10 Questions with Megumi “Mega Megu” Fujii

Megumi “Mega Megu” Fujii is one of the best pound-for-pound female mixed martial artist in the world.  Currently at 25 wins – 1 loss* (Sherdog). We had the unique privilege to talk to her and get the latest.  Due to the brevity of Twitter and the fact that we cannot read Japanese (without the help of Google Translator), this interview is fairly brief.  Answers were able to be expanded due to the great work of the guys at The Grappling Dummy and director Matt Benyon. Watch video at the bottom of the article to view.

To visit Megumi’s official website (in Japanese), click image above.

1, How did you begin the martial arts & fighting competitions?

On the recommendation of my father (a strong Judo practitioner), I began studying judo at the age of three and continued up until about 22 years of age.  Did Sambo, Jiu-Jitsu, Wrestling/Grappling starting at 23.  I was 30 years old when I started in Mixed Martial Arts.  I wanted new and challenging things.

I wondered what I could do to take advantage of my experience, so I decided on MMA.

I’m motivated to do things other people have never done.  When everyone else will give up.  I am different.  I won’t.

2, How do you spend your day

Always weight & MMA training.  I never get bored with this.  I feel uncomfortable when I am not training!  And there’s no secret.  You have to train hard to win.

3, What exercises do you enjoy training with the most?

Push ups!

4, Who are some of your favorite athletes/influences?

Josh Barnett, Fedor Emelianenko and Frank Edgar

5, What do you like to do in your free time?

I like to watch movies, go to dinner with friends and play with cats. (=^^=)

6, What goes through your mind or what do you think about before your fight?

Before the fight, comes a feeling of fear…and fun.  Nearing the fight, I try to soothe my mind – Nothing in the mind.  Once the fight starts I think about my strategy.  And I move!

7, More of your fights are going to the decision – Has this been a result of a strategy change?

I like to finish the fights and have the audience rejoice.  My last big fight (Zoila Gurgel) I wanted to win badly, but lost (to the decision).  In the future, fight to the finish!

8, What is your favorite “finishing move” to use in a fight?

My favorite techniques are the ankle-lock and the arm-bar.

9, At the age of 37, how much longer would you like to compete? Afterwards, what do you want to do?

I will be 38 in May.  This year I am going to continue to work hard and fight.  Next year… that I do not yet know.

10, Your perfect undefeated record ended with Ziola Gurgel.  How did you feel about how that fight went?  What did you wish you did differently?

Zoila is a great fighter.  I thought I really won that fight, but lost instead.  I wanted to ask the referee, “How can this be?”  To lose a “perfect record” is very disappointing.  Since the match was in the United States, I did have some jet lag and fatigue.  But I’m eager for a rematch.  Hopefully I’ll be back in the United States soon!

Bonus,

What is your favorite cartoon?

Sponge Bob ! ! !

We at the Combative Corner, Thank Megumi for her time and consideration and wish her the very best. 

我々は Combative Corner で彼女の時間と配慮のためにめぐみに感謝し、彼女の非常に最善を尽くしたいと思います。

VIDEO INTERVIEW [ENGLISH SUBTITLES]

*Responses in italics expanded from GrapplingDummy’s interview-  Sept. 2010

*Megumi Fujii stats are from Sherdog.Com

10 Questions with Enson Inoue

The Combative Corner is privileged to welcome to our 10 Question list, the previously-retired, professional MMA fighter, Enson “Yamato Damashii” Inoue.  His most recent fight came this year (4/25/2010) against Antz Nansen and ended with an armbar submission at 2 min. 10 seconds of Round 1.  His professional record (as of 9/24/10) is 12 wins, 8 losses and 0 draws (9 wins from submissions).  He also played a role (Taketa Morisaki) in the 2008 David Mamet film, RedBelt starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Emily Mortimer.  He currently divides his time between Tokyo, Japan and Honolulu, Hawaii and is the founder of both Purebred and Yamatodamashii Ichizoku.

(photos courtesy of Hody Jae Hue, freelance photographer –his website-)

(1) You come from an athletic family, and I heard in various interviews that you weren’t always a fighter. What was the reason for choosing this path?
It’s what I did best.

(2) What does Yamato Damashi mean? And how did you get (or come up with) that nickname?
It stands for the Samurai spirit. The Japanese media gave me this name.

(3) In your competitive fighting career, what was your “sweetest” most challenging fight?
Randy Couture and Frank Shamrock

(4) (If different from above) What victory were you most happy with?
Randy of course.

(5) What are the biggest problems that you confront when you are preparing to fight/compete?
Catching a cold and staying away from chocolate!

(6) How does (Spirituality/Meditiation) play a role in what you do?
80%

(7) Who are your top 3 professional fighters that you watch today?
Vanderlei, GSP, George Sotoropolis

(8) What goes through your mind before a fight begins?
Hurting my opponent before he hurts me.

(9) What does Enson Inoue like to do outside of his professional endeavors (apart from training, competing, etc)?
What every Tom, Dick, and Harry does. No different!

(10) What is Enson going to be doing a decade from now?
Enjoying an honorable death!

For More About Enson Inoue, you can check out his fight info at Sherdog.Com or at Inoue’s Purebred Homepage [Here]