10 Questions With Charles Blanchard (by Darrick Patrick)
Charles Blanchard is a professional mixed martial artist who has competed in organizations such as Cage Warriors Fighting Championships, Southern Rage, Ultimate Warrior Challenge, Combat Fighting Championships, and Wild Bill’s Fight Night.
Darrick: How did you end up fighting in professional mixed martial arts?
Charles: I ended up fighting because after wrestling I felt like there was a hole in my life and MMA filled it.
Darrick: What brings you the most fulfillment out of MMA competition?
Charles: Everything - the lifestyle of clean living, training my body, and knowing the sky is the limit. Also, I get to be an influence on other people’s lives in a positive way.
Darrick: Who are some of the people that greatly influenced you while growing up?
Charles: Well, let’s see - my old wrestling coach Jamie Harrison, who pushed me and believed in me. Derrick Dunnaham, who got me into MMA in the first place and spent a lot of time teaching me the ropes. A very good friend of mine Josh Rutgers has always helped me through my career.
Obake - my first real MMA coach. Although he wasn’t always there to train me, he has always made sure that I was financially okay and had a car. Best of all, he did it out of the kindness of his heart: a great guy - like a father to me. Tony Vartanian took me to my first fight and always told me I was going to be the best in the world one day. Tony Sousa, who is like my brother in arms, trained side by side with me every day.
Darrick: Any words of advice for younger individuals looking to train in martial arts?
Charles: If I were to tell the young ’uns anything, it’s that life is hard. Even more so for a fighter than many other people because for most of your career you’re skating by and not even making enough to feed yourself. So, learn the lifestyle if you’re going to make a run for it - you better make it the number one priority in your life, even above the ladies.
Darrick: What does a "typical" training session for you consist of?
Charles: "Typical". (Laughs) Well, I am routined - so I will just give you one day. Every day is different, but for Mondays I start with kickboxing at ten in the morning and at 11:30 a.m. move onto wrestling. In the evening at 6:30, it’s gi Jiu-Jitsu and at eight at night I’ll switch over to pad work.
Darrick: Who are a few of the people in the sport that you highly respect?
Charles: My coach Ricardo Liborio and almost everyone at Top Team - we’re like a family there.
Darrick: Outside of MMA, what are your other interests?
Charles: I like motorcycles, video games, and I try to go jet skiing whenever I can. I’m also a big movie freak.
Darrick: If you were the last person alive on Earth, what do you think you’d do to entertain yourself?
Charles: If I was the last person alive, I would just shoot shit with my gun and play video games.
Darrick: Tell us something about you that most people don’t know.
Charles: I am a published poet.
Darrick: What is your oldest memory?
Charles: People everywhere laying on the floor and no one can hear me.
FOR OTHER EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS BY DARRICK PATRICK:
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=4974388&blogID=343519835
You can also check out Charles Blanchard in the following places:
Official Charles Blanchard MySpace Profile:
http://www.myspace.com/191125784
Charles Blanchard on Fight Finder:
http://www.sherdog.com/fightfinder/fightfinder.asp?FighterID=18942
Tags: Charles Blanchard Darrick Patrick Interview Interviews Mma Mixed Martial Ar
