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Bad Ass Background: "I started F.I.S.T. after I was approached by a lot of people looking for self-defense training following 9/11 who realized what we had been telling them for years -- that if you want to be protected you have to do it yourself," he says. "The police, military or government can't do it. Unfortunately, in America most schools teach a very watered-down version of the martial arts that doesn't really focus on defending yourself in life or death situations but is more of just a sport."
F.I.S.T. (www.fightsurvival.com) is a collection of techniques loosely based on those Hughes taught in the military, modified for civilians. As opposed to most martial arts schools, there's no philosophy or age-old traditions, but rather an emphasis on the nasty business of taking out your enemy. "Most of the black belts in this country have no clue how to fight," he says. "The average black belt will get his ass kicked by the average street fighter. What I do is teach people how to take care of themselves in real-life situations."
As a man in such a dangerous line of work, it was ironic that Nick was enjoying a night on the town when he got into one of his biggest scuffles. "I was in London waiting for the bus with my girlfriend. A bunch of punk rock, poll tax rioter types were trying to break into a house near the bus stop and I told them to stop. Two of them sauntered over and had a go, so I dropped them. They woke up, said they'd be back with their friends, and 10 minutes later there they were. I estimated there were about 18 of them. I hospitalized three, hurt about 12 more and the rest buggered off. I really didn't think I was going to get out of that one, but the police were over the moon about it. This same crew had been terrorizing the area for a long time, it seems, and I'd done what they'd all wanted to do for a long time. They plied me with cups of tea and biscuits all night long while I gave statements. It was great."
Megan Jones
Age: 26
Height: 5'5"
Weight: 120 lbs.
Why Is She A Scary Bad Ass? You know that game called rugby? The one that's similar to football, except it's rougher, more grueling and you don't wear pads or a helmet? Megan Jones plays every weekend.
Bas Ass Credentials: An innumerable amount of bumps, bruises and scrapes, and one broken jaw. With such a tough group of ladies, the Charlotte Mayhem players had a hard time coming to a consensus about who was the toughest, but in the end they selected Megan Jones. Good choice.
Bad Ass Background: Jones grew up in West Virginia, and during high school she ran cross-country in the fall, track in the spring and rode snowboards in the winter. She also loved contact sports. "I dabbled in soccer, but got into trouble for playing too rough," she says. "I was never good at basketball because I would foul out. So when I found rugby, where contact is encouraged, I knew it was the sport for me."
Jones first started playing rugby in college. When she moved to Charlotte four years ago she joined the Charlotte Mayhem, playing outside center, an offensive position that calls for speed, agility and toughness. During a match about two years ago she suffered her most serious injury. "I was running in to tackle someone, and was kicked in the jaw," she says. "It broke in two places, at the joint, and at the chin. My jaw was wired shut for six weeks." She was back on the field and playing the next season.
"My friends and family don't like that I play rugby," she says. "They're supportive of what I want to do, but they would love it if I decided to quit, especially since my injury. There are still some people out there who feel like women shouldn't play rugby. But women's rugby has come a long way, especially here in Charlotte."
Jason Kelly
Age: 31
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 270 lbs.
Why Is He A Scary Bad Ass? He's a Charlotte Mecklenburg police officer who's patrolled the city's west side as part of the drug interdiction unit for the past eight years. "Nuff said.
Bad Ass Credentials: Under the tutelage of Nick Hughes, Kelly earned a second-degree black belt in Combat Karate. He then expanded into a variety of other martial arts, including Judo, Jiu Jitsu, stick fighting and Aikido. Kelly trains other police officers in hand-to-hand combat and boxing techniques.
Bad Ass Background: Kelly moved to Charlotte from NY in 1995, and started training with Hughes a year later. "My training has really helped with my job," he says. "I've been working on the west side for eight years, and I've never had too many problems. It (martial arts) makes you more confident. The more proficient you become the less you have to use it. You just carry yourself differently, and people can sense that."
