Martin Clarke: General of the Movement ARMY
Adrenaline Sun finally had the honour of chatting with the man commonly referred to as Martin “Briggs”, The General.
We took this opportunity to pick his brain and find out all about his love for skateboarding, life in the Movement ARMY and how he intends to Keep Moving.
We’ve heard so much about Martin Clarke. Who really is Martin Clarke?
I learn something new about him everyday but as for now he’s a man that fell in love at age 15 and won’t let go. My parents don’t always understand it because she beats the crap out of me sometimes, she being my skateboard (He says laughing) but I can’t help myself. Guess that’s how being in love works right?
I didn’t do too well in school and the world generally made me feel like I wasn’t worth much but skateboarding came along and changed that all. It’s amazing how a few ply’s of wood glued together with 4 wheels attached, taught me so many things that after 12 years of school none of my teachers could… Don’t know why but that thought just made water swell in my eyes.
How did your love affair with Skateboarding start?
My friend Kevin St Hill taught me to skate. I would see him skating and having fun and wanted to do the same so he hooked me up. His girlfriend’s brother had an old deck that needed bushings so he let me have it. It was a busted up old board but it felt like heaven skating my own deck with the boys. Now that I think about it, I have a lot to thank that man for, Thanks Kevin! 
How did you become a part of the Movement and further inspire a skateboard movement on a whole in Barbados?
Mikul Miyagi and Adrian Bowen came to Kevin, Raymond Broome and I with the idea to start an actual team in 2007 as we were a few of the best skaters back then. It seemed like a cool idea so we jumped on board (No pun intended). We would go on skate tours and try to film tricks and take photos but we were also very shy of the camera back then and it was a pain getting us to film the skating – as i’m sure Mikul can attest to. I think thats one of the biggest obstacles we faced in the beginning; ourselves, but as time passed we got more in to it. The vision that Mikul and Adrian had for skateboarding in Barbados became very clear to me, that’s when Movement started to flow through my veins and I became a General in the Army.
So it’s true then that Movement is an ARMY, could you tell us how your ARMY works?
Well to make it into the ranks officially, you have to ollie over a general in the army to become a solider. If you show good and positive vibes towards what the movement is trying to achieve you may be selected by a General but Sargents and Reserves can recruit as well but with the approval of the Generals. I love the vibe and the drive to skate that’s in the Movement Skate Team, it’s so much more than just a skateboard team it’s a collection strong minded positive individuals on a mission. A Mission to change the world, one skateboard at a time, it’s a Movement and all are welcomed!
What style of skating would you say you prefer?
I’m an Andrew Reynolds, Chris Cole type of guy. Handrails and Stair sets fascinate me, hearing metal grinding on metal or feeling big air and hangtime. The feeling can’t be beat!
Ok, so say you were walking through Bridgetown and Andrew Reynolds zips past you on his board. What are the next three things that you would immediately do?
Well I always have my board with me sooo,
1. Would be to get infront of the boss and squeeze out a couple tricks for him to see (preferably on a stairset! )
2. Would be, to not freak out like a school girl cheerleader with pom poms and kill the vibe
3. Would be to talk to him and learn a bit more about the individual behind all that glittery pro status.
Whats your favourite Skate Tune?
Oh Mandy by The Spinto Band, it was featured in Digital’s Skate video – Get Tricks or Die Trying. Kevin and I would skate and listen to it for hours on repeat much to the pleasure of all the other skaters at the session.
Fruits Vs Veggies, Pick your favourite fruit and your favorite vegetable, Which wins the overall ensuing battle?
Hmm, favourite fruit? Definitely Pineapple. Vegetable? Does coleslaw count as a vegetable? Thing is I don’t really like vegetables. So pineapple would definitely kick coleslaw’s butt in that fight, unless of course its Chris Coleslaw .
Tell us your 3 wishlist skate destinations.
That’s super easy. Trinidad, London and Canada via the U.S, it’s like killing two birds with one stone. I have a feeling I’m going to be seeing Trinidad pretty soon though.
Tell us 3 of your fave spots in Bim and the three pros you would invite to skate each with you.
Alright, straight to brass tacks. Pricemart parking lot gap to road with Ryan Sheckler, Chris Cole and the boss Andrew Reynolds (Watch Real Talk, True Story to see the gap!). I also like the NIS stair ledge, so i’d skate that with Chris Cole, Paul “Irie” Wilson and Stevie Williams, pretty sure that’s a spot Stevie would like and Paul would be hype to skate with him which would make me extra hype from Paul’s hype on Stevie on the ledge.Wow that would be a dream sesh actually, are you guys gonna make that happen or what? 
. The last spot would be the Big B stair gaps and handrails with Reyn Reyn, Shecks and Captain Cole. I think these guys would be so fun to skate with. I really enjoy their skate styles.
What are your plans for yourself and the Movement in the near future?
We just wrapped up filming for Movementality, so now i’m preparing myself to start filming for Movement’s first full length skate video – Keep Moving. It’s going to be a big test for me but i’m sure I have what it takes. I want to show the world my perspective on skateboarding, I want to travel to those 4 places I mentioned earlier to skate , meet other skaters and get it all on film. Having other sponsors would make this so much easier for me. Mikul and I have hatched a plan to get it done , so that’s what im working on…
Final thoughts on skate life here in the Caribbean?
We here in the Caribbean have something special to offer just by having pleasure of living here. We are all different people but our culture and skateboarding unites us all. We are the ones who determine where skateboarding goes in the region,it’s beginning to take off and what we do now will influence generations to come. Now is the time to go for it and make our skate scene something even more special. Keep moving Caribbean shredders, We will Not be the Last . I love life hear!!
