10 Questions With Ray Steinbeiss (by Darrick Patrick)
Ray "The Ipswitch Cobra" Steinbeiss is a professional mixed martial artist who has appeared in organizations such as the International Fight League, King Of The Cage, Bodog Fight, Proving Grounds, Xtreme Cage Fighter, Total Combat, International Cage Fighting Organization, Desert Heat, International Fighting Championship, and Rage In The Cage.
Darrick: What led you to competing professionally in mixed martial arts?
Ray: When I was in the sixth grade, I watched the UFC and Ken Shamrock. I was a big fan and started Kenpo Karate and Ninjitsu - then in high school I started wrestling and became a state champion. I went into the marines still wrestling and ran into a few guys that did BJJ. My interest came back, so I started training with them. Gerald Strenbacht, Josh Griggs, and Luigi Fioravanti were my first training partners for MMA. When I got out of the marines, I joined AZ Combat Sports, and fought my first fight five weeks later and won.
Darrick: In your experience so far, what brings you the most fulfillment out of MMA?
Ray: What brings me the most fulfillment is just the hard work of training and getting to fight. It's the struggle in training - and win or lose, it's fighting a good hard fight that makes it worth it to me.
Darrick: Who are a few of the people in the sport that you highly respect?
Ray: Fedor, because he is the best. He doesn't look like a killer, but somehow he always wins. I met him in Russia on a Bodog Fight card, and he was very humble and nice. John Wayne Parr is a warrior and legend in Thai boxing. Takanori Gomi knocks people out and is very exciting.
Darrick: What does a "typical" training session for you consist of?
Ray: Depends on the day, but every day in the morning is either BJJ or wrestling. At night is stand-up and afterwards I go train with a gi two to three days a week to improve my ground game. Wrestling is coached by Aaron Simpson and is a two-hour workout consisting of drilling, learning new moves, live wrestling, and hand fighting. BJJ is taught by two time world champion Gustavo Dantas and consists of learning new moves, drilling basic moves, and live rolling for about thirty-five to forty minutes - classes are about an hour and a half, and sometimes longer.
Stand-up is taught by the Lally brothers and depending on the day it will either be boxing or Thai boxing. That consists of Thai pads, bag work, mitt work, drills, sparring, and clinch work. I also do cardio workouts and they change every day, but include running (either distance or sprints), kettle bells, sled work, sledge hammer and tire work, swimming, and bike riding.
Darrick: Any words of advice for other individuals looking to train in martial arts?
Ray: The advice I would give to someone is to find a good team to train with and take your time. Make sure you are ready to fight when you do and always train hard. Always give one hundred percent!
Darrick: Who are some of the people that greatly influenced you while growing up?
Ray: My parents, because they taught me right from wrong and gave me a lot of love. Also, my wrestling coach Vince Villanucci was a great role model. He always made me train my ass off and he believed in me.
Darrick: Outside of MMA, what are your other interests?
Ray: Outside of fighting, I like to read and also watch TV. Fighting is my life, but I do enjoy stuff like hiking, dogs, the lake and boating, and church.
Darrick: When you're no longer amongst the living, how would you most like people to remember you?
Ray: I want people to remember me as a good person who would help anyone in a time of need, and also as a warrior who fought the best guys and fought his heart out. I want to be remembered as a good teammate and friend. When I have a family and wife - as the best dad and husband that I could be.
Darrick: What is your oldest memory?
Ray: I get hit in the head a lot, so... (Laughs) Well, I would say one of my first memories was living in England and having my uncles tell me about their Greyhound dogs.
Darrick: Tell us something about you that most people don't know.
Ray: I cried watching The Notebook and by the end of the movie, it looked like I had gone swimming in my clothes. I was beyond soaked.
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 Ray Steinbeiss in the following places:
Official Ray Steinbeiss MySpace Profile:
http://www.myspace.com/raysteinbeiss
MTX Audio MMA:
http://www.mtx.com/mma
Ray Steinbeiss on Fight Finder:
http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Ray-Steinbeiss-7531
Ray Steinbeiss Photo Gallery at Sherdog.com:
http://www.sherdog.com/pictures/gallery/fighter/7531/
Tags: Ray Steinbeiss Darrick Patrick Interview Interviews Mma Mixed Martial Arts
