The front porch to your community!
I wasn’t sure what to expect that Tuesday afternoon when I got in my car and drove across town to meet with Qadry “The Missile” Ismail, former Wide Receiver (#87) for the Baltimore Ravens. He had to be a bit gruff and tough and rough around the edges, right? After all, he is a Super Bowl winning,
former professional football player…and some of those guys do look a bit…ahem…mean!
I had made arrangements to interview him for this month’s “Getting to Know” and he had invited me to get a taste of his Missile Training. The thought of being trained by an ex-NFL player absolutely terrified me. How wrong I was! Qadry was extremely friendly and welcoming, he made me feel right at home and his knowledge of how the human body functions along with his ability to teach someone else how to improve the form and function of their own body is amazing!
Here’s a bit of our interview and for more details of my training session with Qadry, check out our Wellness Wednesday blog at www.thezonemag.com.
What are your favorite childhood memories and do they include football?
With a laugh, Qadry answered—“Yes, they do. I loved to play sandlot football with my older brother and friends. I remember, on my 8th birthday, while my mother was cooking our dinner, I went outside to find some kids to play football with but there weren’t any out there. So, I started playing by myself and made up an entire game in my head. I came in covered in mud and when my mom asked how it went, I told her that it was the best game ever!”
Is it hard to concentrate with all of the noise in the stadium and the cameras in your face?
“No, not at all, you get used to it. Actually, it adds to the excitement.”
Your career really seemed to take off when you came to Baltimore. To what do you attribute that?
“Over coming adversity, learning what it means to be a professional…It was really about going through the fire and learning what I needed to do and changing to do it.”
Do you still wear your Super Bowl ring?
“Yes, all the time…usually when I am at an event or on air.”
What advice do you have for aspiring NFL hopefuls?
“Go to school and have a back up plan.”
Was it hard to retire? Do you miss it?
“No, I don’t miss it. I’m still really close to it though and I play it with my kids. Now I enjoy helping others excel in the sport.”
What was the best advice you received about preparing for “life after football” and what advice would you give players today?
“Take care of what takes care of you.” A mantra he learned from Roger Craig when in Minnesota. When asked what this meant, he went on to explain that it refers to taking care of your body. “Plan A is to play as long as you can but hone in on your skills, watch what others are doing and prepare for the back up plan”. He also says that you should “…be a realist about your dreams and goals, even if that means you’re third string and riding the bench…it builds character.”
If you could go back and do anything differently, what would it be?
“I would have played golf. It’s the sport of a lifetime. As for football, I would have trained differently—if only I knew then what I know now.”
Who inspires you?
“Definitely my wife and kids. I also have a lot of good men in my life and we have a strong fellowship. Dr. Chavis (his business partner and friend) also inspires me.”
What are you doing now?
Qadry has developed an elite training program, QIMT—Qadry Ismail Missile
Training. “I’ve taken the good from my experiences and molded it into training for others”. His primary focus is on athletes which he describes as being “anyone who desires to be serious about their training—not just a jock or someone looking for a casual workout…someone who desires the ability to turn their body on and off at will”.
Qadry works with everyone from the professional athlete to the middle school student who wants to improve their skill. He’s also teamed up with Dr. Chavis of The Elite Spine and Wellness Center in Bel Air and together they practice, what Qadry refers to as “Treat and Train”. Together they compare notes and collaborate to help strengthen the client. “Treat and Train, Treat and Train…Missile Training is where it’s at.”
- Jennifer Kline
To learn more about Qadry Ismail’s Missile Training visit www.qimissile.com
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Getting to Know...
Qadry Ismail
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Qadry attended Church Creek Elementary’s Family Reading Night and read “Green Eggs and Ham” to the children. He is shown here with 3 of his youngest fans, Angelina, Logan and Caitlyn Soleas.
Photo by Kristin Soleas
