10 Questions With Lana Stefanac (by Darrick Patrick)
"Lethal" Lana Stefanac is a professional mixed martial artist who has competed in events such as Smackgirl, Undisputed Arena Fighting Championships, Full Contact Fight Series, and Extreme Wars. Stefanac is also the 2006 Pan American Games Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Gold Medalist and has qualified in Jiu-Jitsu for the 2008 Olympics.
Darrick: Give us some insight into how you got into professional mixed martial arts.
Lana: I started off with a background in a few different martial arts, including Aikido and Kempo. I was always looking at martial arts to find the "best" one - the most effective and deadly. I started doing Muay-Thai and then I met Donald Park, a Royler Gracie guy. I watched Donald systematically tap out an entire class of Thai fighters and MMA fighters. I was instantly hooked.
I began to train BJJ under Donald (Royler Gracie-David Adiv). At that time, my little brother also began training and told me about a place close by that was a Relson Gracie school being led by Jeff Starr. I began to train at both places as much as possible. After winning a few tournaments, I went professional as a white belt. A year later, I was a blue belt and won the PanAms with a ton of tournaments already under me. As a blue belt, I fought my first MMA fight in Oakland, California where I met my current black belt Sergio Silva. The rest is history.
Darrick: Who are some of the people that greatly influenced you while growing up?
Lana: My grandparents for their tenacity to survive the most squalor of circumstances and for their undying devotion to one another. Also, my high school teachers because they gave me hope that I would survive my childhood, which was kind of rough.
Darrick: What does a typical training session for you consist of?
Lana: A lot of technical training, rolling with some sweet black belts, Thai pads, free sparring, and free rolling.
Darrick: Any advice for younger individuals looking to compete in MMA?
Lana: First of all, remember that martial arts are about respect, character, and honor. It's not about trash talking and ass kicking like the UFC has made it out to be to attract fans interested in soap opera antics and gossip. We already have pro wrestling, if you want to see a well-acted facade: watch that instead. Train hard and keep your priorities straight. Anything can happen and life does not usually follow any sort of plan that we lay out very early.
Darrick: What brings you the most fulfillment out of martial arts?
Lana: Coming through the ranks of the belts on the path to becoming a black belt. Seeing myself and my teammates mature, as well as my students. Martial arts can and should change your life.
Darrick: Who is someone in the sport that you highly respect?
Lana: I respect a fighter who is humble and will not give up. Probably one of my favorite fighters is my friend and fellow student (and also a purple belt) Derrick Easterling - he, like me, comes from a rocky past and is trying with all his might to be someone. Despite what people preconceive of him, he remains steadfast in his endeavors and is a constant reminder for me not to give up. I absolutely detest nut-swingers (people who ride on someone else's name to be someone), and people who are cocky and arrogant.
Darrick: Outside of MMA, what are your other interests?
Lana: I like to write stories about my life and experiences, I like to build things (I was a roofer and carpenter), I love to train with weights and kettlebells, and I love digging for gemsstones and also cutting them. When I can get to south Florida, one of my most favorite things is snorkeling the reef in Key West. Sadly, I do not have much time for these things anymore.
Darrick: Tell us something about you that most people don't know.
Lana: I hate violence.
Darrick: What is your oldest memory?
Lana: I remember when I was about two or three, we took a vacation to the Grand Canyon. What I can remember is my father holding me right on a cliff as I peered over the edge into the endless canyon. My mother stood far from us and screamed at him to bring me back away from the edge. I remember thinking that my father was so strong and fearless, and I remember the veins bulging out on his arms and his bicep looked huge when he was holding me.
I had on little white Indian moccasins that we bought from some Native Americans. I still have one of those little white booties back at home in Ohio hanging from a mirror, it's over thirty years old.
Darrick: How would you most like to be remembered in life?
Lana: The way I remember my father at that moment in the Grand Canyon. Strong and fearless, regardless of what is trying to call me back to some place safe.
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 Lana Stefanac in the following places:
Official Lana Stefanac MySpace Profile:
http://www.myspace.com/lethallana
Official Lana Stefanac YouTube Page:
http://www.youtube.com/user/LethalLana
Lana Stefanac on Fight Finder:
http://www.sherdog.com/fightfinder/fightfinder.asp?FighterID=16445
Lana Stefanac Photo Gallery at Sherdog.com:
http://www.sherdog.com/news/Picture_gallery.asp?f_id=16445@@Lana%20Stefanac
Tags: Lana Stefanac Darrick Patrick Interview Interviews Mma Mixed Martial Arts
