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MARK SCHULTZ 09/03 |
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MARK SCHULTZ: Olympic Gold Medallist, Two time World Wrestling Champion, Three time NCAA Wrestling Champion
Many fighters had applied for the Jungle Fight fighter position, and
Antonio Inoki has selected the olympic wrestling gold medalist Mark
Shultz to be the main event fighter and to represent the Inoki Army
USA. Mark Shuts flew in from Utah to Los Angles to have a meeting with Simon Inoki at INOKI DOJO. Mark Shultz's training scene is top
secret, but the American olympic champion gave NJPW.com time for a
exclusive interview.
You were the first olympic gold medalist who have fought in UFC 9 in
1996 against Gary Goodridge and won with a TKO. How was it like to fight under the NHB rule and fighting against Gary?
Gary's a tough guy. He fought all the toughest guys in the world. He was a lot bigger than me, but I was able to win by taking him down and with strikes.
The UFC fight was in 1996, what was the reason for you to step away
from the fighting scene?
That's because in 1996 after the UFC 9, there was a lot of publicity about it in Utah. They put my picture on many tabloid covers, but at the same time, I was the head coach of BYU, and there were many people who disagreed with my action in competing in the NHB match. This type of event was new at the time and back then, and there were not many rules. There were only two or three rules and people thought it was brutal, and a lot of people were upset and complaining to the president of BYU. So the president said to me, "You can either coach amateur wrestling at BYU or fight, but you can't do both." I had three kids and had to decide on taking the coaching career because I needed the health insurance and stuff.
Have you been training, and how is your condition for the JUNGLE FIGHT?
I'm in shape. I'm an all rounded fighter, practiced Jiu-Jitsu too.
When did you start Jiu-Jitsu?
In 1991 I had a match against Rickson Gracie. That was my first
submission experience. He caught me in couple of submission holds, and it made me realize there were moves out there that I didn't know. So then, I became a student of Jiu-Jitsu and submission grappling.
Who did you train Jiu-Jitsu with?
WIth Pedro Sauer and Walt Bayless.
I started to make a video library of submission holds and various
fights. I also wrote a book of all these moves and techniques to remind myself which moves work and didn't. In 1999 to 2000, I started my own club, but that didn't work because I couldn't get the students I wanted. I tried to build the school again in 2002, but I realized I wasn't a very good teacher, I like fighting better.
We know about your wrestling skills and grappling skills, but how is
your striking skills? Have you trained with anybody?
Striking isn't that hard to learn. I've done Muay Thai with Jason Farris who is probably the best Muay Thai kicker in the state. That guy kicks like a horse. I've done boxing too, but my style is more of take downs, body control, and submissions. But I can strike too. I plan on striking!
For this Jungle Fight, who did you get the offer from? Directly from
Mr. Inoki?
Yes.
Where you familiar with Mr. Inoki?
Yes, he's really famous (smile). I think Mr. Inoki is the greatest
professional wrestler from Japan.
How did you meet Mr. Inoki?
Through Hara and Jiichiro Date, who called me up with this information
and sent me to Japan. Hara is the NCAA champion for Oklahoma state, and Jiichiro Date is, in my mind, the greatest olympic wrestler who came out of Japan who pinned his way through olympic in 1976.
You're here to fight for the JUNGLE FIGHT as the main event fighter.
Are you going to represent Inoki Army?
Yes, I feel great to have this opportunity.
You seem very confident and not worried about the fight.
I'm pretty confident, now it's just a matter of running a lot and
maintaining my condition.
How do you feel about this fighting-art world peace event?
I'm happy that I'm participating in something that creates awareness to the situation in the Amazon.
Do you have any message to the fans?
I'm going to put on a good show. I also had a really good time in
Japan, so I hope to go back there soon. I'm starting to learn Japanese (smile).
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