Bluecifer
03-26-2003, 03:23 PM
I jacked this from fitnessfiend.com:Frank Shamrock Interview Transcript
Rory: The mixed martial arts are a great way to get in shape for anyone, whether you're going to have hand to hand combat or if you just want to shed a few pounds.
Lauren: It's something really different and it's a sport that not too many people know about, but hopefully, in a few years we'll be seeing more of it.
Rory: Lauren, with us now is one of the greatest ultimate fighters of all time, mixed martial arts champion Frank Shamrock. Hey Frank, thanks for joining Lauren and I.
Frank: My pleasure.
Rory: How do you train for your fights Frank?
Frank: That's a good question. It's pretty much the same as any other athlete would train for an endurance sport. Our matches average about 25 minutes, at least mine do. I do a lot of muscular conditioning and a lot of high intensity cardio. I do a lot of quick bursts that will help me in the ring for takedowns, like sprints and plyometrics. I've trained with a few of the 49ers football players and it's pretty similar to what they do.
Rory: So you train for when you need quick bursts of energy in your fights?
Frank: Quick bursts and endurance as well.
Rory: For our listeners that don't know Frank, basically what you do is one on one combat. There's a few rules but basically it's hand to hand combat-submission moves and punches and kicks. I guess the goal is to make your opponent tap out by a submission move or by just punching him in the face repeatedly. I know that's how Lauren gets me to do the dishes, punching me in the face repeatedly until eventually I'll tap out.
Frank: (laughs) That's pretty much it. It's combat oriented for sport. It's the biggest, baddest game of 'uncle' you can play.
Lauren: Rory and I watched an HBO special on Ultimate Fighting and it showed how some of the people used drugs like pain killers or illegal substances like steroids. How have you avoided using drugs?
Frank: I think you're talking about the special called "The Smashing Machine." It was a great piece. It's the same as any sports. When you turn pro and there's the opportunity to make money, many will take shortcuts. Injuries and pain come with this career choice. I've had more injuries that I can count. I had to make a decision to either take a shortcut or do some therapy, lift more weights. Do I take steroids or just train harder? It was a personal decision because I have an addictive personality. If I get ice cream and I like it, then I'll have to get a gallon of it. I always felt the same way with drugs. It's a path I never wanted to go down because I knew it would ruin my career.
Lauren: We read that you grew up in a foster home. Did training in the martial arts help give your life some focus and direction?
Frank: Absolutely. Submission fighting really changed my life. It saved me from the path I was on. I was eleven years old when I went into the juvenile system traveling from home to home. Martial arts gave me a way to structure my life and a path to follow. It made me what I am today.
Rory: The Shamrock name is one of the most famous names in mixed martial arts. The man that raised you also raised Ken Shamrock. Did the people who raised you use martial arts to help give you guys focus and discipline?
Frank: Not really. Our Dad Bob Shamrock was never really into martial arts. When there was an opportunity for Ken to go into pro wrestling he did support him. Our Father's attitude was as long as you're working hard, training, and staying out of trouble than it must be good.
Rory: Your brother Ken got into pro wrestling with the WWF. Is that something you would ever consider getting into?
Frank: I've been approached many times to get into pro wrestling. I'm a huge fan and I have been since I was a kid. The work involved, the amount of injuries, and the amount of drug use didn't appeal to me. The steroid use is just too much and I don't see me ever getting into wrestling.
Rory: So you think a lot of the guys use steroids in wrestling? Some guys look like they're just in great shape but then there are others who just look like freaks of nature that can't be natural.
Frank: That's what they are and that's what they get paid to do. They're supposed to be larger than life. They also do 150-200 wrestling shows a year so they never get a chance to heal or recover from injury. Pain killers and drug use become a way of life because you have to use drugs to just do your job. I only have to fight once or twice a year.
Rory: That's not too bad. You also do other things to supplement your income. I read that you developed a martial arts program for police officers to use submission moves for apprehending criminals.
Frank: I started the program about seven years ago. I teach a class every night to just regular people, a self defense class. One of my students was a police officer and I developed a program that he could use on the streets. I wanted to find a way to protect the officers better. The program has become international.
Lauren: That's really interesting. You're returning to the ring soon. Are you going to do anything special that day, as far as nutrition or preparation?
Frank: My philosophy is to just rest the day of the fight. I drink a bit more water. I also make sure to warm up really good.
Rory: Well, I'll make sure to do that the day of your fight too. I'll be there in spirit. Hopefully your next fight will be on pay per view so we can watch it. Before we let you go, out of curiosity would you ever fight your brother Ken on pay per view?
Frank: You know I've been approached many times about that but it's not something I would ever consider.
Rory: I hear you. Many people approach Lauren and I to fight each other in the octagon.
Lauren: I'm actually considering it.
Rory: I'm too scared. Well, I encourage all our listeners to visit Frank's website www.frankshamrock.com. Thanks so much for joining us Frank. Best of luck.
Frank: My pleasure guys. Thanks for having me.
Rory: The mixed martial arts are a great way to get in shape for anyone, whether you're going to have hand to hand combat or if you just want to shed a few pounds.
Lauren: It's something really different and it's a sport that not too many people know about, but hopefully, in a few years we'll be seeing more of it.
Rory: Lauren, with us now is one of the greatest ultimate fighters of all time, mixed martial arts champion Frank Shamrock. Hey Frank, thanks for joining Lauren and I.
Frank: My pleasure.
Rory: How do you train for your fights Frank?
Frank: That's a good question. It's pretty much the same as any other athlete would train for an endurance sport. Our matches average about 25 minutes, at least mine do. I do a lot of muscular conditioning and a lot of high intensity cardio. I do a lot of quick bursts that will help me in the ring for takedowns, like sprints and plyometrics. I've trained with a few of the 49ers football players and it's pretty similar to what they do.
Rory: So you train for when you need quick bursts of energy in your fights?
Frank: Quick bursts and endurance as well.
Rory: For our listeners that don't know Frank, basically what you do is one on one combat. There's a few rules but basically it's hand to hand combat-submission moves and punches and kicks. I guess the goal is to make your opponent tap out by a submission move or by just punching him in the face repeatedly. I know that's how Lauren gets me to do the dishes, punching me in the face repeatedly until eventually I'll tap out.
Frank: (laughs) That's pretty much it. It's combat oriented for sport. It's the biggest, baddest game of 'uncle' you can play.
Lauren: Rory and I watched an HBO special on Ultimate Fighting and it showed how some of the people used drugs like pain killers or illegal substances like steroids. How have you avoided using drugs?
Frank: I think you're talking about the special called "The Smashing Machine." It was a great piece. It's the same as any sports. When you turn pro and there's the opportunity to make money, many will take shortcuts. Injuries and pain come with this career choice. I've had more injuries that I can count. I had to make a decision to either take a shortcut or do some therapy, lift more weights. Do I take steroids or just train harder? It was a personal decision because I have an addictive personality. If I get ice cream and I like it, then I'll have to get a gallon of it. I always felt the same way with drugs. It's a path I never wanted to go down because I knew it would ruin my career.
Lauren: We read that you grew up in a foster home. Did training in the martial arts help give your life some focus and direction?
Frank: Absolutely. Submission fighting really changed my life. It saved me from the path I was on. I was eleven years old when I went into the juvenile system traveling from home to home. Martial arts gave me a way to structure my life and a path to follow. It made me what I am today.
Rory: The Shamrock name is one of the most famous names in mixed martial arts. The man that raised you also raised Ken Shamrock. Did the people who raised you use martial arts to help give you guys focus and discipline?
Frank: Not really. Our Dad Bob Shamrock was never really into martial arts. When there was an opportunity for Ken to go into pro wrestling he did support him. Our Father's attitude was as long as you're working hard, training, and staying out of trouble than it must be good.
Rory: Your brother Ken got into pro wrestling with the WWF. Is that something you would ever consider getting into?
Frank: I've been approached many times to get into pro wrestling. I'm a huge fan and I have been since I was a kid. The work involved, the amount of injuries, and the amount of drug use didn't appeal to me. The steroid use is just too much and I don't see me ever getting into wrestling.
Rory: So you think a lot of the guys use steroids in wrestling? Some guys look like they're just in great shape but then there are others who just look like freaks of nature that can't be natural.
Frank: That's what they are and that's what they get paid to do. They're supposed to be larger than life. They also do 150-200 wrestling shows a year so they never get a chance to heal or recover from injury. Pain killers and drug use become a way of life because you have to use drugs to just do your job. I only have to fight once or twice a year.
Rory: That's not too bad. You also do other things to supplement your income. I read that you developed a martial arts program for police officers to use submission moves for apprehending criminals.
Frank: I started the program about seven years ago. I teach a class every night to just regular people, a self defense class. One of my students was a police officer and I developed a program that he could use on the streets. I wanted to find a way to protect the officers better. The program has become international.
Lauren: That's really interesting. You're returning to the ring soon. Are you going to do anything special that day, as far as nutrition or preparation?
Frank: My philosophy is to just rest the day of the fight. I drink a bit more water. I also make sure to warm up really good.
Rory: Well, I'll make sure to do that the day of your fight too. I'll be there in spirit. Hopefully your next fight will be on pay per view so we can watch it. Before we let you go, out of curiosity would you ever fight your brother Ken on pay per view?
Frank: You know I've been approached many times about that but it's not something I would ever consider.
Rory: I hear you. Many people approach Lauren and I to fight each other in the octagon.
Lauren: I'm actually considering it.
Rory: I'm too scared. Well, I encourage all our listeners to visit Frank's website www.frankshamrock.com. Thanks so much for joining us Frank. Best of luck.
Frank: My pleasure guys. Thanks for having me.