Sit-down Interview with Emma Blood

Interviewed by Charlotte Plaskwa and Ana Sunjka

Charlotte: Can you share with us your journey from being a participant and champion in last year's Fight Night to becoming the boxing director of this event?

Emma: Last year at the 2023 event I competed in Fight Night, you signed up for that around November/December time and I remember knowing from the March event that I really wanted to do it. I think what helped is I knew the people running it last year, even whilst the training was going on, I thought I would love to be involved in running it because it was so much fun.

Ana: What inspired you to step into the ring as a fighter last year, and what motivated you to take on the role of boxing director for this year's event?

Emma: What motivated me… I loved the comradery of training with everyone every week, it is so much fun being able to show up with the same people who are all working really hard, and I loved that I had to be driven and self-motivated. I love the event, I would have wanted to do this whether I had won or lost, it didn’t matter, regardless of the outcome, I loved it. I found it so fun when I went to the event in my first year, and I knew I wanted to participate from then on. 

Charlotte:Fight Night has become one of the most anticipated events in the St Andrews calendar. Can you describe the atmosphere and what makes it so unique and exciting for both participants and spectators?

Emma: It’s really different from every other event in St Andrews. When you buy the ticket, you’re not just paying for the afterparty and getting to listen to amazing DJ’s. This year we have The Collective coming.

Charlotte: I love The Collective. They’re so cool.

 Emma: The venue is at Kinkell which is exciting. But you get to watch people… similar to the fashion shows in St Andrews I guess, there is more to it than just drinking and dancing and partying. I remember going in first year and not knowing anyone fighting, but you just root for someone. It’s crazy. You don’t know anyone, but in the atmosphere and with everyone cheering you choose who you want to support.

Charlotte: The emotions are high. I remember watching your fight last year and being so passionate about your win and supporting you. It really is unlike any other event in St Andrews.

Photography by Lila Worgan

Emma: The atmosphere is insane. It’s the most exciting thing. And as a fighter, you’re aware of it and you can hear the screaming and cheering, but it’s like a pinch-me moment. I was saying to the girls in the car on the way here how I have forgotten so much of that night because it all happened too fast. 

Ana: You must have felt such an adrenaline rush.

Emma: Yeah, it’s crazy. And they say that’s what exhausts you the most on the night. Its obviously a really tough sport physically, but it’s emotionally exhausting as well.

Ana: Every year, Fight Night seems to surpass the previous year in excitement and engagement. Can you share some of the strategies or innovations you've implemented this year to elevate the event further?

Emma: The VIP situation this year has changed slightly. The layout of Kinkell changes every year. A common criticism we receive is that the people who pay extra for VIP don’t always feel like they get the perks that they paid for. And that’s a completely valid concern. 

Charlotte: When you pay for VIP you definitely want to feel special and important. 

Emma: Exactly. Those who have paid extra should be able to have the best view of the ring and to be able to see everything and be amongst it. So, this year we have tried to cut back on the number of VIP tables. Only the fighters are going to get VIP tables this year, so it means other students can’t buy them. If you’re in VIP, the idea is that you get an earlier bus to the venue so you can get yourself in a better position to see, and you will get lots of alcohol.

Ana: The alcohol for VIP will be included in the price? 

Emma: Yes. We are still finalising the details for sure.

Charlotte: I love the idea of VIP this year. We can definitely relate to being in VIP and having paid for a ticket, but not feeling any exclusivity or importance. 

Emma: Exactly, we definitely want to give VIP their own area this year and have it more cordoned off, and I think increased security would be helpful as well. But we’re still working it out. The event side of it is still in the works and Evie and Shaw are working hard and doing a great job on that. 

Ana: I think it would make the night more special for the fighters themselves as well. It’s another perk of fighting- it ensures your friends get to have a special time whilst they support you. 

 Emma: Absolutely. And the friends who are in VIP also help with the walkouts a lot of the time, which is a big deal as well, being part of the entourage. But yeah, this was the main improvement- making sure people get value for money.

Photography by Lila Worgan

Ana: We have been very curious about this one… With a high number of applicants each year, what criteria do you use to select the students who will compete in the boxing matches? How do you ensure a fair and competitive selection process?

Emma: We have a really cohesive group this year, the fighters have formed some great friendships, which is quite nice. We try to select people from lots of different social circles. It could be very easy for me to look at the applicants and just choose the people I know, but it’s just not fair. We want an event that people are going to have people to root for… big characters, I guess. 

Ana: Funny you say this… I was wondering whether the personalities of fighters are taken into consideration when selecting? I feel like this does add a lot to the match.

Emma: I feel like a lot of people who apply are extroverted anyway, simply because they are willing to get up on a stage in front of hundreds of people and fight. They have to have confidence and be able to put on a show. One of the improvements, going from being a fighter last year to boxing director this year, is trying make it a cohesive group. I really want to keep everyone updated with what’s going on, staying in touch with all the fighters and checking in. I feel like when people have had problems it’s been really important to ask how things are going and how they’re feeling. 

 Ana: How do you pair them up?

Emma: We have a larger committee this year, and we all met once applications where closed to discuss pairings. It was helpful having such a diverse committee to get a range of opinions and insights into the applicants that I may not necessarily have known. 

Charlotte: Do you match them up by weight and height? 

Emma: Yes, it’s important we do this for safety purposes. Also, very few of the applicants have had boxing experience before, which is important. Obviously, we can’t have someone who is level six fighting someone who has never fought before. It’s unfair. And we obviously need drivers as well, so it’s always a bonus to have someone with a car. 

Charlotte: It seems like training for Fight Night is rigorous and demanding. Could you discuss the preparation and training process for the fighters? How intense is the training, and what does it take for a student to go from applicant to competitor? Can you describe what a typical training day looks like for the fighters and how it prepares them for the ring? 

Emma: Its so intense! I have never done anything like this before. I have done some really challenging things in my life; I did a half marathon when I was younger, and that was nothing compared to Fight Night training. It was so hard. I remember the day after the first training session I was in so much pain. But it makes you so fit. I don’t think I’ll ever be that same level of fitness or strength again. I felt so strong and it’s such a good feeling. I actually felt like I could back myself in a fight. 

 Charlotte: And you did! You won!

Ana: Given your busy role as boxing director, do you manage to attend the training sessions of the fighters? If so, how do you think your presence impacts their preparation?

Emma: The first few weeks I’d come to every session, but once you get a gist of how people are matched up and how it’s going, with my personal commitments, I don’t come every week. But I love coming and watching, it’s so fun to watch everyone fighting and seeing people improve. That’s the crazy thing about watching them train- people have improved so much in these five weeks. It’s so nice to see everyone so comfortable and settled. I also think it helps having my presence. When someone maybe has an issue with something or are feeling uncomfortable, I will come to the training and watch the situation. If they’re worried about something being unsafe or unfair or they’re not comfortable with their matchup, having me come and watch is reassurance that we are here to help and support them. Being there even to just distribute the gloves and answer any questions and chat to people is nice. I also like coming just to make sure everyone is okay and enjoying the process. 

Charlotte: Have you faced any logistical challenges? 

Emma: It sounds ridiculous, but the car situation. You go into this expecting everyone to be reliable for everything every single week, but people have other commitments and things come up last minute and it changes weekly. People have high expectations of me, and I have the same expectations of myself, but trying to meet those has been a rewarding challenge.

Photography by Lila Worgan

Ana: This one is interesting… In the event of a fighter dropping out, what contingency plans do you have in place to ensure the event runs smoothly without disruption?

Emma: This can be stressful. We have reserves in place, people who turn up to training, commit to it, get the gloves and headgear, but won’t be guaranteed a fight. We have boy and girl reserves. But there’s always the issue of not knowing who is going to drop out last minute, so selecting reserves who are in the middle and will be able to fight anyone is tough. There have been instances in the past where people have dropped out on the night or a few weeks before and reserves have had to step in who maybe aren’t the fairest weight, height and strength matchup. And this can be dangerous. So selecting reserves wisely is important. 

Charlotte: Do you see the reserves turning up to training and training equally as hard to those who have a fight guaranteed? 

Emma: Absolutely. The reserves will work equally as hard and really commit. It’s a big incentive as well that the training is free.

Charlotte: I would so do this recreationally just for the fitness. 

Emma: Exactly. It’s a really good challenge and good training even if you are a reserve. But selecting reserves can be difficult as we need to take so much into consideration. 

Ana: Can people drop out even if it’s not for medical reasons? Say they just don’t want to do it anymore or get cold feet?

Emma: If on the night nerves get the better of you, and it’s completely likely that this will happen and it has happened before, you don’t need to have a medical reason to drop out. We make sure that people feel no shame in dropping out, whatever the reason. 

Charlotte: Safety is paramount in any physical sport. Can you discuss the medical support and safety measures in place during Fight Night to protect the participants?

Emma: Parents and guardians always ask this when people sign up. The first thing my mum asked me when I applied was: is that safe? Will you be okay? There are paramedics on site all night, and all fighters are required to have a medical examination before the fight and directly after. Fighters are not allowed to go and drink anything or party after the fight until the medical check is complete. They check for concussions, measure your heart rate and they do an emotional exam as well. They’re really attentive. This is super important, especially at an event like this where you are getting hit and it is dangerous. It wouldn’t function without that.

Ana: Let’s talk trash talking!

Emma: I have definitely noticed this more with the boys. A lot of trash talking happens over social media. Some fighters create Instagram pages to gain support and build an entourage leading up to the night. 

Ana: I feel like it does increase the anticipation for the fight and motivation for the fighters. 

Emma: People are really into it this year and are really committing. It’s so competitive and there are some big characters this year. 

Charlotte: In your journey from fighter to president, what has been the most valuable lesson you've learned about organising such a significant event, and how has it influenced your approach to leadership?

Emma: Using the support around you. This year we have a bigger committee, and the times when we have been able to sort stuff most effectively and the times when I have felt the most support is when I have communicated with the team. It can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the responsibility and feel a bit alone with the workload or that nothing is working, so speaking to the committee is great. Everyone is so keen to help and talk and have the discussions and the meetings. In terms of the actual fighting… being able to relate to the fighters is so important. Knowing how it feels, knowing about the pressure and the anxiety and the ‘I can’t do this’ moments and the dedication it takes… I have so much respect for these guys, it takes so much dedication.

Ana: Have u stayed close with the people you trained with? Does training create a community?

Emma: This is something I have really liked about this year, it seems like they have created friends. And the carpooling as well has helped. 

Charlotte: What advice would you give to students who are considering applying to fight in future events?

Emma: I would tell them to do it. It is so much fun. I think if you are wanting to give 100%, learn something new, get fit and challenge yourself, that is a great attitude to go into this with. You can gain so much from it. You don’t have to win or be the best on the night. I thought it was so good for my mental health, coming here on Sunday after a dramatic Saturday night, being able to hit the bag is so rewarding.

Ana: It must be therapeutic.

Emma: Exactly. I would honestly recommend it to everyone. It doesn’t matter how fit you are right now. I hope I would say this if I had a different outcome on the night, and I think I would because I gained so much from the training and the process as a whole.

Charlotte: Finally, looking to the future, how do you envision the evolution of Fight Night under your leadership or with future leaders? Are there any long-term goals or dreams you're working towards for the event? How do you see fight night evolve generationally?

Emma: Things I have noticed is students taking it way more seriously year-on-year. There is going to be a way higher standard of fights this year, the quality is going to be much higher. I think this will keep evolving each year, as people come to the events and witness how good the fighters are, people will want to give 100% when training. Also, I would love to be able to do a themed launch event to promote Fight Night. I think that would be really cool. More promo is definitely an aim; Lachlan has been working really hard to level up our social media this year. I just want it to get bigger and more exciting!

Ana: It already is! It’s our favourite event of the year for sure.

Charlotte: Thank you so much for having us at training tonight Emma, and we can’t wait for Fight Night. 

SAVE THE DATE: FIGHT NIGHT MARCH 21st !!!

Photography by Lila Worgan

Published February 23rd 2024.

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