next day
0:23:20 > 0:23:23you can face something new, face a new challenge.
0:23:24 > 0:23:26HE SHOUTS
0:23:30 > 0:23:34After an hour of training, Donovan's found a good rhythm.
0:23:34 > 0:23:38Ah! 'I'm learning that I don't want to get hit by a stick.'
0:23:38 > 0:23:40So, I'm learning some good defence.
0:23:40 > 0:23:42Now come again.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45It reminds me of when I was eight, nine years old. In boarding school,
0:23:45 > 0:23:50the principal would have a small bamboo stick and, yeah,
0:23:50 > 0:23:53that's how you'd get punished, a couple of slaps on your butt
0:23:53 > 0:23:56if you were bad. And I rarely was that bad kid,
0:23:56 > 0:23:58but, I mean, I was bad at least once.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02OK, all right, let's go again.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05'It's precision, but you have to breathe and relax at the same time,
0:24:05 > 0:24:08'so it's very much in my wheelhouse.'
0:24:08 > 0:24:10Move, move!
0:24:10 > 0:24:13You have to really be under control, cos 100 metres really is,
0:24:13 > 0:24:16it's nine seconds, but it really is, when you're doing it,
0:24:16 > 0:24:18it's like a whole week.
0:24:21 > 0:24:22Whoo!
0:24:22 > 0:24:25Oh, man! I didn't hit you and you didn't hit me,
0:24:25 > 0:24:26so we're good, man. We're good.
0:24:36 > 0:24:40The boys are making use of every spare minute before they compete.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45They've come to a local beach to practise their moves.
0:24:47 > 0:24:51Two steps. Right arm fold.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54'I really feel we've all bonded and it's become a bit of a team,
0:24:54 > 0:24:57'like we're helping each other.' That's it, yeah.
0:24:58 > 0:25:02We all kind of know it, but we're not experts on it,
0:25:02 > 0:25:04and Donovan is way behind.
0:25:04 > 0:25:08Now, I believe in the process of learning it all together,
0:25:08 > 0:25:10but we should only learn it as fast as the slowest one.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16The reality is there's still a massive competitive streak
0:25:16 > 0:25:17in every single one of us.
0:25:17 > 0:25:22Under...kick, kick, kick.
0:25:22 > 0:25:23Leave your right in there. Yes, my man!
0:25:23 > 0:25:26You're getting there, man. No, but you're getting there.
0:25:26 > 0:25:30Doing it together's great. Iwan, JT and Gareth are great teachers.
0:25:30 > 0:25:31Like this, Donovan, now.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34I will definitely give it a shot, cos I already made that promise.
0:25:34 > 0:25:35Arms round, cross,
0:25:35 > 0:25:39kick, kick, kick,
0:25:39 > 0:25:41leave your right in there...
0:25:47 > 0:25:50The new students are heading to Master Sunil's family home
0:25:50 > 0:25:52on the edge of town for dinner.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01DOGS BARK Oh, my God.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04Hi.
0:26:04 > 0:26:06It's a chance for them to get an insight into the life
0:26:06 > 0:26:08of a Kalari master.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10Sunil's wife, Shishira,
0:26:10 > 0:26:14is preparing the tuna the boys bought at the market this morning.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16We just shallow fry. Yeah.
0:26:16 > 0:26:18And Iwan's lending a hand.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21Here we go. Yeah. Down the hatch, as we say. Yeah.
0:26:22 > 0:26:24What are they?
0:26:24 > 0:26:28Shishira is putting on a sadhya, a Keralan banquet, for the guests.
0:26:28 > 0:26:33It's usually entirely vegetarian and served on a banana leaf.
0:26:33 > 0:26:38We are eating in this. Wow. I've never eaten off a banana leaf.
0:26:38 > 0:26:39A banana leaf, no.
0:26:39 > 0:26:44Dinner is served, gentlemen, dinner is served. There we go.
0:26:44 > 0:26:45Thank you! Ooh, look!
0:26:53 > 0:26:55Oh, God. Oh, God.
0:26:55 > 0:26:57Do we eat with our hands or do you use cutlery?
0:26:57 > 0:27:00Hands, we use hands, OK, yeah. Hands!
0:27:00 > 0:27:02According to Southern Indian tradition...
0:27:05 > 0:27:10..eating with hands feeds the mind and spirit, as well as the body.
0:27:10 > 0:27:11Oh, that's nice.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14It's not every day you do eat with your fingers and it's certainly
0:27:14 > 0:27:16not every day you eat off banana leaves, so to combine the two was
0:27:16 > 0:27:20something very different indeed, but it felt kind of OK, actually.
0:27:20 > 0:27:21So like that? Mm!
0:27:21 > 0:27:24I've eaten something that was spicy tonight.
0:27:24 > 0:27:25I soon got a bit of a sweat on.
0:27:25 > 0:27:27Gareth didn't, cos if you notice, he didn't eat anything.
0:27:27 > 0:27:31He was hiding everything underneath his rice, cos he doesn't like spices or fish.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34His plate was getting smaller in that way, but everything was
0:27:34 > 0:27:36getting higher and higher, so he did well to hide his food.
0:27:36 > 0:27:38I literally couldn't even try it,
0:27:38 > 0:27:41because I knew, even by trying it and washing it down,
0:27:41 > 0:27:45it was still going to be like rocket fuel in my mouth and spice.
0:27:45 > 0:27:47I'm not sure if it went unnoticed, probably not.
0:27:49 > 0:27:51THEY LAUGH
0:27:52 > 0:27:56Banquet over, and the conversation turns to Master Sunil.
0:27:56 > 0:27:58Why did you start Kalari?
0:27:58 > 0:28:01I learned from my father actually, from my childhood,
0:28:01 > 0:28:04seeing actually Kalari from grandfather to father.
0:28:04 > 0:28:06Is it spiritual for you, do you feel?
0:28:06 > 0:28:09Yeah, spiritual, exactly. spiritually, mentally and all that.
0:28:09 > 0:28:11It's your whole life? Whole life.
0:28:11 > 0:28:13It's when you sit down to eat, it's when you're with your family,
0:28:13 > 0:28:16it's when you go to sleep, it defines your whole life.
0:28:16 > 0:28:17Yeah, defines whole life.
0:28:17 > 0:28:20The definition of his character is Kalari.
0:28:20 > 0:28:23I love that, because I really relate to that,
0:28:23 > 0:28:26because that's exactly who I was as a rugby player.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29It defined who I was, it defined everything about me.
0:28:29 > 0:28:32We are honoured that you are letting us try your,
0:28:32 > 0:28:35more than your sport, your life, your traditions, so thank you.
0:28:35 > 0:28:36Thank you. It's OK, yeah.
0:28:36 > 0:28:38DOGS WHINE AND BARK
0:28:48 > 0:28:53The next day brings more practice on a river bank near the Kalari school.
0:28:59 > 0:29:03But later in the morning, Master Sunil's organised a unique test
0:29:03 > 0:29:07of strength and agility everyone's expected to try.
0:29:08 > 0:29:12Have you seen how to climb the coconut tree?
0:29:12 > 0:29:16I knew you were going to do that! I've seen it on television. Never.
0:29:16 > 0:29:21G is over here, so he'll show you how to climb the coconut tree,
0:29:21 > 0:29:24so then, after that, you also can try that.
0:29:24 > 0:29:27THEY LAUGH Oh, man!
0:29:27 > 0:29:29Oh, my God.
0:29:29 > 0:29:32That's amazing. He's like a koala bear.
0:29:32 > 0:29:34That's got Donovan Bailey written all over it.
0:29:34 > 0:29:36THEY CLAP
0:29:36 > 0:29:38He's not down yet.
0:29:38 > 0:29:40I nearly saw his coconuts.
0:29:40 > 0:29:43SUNIL SPEAKS OWN LANGUAGE
0:29:43 > 0:29:45Oh! Oh!
0:29:48 > 0:29:50Get up there, JT. I know you can do it.
0:29:50 > 0:29:52Good, good, very good.
0:29:52 > 0:29:55Go on! You're getting there. Pretty good.
0:29:55 > 0:29:56Only another 35 feet to go.
0:29:56 > 0:29:58Come on, mate! You'll be at the top!
0:29:58 > 0:30:01Shall we stand underneath him, just in case? Is it hard?
0:30:01 > 0:30:02Yeah, well, I'm tired now.
0:30:02 > 0:30:05Do a couple more, mate. Get halfway.
0:30:05 > 0:30:07Come down slowly.
0:30:07 > 0:30:08Man, my feet.
0:30:12 > 0:30:15Very good! Donovan's stepping up. What an opportunity, eh?
0:30:15 > 0:30:17You don't get trees like this in Southampton,
0:30:17 > 0:30:19so I'm definitely going to have a go at it.
0:30:19 > 0:30:22Just climb, OK, like that. Good, very good.
0:30:22 > 0:30:25Oh, you've got it! Super! Come on.
0:30:25 > 0:30:26Go to the top!
0:30:27 > 0:30:29Come on, Iwan!
0:30:33 > 0:30:35Keep going to the coconuts! How am I going to get down?
0:30:35 > 0:30:37I wouldn't go there, like.
0:30:37 > 0:30:40When G said, "Go on, see if you can get to the top,"
0:30:40 > 0:30:43that was like a challenge set, so I had to get to the top.
0:30:43 > 0:30:46Oh, man. OK, how do I get down? THEY LAUGH
0:30:49 > 0:30:50It was just a little bit of a shame
0:30:50 > 0:30:53that I couldn't get down with the finesse that I got up with,
0:30:53 > 0:30:55cos I got up quite easily and I got down in pain.
0:30:55 > 0:30:59Relax and just slide. Slowly come.
0:30:59 > 0:31:02THEY LAUGH
0:31:02 > 0:31:05LAUGHING: It hurts!
0:31:05 > 0:31:09Yeah, please take my weight. Cor, my hands.
0:31:11 > 0:31:14Good job. Good job. Good job!
0:31:14 > 0:31:17Thanks, G. Ooh!
0:31:17 > 0:31:19Iwan, you did it for both of us.
0:31:19 > 0:31:22Oh, my days!
0:31:22 > 0:31:23He did it for both of us, then.
0:31:23 > 0:31:27Ouch, bud. That actually, without being soft, that hurts pretty bad.
0:31:29 > 0:31:32I always see myself still as the sporty bloke,
0:31:32 > 0:31:36the bloke who can normally do everything he tries.
0:31:36 > 0:31:38I've always kept myself quite fit,
0:31:38 > 0:31:40compared to a lot of my close friends,
0:31:40 > 0:31:43so I'd like to think I'll always be like this.
0:31:43 > 0:31:46I've just got to be able to switch off that competitive side of me,
0:31:46 > 0:31:48which, at the moment, I can't do.
0:31:48 > 0:31:51You still need to do that one, Iwan. Just do it, just do it.
0:31:51 > 0:31:54HE GROANS
0:31:54 > 0:31:57He's pretty much cut every part of his body that touched the tree.
0:31:57 > 0:32:01Um, and he's making sure that everybody knows it, as well.
0:32:03 > 0:32:06Thanks, mate. Thanks.
0:32:06 > 0:32:09It's not nice, is it, that? No.
0:32:09 > 0:32:11Good luck, mate.
0:32:11 > 0:32:12Oh, my God!
0:32:12 > 0:32:16Hands, then feet. Hands and then feet.
0:32:16 > 0:32:18Hands, feet. Hands, feet.
0:32:18 > 0:32:20Come on, G.
0:32:20 > 0:32:22G, come on, be the first to get a coconut.
0:32:22 > 0:32:25Give us a coconut. One more, come on.
0:32:25 > 0:32:27I can't get down!
0:32:27 > 0:32:29OK, I've got you, I've got you. I've got you.
0:32:29 > 0:32:31Guide your feet off the tree, then.
0:32:31 > 0:32:33'Iwan made it look easy.'
0:32:33 > 0:32:37It is very, very hard and when you weigh, like, I don't know,
0:32:37 > 0:32:40like 105kg, to try and shimmy that up a tree,
0:32:40 > 0:32:42good luck with that, like.
0:32:42 > 0:32:44I've got a blister!
0:32:44 > 0:32:48Savlon, Savlon! Interview me!
0:32:48 > 0:32:50Hang on, hang on!
0:32:50 > 0:32:51Aaah!
0:32:55 > 0:32:57You did all right, mate, you did one step.
0:32:57 > 0:33:00Last to take the climbing challenge is Donovan.
0:33:00 > 0:33:02Just one jump?
0:33:02 > 0:33:04THEY CHEER
0:33:04 > 0:33:06He's there! Oh, my God!
0:33:07 > 0:33:10THEY LAUGH
0:33:10 > 0:33:11He had a go, didn't he?
0:33:11 > 0:33:13He was attached to the tree.
0:33:15 > 0:33:16Oh, Donovan!
0:33:16 > 0:33:18During his attempt,
0:33:18 > 0:33:21Donovan spends just 13 seconds clinging onto the tree.
0:33:21 > 0:33:24DRUMS BEAT AND BELLS JINGLE
0:33:32 > 0:33:36On the way back to the hotel, the boys run into a festival procession,
0:33:36 > 0:33:38celebrating the Hindu god Krishna.
0:33:43 > 0:33:46There are dozens of religious festivals every year.
0:33:51 > 0:33:55But it seems the ex-athletes are causing quite a stir.
0:33:55 > 0:33:58I think that people are more interested in us than the carnival.
0:33:58 > 0:34:02They love my trainers, all the kids are pointing at my trainers.
0:34:02 > 0:34:05# Bring me sunshine every day! #
0:34:05 > 0:34:07Training's over for the day,
0:34:07 > 0:34:09but there's still one more discipline to learn.
0:34:16 > 0:34:20The next morning, with just 48 hours to go till the competition,
0:34:20 > 0:34:23Gareth's finally getting used to Indian life.
0:34:24 > 0:34:26Today I'm on fire.
0:34:26 > 0:34:27I feel brilliant today,
0:34:27 > 0:34:30because I've kind of given myself a bit of an uppercut
0:34:30 > 0:34:34to stop moaning and stop being so down and depressed.
0:34:34 > 0:34:36Do you know what I really want to try and do,
0:34:36 > 0:34:40is try and enjoy India now, cos I thought to myself last night,
0:34:40 > 0:34:43"It's like a lifetime experience that people would die for."
0:34:45 > 0:34:47'Me and India are at one.
0:34:47 > 0:34:51'I'm like walking round with my shoes off, dealing with the bugs'
0:34:51 > 0:34:54and everything, and everything else that's going on around here.
0:34:54 > 0:34:57Yeah, yeah, I'm...
0:34:57 > 0:34:59I'm there, I'm there.
0:35:02 > 0:35:07Master Sunil is preparing the last element of the boys' training,
0:35:07 > 0:35:09stick and shield combat.
0:35:10 > 0:35:14Slowly, one, like this, two.
0:35:14 > 0:35:17They'll have to memorise a complex sequence of attack
0:35:17 > 0:35:19and defence moves.
0:35:23 > 0:35:24Like that.
0:35:24 > 0:35:28So, actually, just keep left leg in forward, so one.
0:35:28 > 0:35:32When they compete, the sportsmen will be marked on the accuracy
0:35:32 > 0:35:35of strikes in attack and the use of the shield in defence.
0:35:37 > 0:35:40One from right side, two from left side, three from right side.
0:35:40 > 0:35:44It's a load to remember again, cos we've got movement
0:35:44 > 0:35:48things to remember, the sticks to remember and now these to remember.
0:35:48 > 0:35:50It's nothing really natural.
0:35:50 > 0:35:54It's all really having to learn things, which is a brain fry.
0:35:54 > 0:35:57One, two, up, down.
0:35:59 > 0:36:02They've given us a routine of ten different moves to learn,
0:36:02 > 0:36:04and you've got to learn it or you're going to get hit.
0:36:07 > 0:36:10I'm just pleased that we're going to get some kind of shield,
0:36:10 > 0:36:14especially if I'm receiving swinging sticks from Gareth Thomas.
0:36:16 > 0:36:19This is excellent. For me, you know, it's actually pretty good.
0:36:19 > 0:36:24The idea of speed and accuracy is actually what this is all about,
0:36:24 > 0:36:28so I'm trying to be as slow as possible now
0:36:28 > 0:36:32and as accurate as possible so that, when the speed gets ramped up,
0:36:32 > 0:36:34I at least know what I'm doing.
0:36:37 > 0:36:39I'm loving this, out of everything we've done so far.
0:36:39 > 0:36:42I'm not saying this is the one I'm better at than I have been
0:36:42 > 0:36:46in the others, but I'm actually taking more from this.
0:36:46 > 0:36:49No, no, no, no, no. SUNIL LAUGHS
0:36:49 > 0:36:52Yes, actually. Look, one... This, look.
0:36:52 > 0:36:55After this, with this. LAUGHTER
0:36:58 > 0:37:00Cross, left, right.
0:37:00 > 0:37:03Arms out, back and round again.
0:37:03 > 0:37:05With the competition just 24 hours away,
0:37:05 > 0:37:08the boys are packing in some last-minute practice.
0:37:11 > 0:37:14I made a promise to the guys that I was going to go through with it,
0:37:14 > 0:37:17so now I have to live by that,
0:37:17 > 0:37:19so, no matter what, I'm going to be in.
0:37:19 > 0:37:22Down and across. Oh!
0:37:22 > 0:37:25This is the hard one when you're twizzled all the way around.
0:37:25 > 0:37:27Let's do it again. And with the final test looming,
0:37:27 > 0:37:29the sportsmen have got an eye on their rivals.
0:37:29 > 0:37:33As competitions progress, we're all competitive,
0:37:33 > 0:37:36but JT's always, kind of like, the marker for everyone.
0:37:36 > 0:37:37JT's a natural athlete.
0:37:37 > 0:37:40His reflexes are obviously going to be good from being
0:37:40 > 0:37:44a Superbike champion, he's going at 200mph, he's got to think quick.
0:37:44 > 0:37:45And the right arm.
0:37:45 > 0:37:48We're going to be competing against each other,
0:37:48 > 0:37:50so we do need to learn how to control this aggression,
0:37:50 > 0:37:55cos Gareth looks like he's going to take someone's bloody head off.
0:37:55 > 0:37:58Obviously, when it comes to competing against the other guys,
0:37:58 > 0:38:01then I'm going to have to be a little bit more accurate
0:38:01 > 0:38:05where I'm hitting, otherwise I could hit one of the boys
0:38:05 > 0:38:06and do a bit of damage.
0:38:06 > 0:38:09Spin round. Correct. That's it. Right?
0:38:09 > 0:38:11That's good, D. That's it, mate.
0:38:24 > 0:38:26Competition day.
0:38:29 > 0:38:31In just a few hours, the sportsmen will be
0:38:31 > 0:38:34fighting against each other before a panel of Kalari masters.
0:38:41 > 0:38:43I'm a little bit nervous about the Kalari competition today.
0:38:43 > 0:38:47There's a lot to remember on this, the routine, the stick technique
0:38:47 > 0:38:50that you've got to learn, and there's the shield. So it's a lot.
0:38:50 > 0:38:52You know, I've got a lot more going on in my head
0:38:52 > 0:38:54in this competition than the others.
0:38:54 > 0:38:58Well, I'm feeling pretty good. I'm going to do it. I will be doing it,
0:38:58 > 0:39:01but I'm going to do it at the pace that I'm comfortable,
0:39:01 > 0:39:03at a pace that I think I can go through it with ease.
0:39:13 > 0:39:17Any opportunity I can, I've tried to go through the movements.
0:39:17 > 0:39:20If I go into it having not prepared and get it wrong,
0:39:20 > 0:39:23then that's disrespectful, so I feel you've got to go into it
0:39:23 > 0:39:26with at least pretty good knowledge of what you're meant to be doing,
0:39:26 > 0:39:29hope you hold it together under the pressure,
0:39:29 > 0:39:31and show the master that we're very grateful
0:39:31 > 0:39:34to be accepted into this way of life.
0:39:34 > 0:39:37But Gareth's taking his preparations one step further.
0:39:39 > 0:39:42Well, as I said I was going to become one with India, I thought,
0:39:42 > 0:39:45"How can I be like everybody else in India?"
0:39:46 > 0:39:50So, I thought I would grow a moustache. Why not?
0:39:50 > 0:39:55My Indianism transformation is complete.
0:39:55 > 0:40:01So, when I turn up to Kalari, I'll have an edge on the other boys.
0:40:13 > 0:40:17The competition is taking place at Master Sunil's second Kalari school
0:40:17 > 0:40:22in Calicut, and he's arranged a traditional welcome.
0:40:23 > 0:40:26I'll probably look like I'm really competitive against the other guys.
0:40:26 > 0:40:28My biggest competitor, as always, is myself
0:40:28 > 0:40:31and, if I mess up, I'm going to be annoyed.
0:40:31 > 0:40:34But it's going to be a really interesting day.
0:40:34 > 0:40:36It's a demonstration sport where we're trying to show
0:40:36 > 0:40:41what we've learnt and we've tried to master the art of Kalari,
0:40:41 > 0:40:43so I'm just going to try and go not too fast, actually,
0:40:43 > 0:40:47and just go through the routine, try and be fluent and try and really
0:40:47 > 0:40:51get the bends and the body position as well as I can.
0:40:54 > 0:40:57I can see it, I can observe it. Hopefully, I'll finish the routine.
0:41:11 > 0:41:14This is for real, then, boys, this is for real.
0:41:14 > 0:41:17Spin around.
0:41:17 > 0:41:20The pressure is on. Pressure's on for who?
0:41:20 > 0:41:22For you. No, no pressure. Yes. No pressure.
0:41:22 > 0:41:24This is winning, right here.
0:41:24 > 0:41:27Donovan performs without pressure. No pressure.
0:41:27 > 0:41:30The panel of seasoned Kalari masters have been asked to officiate
0:41:30 > 0:41:33by Master Sunil.
0:41:33 > 0:41:36They'll each mark the boys out of ten for each of the three
0:41:36 > 0:41:38Kalari disciplines they've been studying.
0:41:43 > 0:41:46After a week of training, Gareth is looking strong,
0:41:46 > 0:41:48while James has been practising hard.
0:41:54 > 0:41:57First, the sportsmen need to demonstrate their routine
0:41:57 > 0:41:59of 28 moves.
0:42:07 > 0:42:09Iwan, please come.
0:42:13 > 0:42:14Iwan's the first to go.
0:42:51 > 0:42:54I was called up first. I was very happy with my kicks.
0:42:54 > 0:42:55I could've gone slightly faster.
0:42:55 > 0:42:59Could've been better, but it could've gone a lot worse, as well.
0:42:59 > 0:43:01The second, Gareth Thomas.
0:43:04 > 0:43:06Let's go, G. Please wait there.
0:43:08 > 0:43:12'We've been practising, practising, practising, they've built us up,'
0:43:12 > 0:43:15so, all of a sudden, you've practised for this moment.
0:43:15 > 0:43:17WHISTLE BLOWS
0:43:17 > 0:43:19You know you have to do it in this moment,
0:43:19 > 0:43:22you have to do it correctly and you have to do it in the right way.
0:43:45 > 0:43:47WHISTLE BLOWS
0:43:50 > 0:43:51WHISTLE BLOWS
0:43:57 > 0:43:59Gareth's accurate routine is followed
0:43:59 > 0:44:02by impressive focus from James.
0:44:25 > 0:44:27I think, with Donovan, I can see he's been sweating,
0:44:27 > 0:44:30he's been panicking. He'll say he weren't nervous about it,
0:44:30 > 0:44:34he'll say that maybe he wasn't under pressure for it,
0:44:34 > 0:44:37but he's going to feel the pressure, cos we all felt the pressure.
0:44:37 > 0:44:40After his struggle with memorising the routine,
0:44:40 > 0:44:42can Donovan pull it off?
0:45:17 > 0:45:19Yes, D!
0:45:22 > 0:45:25'With the quick study of a couple of days,'
0:45:25 > 0:45:28those guys are obviously a much quicker study than I am,
0:45:28 > 0:45:31or maybe they were a little bit more focused than I was.
0:45:31 > 0:45:34Donovan did struggle with the routine, but do you know what,
0:45:34 > 0:45:36I'm really happy for him, because he tried hard.
0:45:36 > 0:45:38Fair play, cos he wandered out of lane one today
0:45:38 > 0:45:41and he got into lane two, maybe even lane three, but he gave it a go.
0:45:44 > 0:45:48Next, the sportsmen will be tested on their kettukari skills.
0:45:48 > 0:45:51They'll face a timed burst of defensive moves
0:45:51 > 0:45:56and then attacking moves against trained fighters.
0:45:56 > 0:45:58I was nervous for the stick fight, if I'm honest,
0:45:58 > 0:46:01because I know Nitin, or Jet Li, as I call him, I knew he was going to
0:46:01 > 0:46:04go at me tonight, purely cos he wanted to get the best out of me.
0:46:04 > 0:46:07In training, he's been quite kind, but I could see in his eyes,
0:46:07 > 0:46:09actually, there was another 30%, 40% effort from him tonight.
0:46:12 > 0:46:15The judges will be looking to see both hands on the stick,
0:46:15 > 0:46:18good posture and eye contact. WHISTLE BLOWS
0:46:29 > 0:46:32In terms of defence, I actually think I did well.
0:46:32 > 0:46:34It was weird though, cos the room felt like it was getting
0:46:34 > 0:46:36smaller and smaller and darker and darker,
0:46:36 > 0:46:38and it was literally like a cartoon.
0:46:38 > 0:46:41I was just going... I was just trying to defend myself.
0:46:41 > 0:46:43WHISTLE BLOWS
0:46:43 > 0:46:47Iwan was first, and seeing him defend against the guy that was
0:46:47 > 0:46:52attacking Iwan, I was like, "Oh, OK. Game on, then, is it now?"
0:46:52 > 0:46:54You've either practised and you can do this or not,
0:46:54 > 0:46:57and he was like, wanted to literally take his head off.
0:46:57 > 0:46:59In terms of the offence, when I was attacking,
0:46:59 > 0:47:02I didn't really know what to do, cos my mind was still
0:47:02 > 0:47:04going overload from trying to defend myself.
0:47:16 > 0:47:18WHISTLE BLOWS
0:47:23 > 0:47:26Stick fighting, for me, was the one I was probably
0:47:26 > 0:47:28worried about the most.
0:47:30 > 0:47:33I spent a lot of time hearing the stick whizz past the top of my head.
0:47:35 > 0:47:38I haven't heard the sticks fly that hard at me in training.
0:47:42 > 0:47:44WHISTLE BLOWS
0:47:44 > 0:47:46CLAPPING
0:47:46 > 0:47:47WHISTLE BLOWS
0:47:50 > 0:47:53I know the marks were judged on technique,
0:47:53 > 0:47:57it wasn't just about how quick and aggressive you could do it.
0:47:57 > 0:47:59It was about technique, and his technique was great.
0:48:03 > 0:48:05Great, G, great stance.
0:48:11 > 0:48:13Show us how it's done, bud.
0:48:13 > 0:48:15WHISTLE BLOWS
0:48:29 > 0:48:31WHISTLE BLOWS
0:48:34 > 0:48:36WHISTLE BLOWS
0:48:51 > 0:48:53Well done, mate.
0:48:53 > 0:48:55Then last man, Donovan Bailey.
0:48:55 > 0:48:59In training, Donovan did his best in the stick fighting practice.
0:49:00 > 0:49:02'They can go 100mph,'
0:49:02 > 0:49:05totally relax, understanding the precision on which they operate.
0:49:05 > 0:49:07WHISTLE BLOWS
0:49:11 > 0:49:13I sure the hell was not going to get beaten by the man.
0:49:13 > 0:49:15I mean, I had to protect myself.
0:49:18 > 0:49:20WHISTLE BLOWS Well done.
0:49:30 > 0:49:33'You know what's funny? I don't know if I went for him.
0:49:33 > 0:49:35'Clearly, he's an expert, so I wasn't going to hit him.'
0:49:38 > 0:49:41I was just watching what they had done in the previous fight,
0:49:41 > 0:49:42and I was just copying.
0:49:50 > 0:49:53The last item is stick versus shield
0:49:53 > 0:49:56and, in this fight, you have to fight each other.
0:49:56 > 0:49:58So your four names are on that.
0:49:58 > 0:50:03It's time for the final part of the competition and the boys
0:50:03 > 0:50:06are drawing names to see who will fight who in stick and shield.
0:50:06 > 0:50:09Open and read that, OK?
0:50:10 > 0:50:11Iwan.
0:50:11 > 0:50:14Iwan Thomas. Donovan Bailey, Iwan Thomas.
0:50:16 > 0:50:19The draw was made and Donovan was against Iwan,
0:50:19 > 0:50:22which I was really, really excited for, because obviously with,
0:50:22 > 0:50:25you know, the bit of rivalry that's there.
0:50:25 > 0:50:29The fights between the competitors will be judged on two bursts
0:50:29 > 0:50:31of offence and defence.
0:50:32 > 0:50:35The sportsmen judged to have the most accurate moves
0:50:35 > 0:50:37will fight each other in a final.
0:50:50 > 0:50:53There was a couple of times actually when he went, "No, it's down."
0:50:53 > 0:50:56I said, "No, it's not, it's to the side," and he got it slightly wrong.
0:51:23 > 0:51:27Iwan's won his round. Now James faces Gareth.
0:51:58 > 0:52:00Well done, lads. Really good, really good.
0:52:11 > 0:52:15I just won by half a point, that's all, cos Gareth was really good with it.
0:52:15 > 0:52:19The final will be Iwan Thomas and James Toseland. OK.
0:52:20 > 0:52:24When I realised I was called in for the final against James,
0:52:24 > 0:52:27it was interesting, and I knew he'd come at me quite hard
0:52:27 > 0:52:28and I could do the same for him,
0:52:28 > 0:52:31cos he could definitely handle whatever I threw at him.
0:52:31 > 0:52:32Are you ready?
0:52:32 > 0:52:34WHISTLE BLOWS
0:52:40 > 0:52:43I was really frustrated at myself, cos I made a mistake.
0:52:43 > 0:52:45I was very disappointed that I messed it up.
0:52:58 > 0:52:59Stop!
0:53:09 > 0:53:11The judges are conferring,
0:53:11 > 0:53:14as the sportsmen wait to learn who will be crowned Kalari champion.
0:53:20 > 0:53:23Please, come in.
0:53:23 > 0:53:24Marks are ready.
0:53:24 > 0:53:27So, the judges are going to announce the winners.
0:53:27 > 0:53:28Please, come.
0:54:20 > 0:54:24By coming out top in two out of the three rounds,
0:54:24 > 0:54:27James is the overall Kalari winner.
0:54:27 > 0:54:29'That was really good, I really enjoyed that.'
0:54:29 > 0:54:30It was nice to win.
0:54:30 > 0:54:34Through this whole process, James has been the best learner,
0:54:34 > 0:54:37he's been the best equipped, he's probably been the best driven,
0:54:37 > 0:54:38the best focused.
0:54:38 > 0:54:41So, I think, for him to go ahead and win that battle,
0:54:41 > 0:54:44was definitely, definitely the right call.
0:54:50 > 0:54:53I think, with the racing and, and having to process information,
0:54:53 > 0:54:57at, like, over 200mph, I think I learnt a bit quicker
0:54:57 > 0:54:59than the other boys.
0:54:59 > 0:55:00James is awesome.
0:55:00 > 0:55:04He's head and shoulders above us from quickly picking up
0:55:04 > 0:55:08something and transitioning that into actual action.
0:55:08 > 0:55:11To come second overall, when they gave out all the marks, I was really
0:55:11 > 0:55:15chuffed because, you know, there's certain aspects tonight I could've
0:55:15 > 0:55:18done better, but to come second, I think that's a pretty good result.
0:55:20 > 0:55:23Donovan, me and Gareth really tried hard with him,
0:55:23 > 0:55:27and Iwan, to help him learn, and I'm really pleased that we all,
0:55:27 > 0:55:29for the first time, we all completed it.
0:55:31 > 0:55:34I had emotions going through my veins, nerves, fear,
0:55:34 > 0:55:36pride, everything.
0:55:36 > 0:55:38I've always said, if I can walk away tonight and think,
0:55:38 > 0:55:42"Do you know what, I did all right there," then I'm happy.
0:55:42 > 0:55:46James' win in India puts him in pole position for the last competition.
0:55:51 > 0:55:53Off we go. Lovely.
0:55:55 > 0:55:56For the final challenge...
0:55:57 > 0:56:01It's like I've gone to another planet.
0:56:01 > 0:56:02..the boys are heading to Japan...
0:56:06 > 0:56:08It's like, how many times do you bow?
0:56:08 > 0:56:10..for a unique test of nerve and focus.
0:56:13 > 0:56:16The speed they came down at was frightening.
0:56:16 > 0:56:19Archery, Samurai-style.
0:56:19 > 0:56:23The targets seem to be so small, so the margin for error was tiny.
0:56:24 > 0:56:29Desperate to do well, can Donovan find the target?
0:56:33 > 0:56:36Gareth may have a win in the bank, but his fear of riding...
0:56:36 > 0:56:38They are not small horses.
0:56:38 > 0:56:40..could prove a massive setback.
0:56:40 > 0:56:43Every slightest twitch scares the living crap out of me.
0:56:43 > 0:56:47He's going into his last test with two wins out of three...
0:56:47 > 0:56:49That is the scariest thing I have ever done.
0:56:49 > 0:56:52..but could this push James to his limit?
0:56:52 > 0:56:54Mate, I don't know if you should do this part.
0:56:54 > 0:56:56I know.
0:57:29 > 0:57:31If there is nothing new,
0:57:31 > 0:57:35then the Court of Appeal aren't going to change their decision.