C OV E R
S T O RY
H
by storm, but what’s really
behind the man mountain that
E’S TAKING HOLLYWOOD
is, Martyn Ford?
“I’ve always been very sports
orientated,” says Martyn. “I don’t
like losing and I believe focus and
determination is key.”
Second place is simply not an
option for the British movie star.
“Being the best is paramount for me,”
Martyn grins. “I don’t take part in
anything to come second.”
Martyn then started university
at the age of 20, where he
studied sports science.
“My university course opened up my
eyes to all kinds of sports and different
ways of training,” he says. “It was
during this time that I developed
a passion for weights.”
Martyn admits he is naturally
very long and lean. In an
effort to bulk up and alter his
appearance, he started training
heavy in his early 20s.
“I added masses of muscle and
masses more tattoos,” he jokes.
“I felt as if I was starting to create the
real me. My role models were Arnold
Schwarzenegger, Jean-Claude Van
Damme and Vin Diesel.”
It wasn’t until he turned 31 that
Martyn hit the movie scene.
“I’d been friends with a guy called
Scott Adkins for a few years,” he
explains. “Scott was an amazing
Martyn excelled at athletics as
a youngster, but it was cricket
that made its mark on his youth.
“I’ve always been really good at discus,
javelin and shot put,” he says. “I really
enjoyed these events at school, but at
the age of 12 I started playing cricket
and that was my forte. I played for
Warwickshire County Cricket Club
until the age of 19. I spent a lot of time
with the England Academy and was
loving life, but a sudden injury put a
stop to my cricket career. The thought
of returning to the sport after injury
just never felt like a strong option to
me. And so, I decided to leave cricket
behind and move on in life.”
12
MUSCLE & FITNESS / MARCH 2018