Born Nov. 1st 1970 in the blue-collar steel town of Hamilton ON...more bio info to come....
Sports Mention:
As a Martial Artist Derek briefly studied Judo at summer school when he was 11 and around this age was already unknowingly pulling off his own instinctive moves, MMA style, one trade-mark move being wrapping his legs up and around any opponent, pulling them down fast and simulating follow-up groin/ elsewhere punches. He was also known for fast take-downs of friends. Opponents of all sizes during this time-frame. He spent one week in karate at 19 and also spent a year in tae kwon do where he excelled impressing his teachers and classmates with flexibility, speed and belt earnings monthly. (In grade school the the physed teacher would say, 'ok, let's do Derek stretches'.) Unofficially he learned blue belt, two belts from black. Previous belts were with honors each time. One of his matches during this time was with Jeff Joslin who later went onto fight in the UFC. All fighters and others present that day knew Derek won the match but the connections and politics of the sport led to the other winning but footage shows differently. Other sports he excelled in were track & field (pole vault, all field events), gymnastics (pommel horse rings etc.) and swimming/ diving. He also played baseball, an average player but the best at stealing bases like his idol Ricky Henderson at the time (ironically his team wore the same colours the Oakland A's, this thrilling Derek). Two years in football for the city as well. On a silly note note as a teen/ young adult, Derek was never defeated by anyone no matter their size in mercy or arm-wrestling.
During the mid 90's Derek's entrepreneurial side came out when he designed and sold T-shirts at video stores and also approached the popular IT Store chain as well as The Bay. He submitted a design to two top pet companies in the U.S. as well regarding a toilet bowl shaped drinking system (as dogs are known for such). The feedback was solid but was passed on. On a separate note Derek has been watched-admired by celebs such as Russell Peters, Norm MacDonald back in Toronto as well as Heather Locklear. He has met many celebs over the years including members of Rush,Paul Stanley, Janet Gretzky, Dana Patrick (Meatloaf video- I Would Do Anything For Love/ Seinfeld--she even tried to help Derek get a job at a Beverly Hills restaurant in '96), Ian Thomas, Rick Moranis Dave Thomas and members of the Spoons as well as Kiefer Sutherland at YYZ (Toronto airport), Joe Pesci, Philip Baker Hall, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Richard Pryor, Andrew Dice Clay, Wayans Bros, Howie Mandel, Richard Lewis........
Some tidbits; Derek at 11 could put 20-25 quarters on his elbow, then flick then into his hand. He was a silly amateur magician around 9-10. He often put on neighbourhood mini Kiss concerts or Saturday Night Fever shows, this including grade-school and Grease. He drew stunt diagrams and performed many at 10-12 years of age. He rapped in school/ promoted and co-wrote a rap about staying in school at 17 which played in malls. He was very much into photography and art spanning his life. Derek could swallow an orange whole. Derek was noted through life for incredible strength moves such as L-sits while doing arm raises simultaneously, cat-like reflexes, stunts and more, once leading to an agent in L.A. asking if he was still involved in gymnastics as he wanted to rep him.
As a Martial Artist Derek briefly studied Judo at summer school when he was 11 and around this age was already unknowingly pulling off his own instinctive moves, MMA style, one trade-mark move being wrapping his legs up and around any opponent, pulling them down fast and simulating follow-up groin/ elsewhere punches. He was also known for fast take-downs of friends. Opponents of all sizes during this time-frame. He spent one week in karate at 19 and also spent a year in tae kwon do where he excelled impressing his teachers and classmates with flexibility, speed and belt earnings monthly. (In grade school the the physed teacher would say, 'ok, let's do Derek stretches'.) Unofficially he learned blue belt, two belts from black. Previous belts were with honors each time. One of his matches during this time was with Jeff Joslin who later went onto fight in the UFC. All fighters and others present that day knew Derek won the match but the connections and politics of the sport led to the other winning but footage shows differently. Other sports he excelled in were track & field (pole vault, all field events), gymnastics (pommel horse rings etc.) and swimming/ diving. He also played baseball, an average player but the best at stealing bases like his idol Ricky Henderson at the time (ironically his team wore the same colours the Oakland A's, this thrilling Derek). Two years in football for the city as well. On a silly note note as a teen/ young adult, Derek was never defeated by anyone no matter their size in mercy or arm-wrestling.
During the mid 90's Derek's entrepreneurial side came out when he designed and sold T-shirts at video stores and also approached the popular IT Store chain as well as The Bay. He submitted a design to two top pet companies in the U.S. as well regarding a toilet bowl shaped drinking system (as dogs are known for such). The feedback was solid but was passed on. On a separate note Derek has been watched-admired by celebs such as Russell Peters, Norm MacDonald back in Toronto as well as Heather Locklear. He has met many celebs over the years including members of Rush,Paul Stanley, Janet Gretzky, Dana Patrick (Meatloaf video- I Would Do Anything For Love/ Seinfeld--she even tried to help Derek get a job at a Beverly Hills restaurant in '96), Ian Thomas, Rick Moranis Dave Thomas and members of the Spoons as well as Kiefer Sutherland at YYZ (Toronto airport), Joe Pesci, Philip Baker Hall, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Richard Pryor, Andrew Dice Clay, Wayans Bros, Howie Mandel, Richard Lewis........
Some tidbits; Derek at 11 could put 20-25 quarters on his elbow, then flick then into his hand. He was a silly amateur magician around 9-10. He often put on neighbourhood mini Kiss concerts or Saturday Night Fever shows, this including grade-school and Grease. He drew stunt diagrams and performed many at 10-12 years of age. He rapped in school/ promoted and co-wrote a rap about staying in school at 17 which played in malls. He was very much into photography and art spanning his life. Derek could swallow an orange whole. Derek was noted through life for incredible strength moves such as L-sits while doing arm raises simultaneously, cat-like reflexes, stunts and more, once leading to an agent in L.A. asking if he was still involved in gymnastics as he wanted to rep him.
