KimuraMan
08-22-2003, 10:45 PM
PRIDE Fighting Championships: What was your impression of Tamura?
Yoshida: He's got great punches and kicks. When we clinched though, I felt that I was stronger and it was just a matter of figuring out how to overcome his striking.
PRIDE: What about when he took your back?
Yoshida: It didn't bother me. I was worried about his knees before that but I never felt in danger of being choked.
PRIDE: Do you think you were not being careful when you were hit and knocked down in the beginning?
Yoshida: I didn't even have time to not be careful (laughing). It knocked me down straight away. When I realized what was happening, he was already jumping towards me and I just got angry. It was like "you get hit, you hit back."
PRIDE: So you started trading with him.
Yoshida: I was thinking about striking from the beginning. It would be a waste of all the training I've received not to. I'd feel embarrassed to be in front of my trainer if I didn't get in at least one punch (laughing). In a way, it was like shedding my old skin. It was a good confidence builder and good practice for November.
PRIDE: What percent of your striking training were you able to use?
Yoshida: None at all. I was punching like I was in a street fight (laughing). My trainer told me, "That wasn't a punch. That was a clothes-line." I've got to keep my calm and not get aggravated. I also need to work on my guard and keeping the proper distance.
PRIDE: Were you planning on getting the sleeve-choke?
Yoshida: No, that's just how it turned out. When I got it on, I was just praying it would finish him.
PRIDE: What about the headlock?
Yoshida: Normally I can move from there to kesa-gatame and work for the finish but it looks like I haven't practiced it enough.
PRIDE: A lot of the fans want to see you up against Silva in the finals.
Yoshida: That's not up to me to decide. No matter who my opponent, I will be fighting as a Japanese fighter. It doesn't matter who my opponent is.
Yoshida: He's got great punches and kicks. When we clinched though, I felt that I was stronger and it was just a matter of figuring out how to overcome his striking.
PRIDE: What about when he took your back?
Yoshida: It didn't bother me. I was worried about his knees before that but I never felt in danger of being choked.
PRIDE: Do you think you were not being careful when you were hit and knocked down in the beginning?
Yoshida: I didn't even have time to not be careful (laughing). It knocked me down straight away. When I realized what was happening, he was already jumping towards me and I just got angry. It was like "you get hit, you hit back."
PRIDE: So you started trading with him.
Yoshida: I was thinking about striking from the beginning. It would be a waste of all the training I've received not to. I'd feel embarrassed to be in front of my trainer if I didn't get in at least one punch (laughing). In a way, it was like shedding my old skin. It was a good confidence builder and good practice for November.
PRIDE: What percent of your striking training were you able to use?
Yoshida: None at all. I was punching like I was in a street fight (laughing). My trainer told me, "That wasn't a punch. That was a clothes-line." I've got to keep my calm and not get aggravated. I also need to work on my guard and keeping the proper distance.
PRIDE: Were you planning on getting the sleeve-choke?
Yoshida: No, that's just how it turned out. When I got it on, I was just praying it would finish him.
PRIDE: What about the headlock?
Yoshida: Normally I can move from there to kesa-gatame and work for the finish but it looks like I haven't practiced it enough.
PRIDE: A lot of the fans want to see you up against Silva in the finals.
Yoshida: That's not up to me to decide. No matter who my opponent, I will be fighting as a Japanese fighter. It doesn't matter who my opponent is.