By Victor Kanayo
Few years after retiring from active football, former Super Eagles Goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme, has joined jiu-jitsu, a Brazilian Martial Arts sport at a professional level.
Asked why his latest decision, Ikeme said he was always interested in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, but he decided to try it out when he saw the advert for a taster session at a petrol station.
He said, “I was just filling up my car at a petrol station near home and saw a sign for Gracie Barra, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu academy in Sutton Coldfield,” Ikeme told Express and Star.
“I had always wanted to try that discipline, so I signed up for a taster session.
“I was in really good shape at the time, it was around when I had done the 100-mile Velo cycle ride for charity.
“But I went along to the class, and I remember being absolutely gassed after a three-minute round.
“My legs were cramping, my back was in bits, and I suddenly realised that you don’t really know anything about fighting until you actually do it!”
According to him, the hobby has now become a profession for Ikeme, as he since became a British open-age champion.
He also won a bronze medal at the European Championships in Rome last year.
Football career
Ikeme took over from Vincent Enyeama, after the latter retired from the national team.
The former Wolverhampton Wanderers man was great in between the sticks in his ten appearances for Nigeria.
Unfortunately, his career was cut short, when he had to retire from professional football at the age of 29 because of leukemia.
Ikeme eventually won the battle against the disease, but he was unable to return to football.
