FSM readers' uK WRESTLER OF THE YEAR 2012, NOAM DAR

FSM: When did you start training to become a pro wrestler? Noam Dar: I started in December 2007 at the PBW Academy, which was based in East Kilbride at the time. The school has re-located to just outside Glasgow now, but the same principles still apply. Kid Fite (Ross Watson) was, and still is, the main trainer, but Lionheart (Adrian McCallum) had a bit of involvement, too.

There are schools that still put young hopefuls through the amateur basics before moving on to pro training. Was your own training similar to that? It was very mat-based to begin with. I wasn't allowed in the ring until after around five months of that, and we were taught that the ring isn't a right, it's a privilege. That's something a lot of schools don't reinforce to students these days, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I think being taught that made us appreciate things more. When we were allowed into the ring, we also then had the raw tools to succeed.
I have a background in judo, which has similarities to wrestling, so I was already naturally athletic in certain elements. The training sessions could be around five hours long, so real fitness was important.

How long did it take you to begin feeling truly comfortable inside the ring? Even now, that can change from match to match! I'm never really comfortable before any of my matches, but once you get going, then it becomes more natural. During my first few matches, I was so eager that nerves were overtaken by elation. It was like being comforted by pride, I think, but it's still relative to the situation you're in.
When I wrestled Davey Richards, who is obviously extremely well-known, I worried about whether or not I could keep up with him. Also, would he be impressed with me, or struggle to carry me through the match? You can get negative thoughts like that, as well as worrying what other people think about your look, the match and so on. It's a big crescendo of things, and it can turn you into a nervous wreck.

How much of your match do you like to plan out beforehand? It does depend, but I've never been one for just calling it all out there. I like making sure the story is down to a tee, to the point where the dots connect and everything makes sense. Even if you get that story down, and don't necessarily focus on individual spots, that makes it easier.
Making sure that the story is right, even with those who don't like to plan much, should be discussed beforehand.

Do you prefer working stiff, intense matches, or is it just as enjoyable to be more comedic? I've always compared wrestling to music and acting, so while you're obviously going to have roles that you're stronger at, it's good to be versatile. As long as everything in the match stays true to the individuals, then you can really accentuate the positives and hide the negatives.
What I enjoy depends more on who I'm wrestling, the crowd, and what the environment is. I worked with Mad Man Manson recently for PCW, which always has a really receptive and smart audience. They were able to hook onto the subtleties of Manson, which made for a more fun time all-round. Even though I was working the serious role, it's hard not to get soaked-up in the comedic atmosphere and let yourself go. Sometimes matches can turn out like that; not what you expected, but yet more fun. Basically, so long as it's not apparent you're just going through the motions, it's all good.

When you worked with Jerry Lynn at Revolution Pro in October 2012, you told FSM that you took so much information in from just his lock-up. Can you explain what you meant by that? Personally, I find you can always tell a lot from any given wrestler through the way they lock-up - whether they really try to push you around or not. It's like a foreshadowing of things to come; Jerry was telling me via his lock-up that he's incredibly tight as a worker, and goes that extra mile to ensure every detail in the match is important. He was letting me think, "If this is the intensity we're getting from the lock-up, imagine what we can do during the final stretch of the match?"
It was exciting, as a lot of people like to rush through the more basic moments of a match. When you have someone who works like Jerry, who enjoys every aspect of it equally, that, for me, is when the fine art shines through.

Is there anything specific that you learnt at the start of your training which still rings true now? Respect - that'd be the biggest thing. Not forced respect, but learning to accept and respect others for what they bring to the table, even if it goes against what you've learnt.
Sticking to your etiquette is also important, as you'll meet the same people on the way down that you did on the way up. When you're breaking in, you don't really think about these things properly; you are more concerned with not pissing anyone off, but soon realise that it's not so black and white. Experience is also incredibly valuable, good or bad.