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Shinkicker

For what it's worth
Jan 30, 2016
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Not on here. I've discussed it on podcasts and in interviews. Not much to say really, I was an aggressive kid, got in a lot of fights, liked to train. Visited family in Vancouver and they had the beginnings of a NHB/MMA scene and I jumped at the chance to fight for money and not get arrested.
At what age did you go to Vancouver?

Did you join a gym there? Was it a one discipline style place? Or did they train in different styles?

How long from the time you started training until your first competition/fight?
 

Leigh

Engineer
Pro Fighter
Jan 26, 2015
10,925
21,293
At what age did you go to Vancouver?

Did you join a gym there? Was it a one discipline style place? Or did they train in different styles?

How long from the time you started training until your first competition/fight?
I first visited when I was 18. Moved there for a couple of years when I was 20. I joined a few gyms for TKD and kickboxing but started training with Jason Fairn in early 1997 to learn jiujitsu. I had a training fight (full fight but in the gym against another student) the first weekend and lost. My first actual bout was a professional fight in July of the same year. I had been training 6 months but that was 20 hours per week of jiujitsu/fighting. I trained every single day, not one day off, not one session missed, so it's not like a regular 6 months of training.
 

Shinkicker

For what it's worth
Jan 30, 2016
10,307
13,908
So did you look to outside people for some trading in boxing/wrestling etc?

Or did you just go with what you had there and try to make sure you could use your jitz?
(Lol, not sure I'm wording that correctly)
 

Leigh

Engineer
Pro Fighter
Jan 26, 2015
10,925
21,293
So did you look to outside people for some trading in boxing/wrestling etc?

Or did you just go with what you had there and try to make sure you could use your jitz?
(Lol, not sure I'm wording that correctly)
At that time, no. I was already somewhat competent at striking (not amazing but I could scrap) and we learned basic takedowns and G'n'P at Fairn's place, as it was based on real fighting rather than sport BJJ.

When I returned to the UK, yes I started doing some freestyle wrestling, Catch wrestling, boxing, Judo and Muay Thai.
 

Shinkicker

For what it's worth
Jan 30, 2016
10,307
13,908
What happened when you returned to the U.K.?

Did you just join a new gym? Or did you have to shop around and find a new fight family?

Did you, or when did you, get a manager? Or did you or your coach set up your fights?
 

Shinkicker

For what it's worth
Jan 30, 2016
10,307
13,908
At that time, no. I was already somewhat competent at striking (not amazing but I could scrap) and we learned basic takedowns and G'n'P at Fairn's place, as it was based on real fighting rather than sport BJJ.

When I returned to the UK, yes I started doing some freestyle wrestling, Catch wrestling, boxing, Judo and Muay Thai.
Damn, how many gyms were you a member of? Lol
 

Shinkicker

For what it's worth
Jan 30, 2016
10,307
13,908
On a scale of 1 to 10 what would you rate Muay Thai as being a good background/starting point in training for MMA?

Do you have one that you think is more important/better that the others?
 

Leigh

Engineer
Pro Fighter
Jan 26, 2015
10,925
21,293
What happened when you returned to the U.K.?

Did you just join a new gym? Or did you have to shop around and find a new fight family?

Did you, or when did you, get a manager? Or did you or your coach set up your fights?
There was no jiujitsu training here (at least near me) so I started training a couple of friends and we took fights when we could. We had a huge advantage cos no one really knew submissions.

I met Ian Freeman at an event (I fought one of his lads) and we got on well. He suggested I sign up with his manager, so I did.

Damn, how many gyms were you a member of? Lol
Haha I would just do drop ins mostly. It wasn't easy to coordinate, on top of weight training, cardio and having a job. I had to travel A LOT to train, probably driving over 20 hours per week in total.

On a scale of 1 to 10 what would you rate Muay Thai as being a good background/starting point in training for MMA?

Do you have one that you think is more important/better that the others?
It's a full contact sport, so probably decent as a background. I think wrestling is probably the style I would recommend as a base, cos the better wrestler can often dictate where the fight goes. BJJ black belt or golden gloves boxing isn't much good if you can't keep the fight in your range.
 

SongExotic2

ATM 3 CHAMPION OF THE WORLD. #FREECAIN
First 100
Jan 16, 2015
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What's with all these fucken questions? Are you a copper now?
 

Shinkicker

For what it's worth
Jan 30, 2016
10,307
13,908
Did you ever consider getting out of it in the early years?

I know you may feel differently about it now, but in the beginning did you like (maybe secretly) hurting people? No judging here.
 
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Shinkicker

For what it's worth
Jan 30, 2016
10,307
13,908
Aren't you still competing in ju jitsu?

Would you take an MMA fight?

Did you ever do steroids? Supplements? Do you use supplements now?

How bad does your body hurt now? Any lasting injuries?
 

Leigh

Engineer
Pro Fighter
Jan 26, 2015
10,925
21,293
Did you ever consider getting out of it in the early years?

I know you may feel differently about it now, but in the being did like (maybe secretly) hurting people? No judging here.
Yes. I was on a TV documentary in around 1999/2000 and got some minor fame. I was given a UK #1 ranking and I felt kinda pressured to compete. I hated competing but loved fighting. What I mean by that is I hate having to do a job, to do a training camp, a weight cut, media, perform in front of a crowd, deal with online criticism etc. I love testing myself.

Not really enjoyed hurting people but certainly didn't have a problem with it. I fought to win but if that involved wrecking someone, oh well.

Aren't you still competing in ju jitsu?

Would you take an MMA fight?

Did you ever do steroids? Supplements? Do you use supplements now?

How bad does your body hurt now? Any lasting injuries?
Yes, I still compete in jiujitsu.

Not interested in fighting MMA anymore, because of the reasons noted above. And I'm 45 with a job and family.

I don't use any supplements. Occasionally a protein powder when I was weight cutting. I have a story about steroids :) I competed in Hook n Shoot in the US for their featherweight title and I won. I went back to the changing room and a commissioner said to me, "Remedios, you gotta pee."
Me: "No, I'm fine thanks."
Commissioner: "No, you GOTTA pee." He sees me looking confused and asks if I've taken anything I shouldn't have.
Me: "Is caffeine banned? I took quite a lot to deal with jetlag."
Commissioner: "No, caffeine is fine."
Me (smiling): "Then no, I have nothing to hide :)" and I pissed in his pot.

No serious injuries, I feel pretty great. I did hurt my back deadlifting and MRI shows my discs are pretty worn. If I stand too long my back starts to ache but that's about it. I know it sounds arrogant but I'm in great shape, year round six pack and I almost feel bad competing in the masters division against these old fucks.

Where did the 'bulldog' come from?
When I competed in Cage Rage, they were looking to get a video game sponsor and they need nicknames for their fighters that would translate into mascots. They made up Bulldog for me, fuck knows why. Ask Dave O'Donnell.
 

Shinkicker

For what it's worth
Jan 30, 2016
10,307
13,908
Do/did you feel guilty about street fights (with non-professionals)?

Did you lose interest in that after you started training because you had an outlet?

Or do you still love it anytime, anywhere? Lol
 

Shinkicker

For what it's worth
Jan 30, 2016
10,307
13,908
Did you ever watch a friend get hurt and ask yourself why in the hell you guys were doing this stuff?

Did your wife/family ever ask you to stop?

Would you support one of your children if they wanted to compete in MMA?
 

Leigh

Engineer
Pro Fighter
Jan 26, 2015
10,925
21,293
Do/did you feel guilty about street fights (with non-professionals)?

Did you lose interest in that after you started training because you had an outlet?

Or do you still love it anytime, anywhere? Lol
No guilt, any street fights I had as a pro fighter were deserved. In fact, I wish I'd beaten some guys worse.

Yes, you're exactly right. As a teenager, I was fighting ALL the time. No shit, probably over 100 altercations. Once I started competing, I had no interest in looking for fights and competing kept me out of prison. The handful of scraps I've had as an adult were because people were cunts and needed a kicking. I haven't had an altercation in the street in over 10 years and that suits me fine.

Did you ever watch a friend get hurt and ask yourself why in the hell you guys were doing this stuff?

Did your wife/family ever ask you to stop?

Would you support one of your children if they wanted to compete in MMA?
No, never questioned what we were doing. Looking back, maybe. I got KO'd twice and that's bound to have an effect on my cognitive ability.

No one ever asked me to stop but I always made it clear it was my passion. My uncle was horrified when he saw my fight, as it was bareknuckle NHB. He tried to criticise me but should keep his own house in order before he criticises me.

I would rather my kids did not compete in MMA. They train a bit of jiujitsu and like to spar but they have other hobbies which is fine by me.
 

Shinkicker

For what it's worth
Jan 30, 2016
10,307
13,908
Did you ever lose a girlfriend/friend over it?

What did your parents think? Did they come to any of your fights?
 

Leigh

Engineer
Pro Fighter
Jan 26, 2015
10,925
21,293
Did you ever lose a girlfriend/friend over it?

What did your parents think? Did they come to any of your fights?
No, never lost a gf over it. Birds love fighters and also love it when you're assertive.

My mum never gave a shit. My dad cornered me for my first couple of fights. He's quite proud of me turning my life around with martial arts, I think. I had dropped out of university and the personal skills I developed from competing (commitment, work ethic etc) helped me go back and finish my degree.