Chris Doran, Ireland's Eurovision entrant, tells Patricia Weston of his love for kick-boxing
Do you take regular exercise?
Yes, I've been kickboxing for the last 21 years, since I was three years old. I've won eight all-Ireland titles. Lately I've been very busy so I haven't been doing any kickboxing training but I make a huge effort to get to a gym and get a workout at any hotel I'm staying in. I train with weights, do some cardio work and some work on the punch bag. Before I won You're A Star I was training five nights a week, now I manage to fit in three nights a week. I also swim all year round. Swimming is great exercise. I'd swim in hail, rain, sleet or snow.
What is your favourite activity?
Kickboxing, I'm a fourth degree black belt. Master Billy O'Sullivan taught me in Waterford.
Do you still kickbox at competition level?
No. I became so busy with the singing and I couldn't risk breaking my nose or suffering any serious injuries.
Have you sustained any injuries?
I chipped a bone in my instep.
Are you conscious about what you eat? I wouldn't be really conscious but I do try to eat lots of greens. I heard broccoli wards off cancer so I eat that.
What's your attitude to exercise? Exercise is very important to me, it's very important to keep fit and being fit is standing to me now because I'm so busy, doing 12 to 14-hour days. I've been keeping fit since I was a kid and if I don't train I feel guilty. I suffered from cancer, Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, when I was 13 years old and was very close to dying but I recovered with chemotherapy. I believe my fitness helped me recover. I had a strong body and mind from the kickboxing.
Patricia Weston recommends:
Kickboxing is a full contact martial art that incorporates kicking, punching and throwing. It burns an average 300 calories per hour.
According to Chris Doran's trainer Master Billy O'Sullivan of the Waterford International Kickboxing Association, "It's a great cardiovascular workout that builds strength, muscle tone, flexibility and concentration. It can also have a calming and relaxing effect and is great for building confidence in young kids."
A kickboxing training session involves running to maintain aerobic fitness, kicking and punching a bag for 10 to 12 rounds or two minutes. Punching and kicking on focus pads and shadow boxing hich all takes place in a boxing ring.
It also involves weights and stretching to maintain muscle flexibility.
Some gyms offer classes in Kickboxing and Khai Bo and Tae Bo which are based on traditional kick boxing moves.
• Patricia Weston is an NCEHS fitness instructor, personal trainer and Pilates instructor.
Consult a physician or qualified healthcare provider before embarking on any exercise regime and stop exercising if you feel nauseous or dizzy.