ginacarano's ProElite.com Blog

YACMAN’S BAKER’S DOZEN: GINA CARANO INTERVIEW

ginacarano — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:14:16 PDT

13 QUESTIONS FOR MMA STAR GINA 'CRUSH' CARANO

WATCH CBS & ELITEXC "SATURDAY NIGHT FIGHTS" LIVE ON CBS MAY 31st AT 9PM ET/PT!

1. If Gina Carano wasn’t a full-time fighter, what would she likely be doing for a living?
Maybe a journal photographer across seas, possibly a race car driver, a stunt woman, a writer, an artist.. ha who knows.

2. If you could be on any other reality show other than American Gladiators, which one would it be?
I wanna do Dancing with the Stars.. haa I know big surprise there huh.

3. One thing about the world you’d love to change if you could?
Tradegies.

4. What would you say is the most common mistake any fighter makes in preparation for an MMA fight?
Being mentally messed up.

5. If you could do a fight scene in a blockbuster feature film, what genre of movie would it be (Sci-fi, Action, Horror, etc) and what actor/actress would you love to do the fight scene with?
A Braveheart, Apocalypto, type movie.. fight against Steven Seagal...

6. What about a male or female fighter would make you want to train them if they asked you to?
I asked to train with Randy Couture and it happened Im pretty set. I think it would be awesome to train with Buakow the Thai fighter also and definetly more females.

7. What sports do you enjoy watching outside of MMA or Muay Thai?
I don’t really.. the X Games are cool though.

8. Where is one place you’ve always wanted to visit but haven’t yet?
Prague… Australia… South Africa

9. If you could go back in time and kick the ass of any bad person in history, at any time period, who would it be?
Hitler

10. What part of training do you look forward to the most?
The learning part. Physically, mentally, spiritually.

11. If you could dictate what three words people used to describe you as a person and fighter, overall, what three words would best do the job?
Unpredictable, Focused, Silly

12. In real life, if you come across a Freddy Krueger/Jason Vorhees from Friday the 13th monster – would your fight training make you feel any less scared then most people would?
Ya, I’de be a little freaked out but Id drag Freddy back into my world and choke him out.

13. Would you kick a monster like that even once just to see if it worked, then run?
Yeah. I don’t like to feel fear that’s why I fight, I like to get it out of my system that way.

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS TO THIS HISTORY MAKING EVENT on CBS MAY 31st!

GINA CARANO VIDEOS

ginacarano — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 21:37:10 PDT

Destiny Barker Video

American Gladiators Clips

Meet Gina Carano

Gina Carano at HUI Shoot with Herschel Walker

Gina Carano Post Fight EXC Uprising with MMAHAWAII.com

Gina Carano at Couture Presser

Gina Carano Showtime Short

Gina Carano Post-Fight from EliteXC Uprising

Gina Carano Pre-Fight at EliteXC Uprising

Gina Carano Highlight Video

Gina Carano Pre-Fight at Destiny

Gina Carano and Julie Kedzie Weigh In at Destiny

Gina Carano vs. Julie Kedzie Destiny Fight Event

Gina – Mentor

ginacarano — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 18:13:22 PDT

Gina looks like the kind of girl you'd totally want to hit on in a bar... except, if you did, you'd probably find yourself knocked on your ass faster than you could say, "What's your sign." This Las Vegas native has been kicking faces and taking names since taking up muay thai kickboxing over three years ago. Before switching over to the mixed martial arts discipline seven months ago, she compiled a 12-1-1 record as a kickboxer, and may have chopped down a few trees with just her shins, although we're waiting for confirmation on that. Since moving into mixed martial arts, Carano has compiled an undefeated 4-0 record, establishing herself as one of the brightest stars in EliteXC fighting. Under the tutelage of Master Toddy, she has developed from a Muay Thai specialist into an all-around martial artist and finely trained athlete. She's also translated her success in the ring into success out of it, starring in the film Ring Girls and overseeing the ass-kicking on the Oxygen network reality show Fight Girls.

Q and A with Fight Girls Mentor, Gina

How often do you exercise in a typical week when you are in training?

It depends on if I am training for a fight or if I am just training to remain in shape and improve my technique. When training for a fight I try to go hard 5 hours a day split up between morning, afternoon and evening, 6 days a week. When I am training for technique and just trying to stay in shape, I would say about two hours a day, 5 or 6 days a week, getting in some good cardio and focusing more on my technique. I am really a fan of appreciating life and the older I get the more I realize that working out isn't just my job, it is something that makes me feel good on a daily basis. When I am overweight and out of shape from OVER appreciating life, I end up not appreciating it at all.

What does your workout consist of?

For a good workout, start out with a walk, jog, or shadow-boxing. Get your body moving but not too harsh, just something to wake it up. Then do about 15 minutes of good stretching. Stretching is very important to me because I believe it prepares the body for a good workout. It's like easing into a luke-warm pool instead of jumping straight into freezing water, where sometimes your body just doesn't adjust. Depending on the day, and if I am training for a fight or not, pad work, technique, sparring, bag work, and my own cardio and strength training.

What are some key moves you can suggest to start building strength right away?

I am naturally a pretty strong person. If strength is what you are looking for get on a good balanced diet and focus on what kind of strength it is you want. Sometimes you can get strong by bulking up, but you can get too muscular. For me, I like to lean down and get toned while improving strength and quickness. I do simple drills on the bag that strengthen my weapons and the muscles used when training, as well as some other drills to improve athleticism. For example, squats, ab work outs, push-ups, pull-ups, interesting fun little drills that are entertaining on the medicine balls, running, sprinting. I am also a fan of pilates and yoga for leaning out and building a nice balanced core.

How do you change your diet to get into fighting shape?

I first have to change my way of thinking about food and understand that certain foods just make me feel better. Although I might want other foods that taste good, it is just because I have conditioned my mind and body to like what it is used to in taking. It is all a matter of taking control mentally and then physically your body really likes to intake healthy foods. It's like a machine. The better fuel you put into it, the better it performs. Don't look at certain foods as necessarily bad because we like to rebel and crave what we think is not good for us. Look at food with a good healthy balance. Get educated on what is a healthy diet and get information from a professional. When I am at that mental state, I eat lean meats, low sugars, low fat, good carbs such as whole wheat, brown rice and vegetables. Eating every 3 to 4 hours in smaller portions than these large American sizes that we are accustomed to.

What do you eat to keep up your energy while training?

Eating every 3 to 4 hours, with proportioned protein, carbs and fats. Keep eating all day and pretty soon your body performs better and your energy goes up.

What do you do to stay in shape when you are not training?

Actually, when I am not training to fight I really enjoy working out and being healthy because it is for myself and not because I have to or I’ll get smashed in a fight. If you get a little heavy, don't freak out, look at it like a hair cut. If it is too short, there are only certain things you can do about it and while it grows out learn to enjoy yourself through every phase, knowing what your goal is but enjoying your journey. In other words, start eating healthier, see what your body responds to, that still ensures that you feel good and find an activity that makes you feel good and burns the calories.

What are some of the biggest mistakes women make when trying to lose weight?

They want to lose weight for the wrong reasons. Instead of losing it for them, it is for a boyfriend, because of pressure from a family member, pressure from society. Women think not eating anything or throwing up their food makes them skinny or they rebel and give up all together and eat everything. They are just flat out not educated about what a healthy diet is.

What I realized, even over the last few months is this is the body I have been given in this life. I am blessed and there is not another identical body out there. I am going to stop trying to lose weight for the wrong reasons, to make it look like everyone else’s body and I am going to work with what I have got. I am hopefully going to be stuck with this body for the next 60+ years so I better start getting along now and get a good healthy system going so it is not less time. It is never too late to start -- give yourself a good diet and workout and no matter where you are at in life old, young, you will feel so much better mentally and physically.

What can be expected in Thailand?

A journey of a life time, personal struggle, personal growth and awakenings that can never be erased.

What’s the biggest challenge they will face?

Getting to know themselves.

What is it like to mentor?

One of the most enlightening experiences of my life. I learned something from everyone on the show. All the girls caused me to look inside myself and I was pushed to certain places I had not yet explored. I feel humbled and inspired to have been blessed to be a part of their lives and fight careers. It caught me off guard in certain ways and I found new strengths in other ways. How to have a lot more respect for life, culture, people, fighters, trainers, Muay Thai, hard work and even television crews.

How can we raise awareness for female competitors?

By raising awareness of something even greater, that just happens to come out of female competitors. Freedom.

What is it like to work with Master Toddy?

Master Toddy is my mentor. He knows my heart and I, his. There will never be another like him. He is a Picasso and by being him and going and living his life through his own struggles and dreams, I have found mine.

Interview with Gina Carano

ginacarano — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 22:05:12 PST

INTERVIEW: Caged Carano, by Michael Swann

ginacarano — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 5:03:52 PST

During the course of our interview with Gina Carano we asked her how she would describe herself as a person. After giving the question some brief thought she gave us a reply that perceptively describes her inner persona.

"The easiest way to describe myself is to look at my dogs," Gina began. "They want to love. They want to be loved. They love to be aggressive. They're sensitive. They're so playful. I'm a lover and a fighter."

Gina is referring to Gotti and Layla, ages two and three, her pit bulls. But just as they would with her prized pets, opponents would be well advised not to underestimate her ability based on her enchanting personality and bewitching loveliness.

Gina is scheduled to participate in the inaugural event of the new martial arts organization, Pro Elite Inc. as they unfold their Elite Xtreme Combat (EliteXC) show on February 10 in South Haven, Mississippi at the Desoto Civic Center. The show will be partnered with and televised by premium cable's Showtime Network at 10 p.m., ET/PT.

Gina began her career training under Master Toddy, ("Mostly I call him sir," she says), in Muay Thai over three years ago and began fighting six months after that. Gina says that when she first walked into the gym she was told, "You're too fat, you need to work out." So she decided that, "I need to get my butt in gear."

She compiled a Muay Thai record of 12-1-1, and then received an offer to participate in the first ever female sanctioned MMA bout in Nevada. That was about seven months ago, and she has since gone 3-0 in MMA, and is considered to be a top prospect in the ring and at the box office.

Gina, who is 5'8", has been fighting at 141-145 pounds but says, "Right now I'm going to push it to 135-140. It's a popular division for women."

She has made the transition from Muay Thai to MMA with relative ease, attributable to the hard work and study that she puts into her game. She is confident in her stand up game with her Muay Thai background, comfortable with her technique in her kicks, knees, elbows, punches, and Thai Clinch. But she is determined to show that she is not afraid to go to the ground.

"As a Muay Thai fighter coming into the game, I've had a great respect for Jiu-Jitsu," she said. "To be a really good MMA fighter you have to be really well rounded. I incorporate everything I learn in my training."

Carano goes to the gym Monday through Saturday, working on shadow boxing, sparring, bag work, and running, working anywhere from four hours a day to an entire day in the gym depending on what skills Master Toddy wants to prioritize on a given day.

"If I'm really learning something, I don't want to stop it," Gina says. "I came from Muay Thai where you had 3 three minute rounds or 5 three minute rounds. Then I came into MMA with five minute rounds. Three five minute rounds is no joke. It's a long time to be in there, plenty of time to do a lot of damage compared to a three minute round."

Gina has been to Thailand three times. The first two times were for victorious Muay Thai fights and the third time she went to promote the film, "Ring Girls." Gina and four other girls trained by Master Toddy were filmed having fights from Las Vegas to Thailand in the film. This led to "Fight Girls," a reality show on the Oxygen channel with seven girls competing for a chance to win three spots on a trip to Thailand to fight. Gina was a mentor under Master Toddy for the show and helped him decide who would go. Fight Girls 2 begins taping in mid-February.

Before "Ring Girls" Gina had appeared on ESPN'S "I'd Do Anything." The show called Master Toddy's and requested three attractive girls to fight some guys for a show. One girl weighed 115, another 130, and Gina was 145.

"I loved it!" Gina said in describing her film and TV experience. "I've never had such a great time in all my life. During the demonstration [with stuntmen for "I'd do anything"] they didn't think we could do much damage but I knocked the first guy on his butt, the second guy was terrified and the third guy quit."

After that, the guys were requesting head gear, shin guards, and chest protectors before facing the three girls that they had requested from Master Toddy's.

"But I didn't get into the sport so I could tell guys that I can whip your butt," she continued. "I like the physical and mental part of it and I want to test my skills against equal opponents."

Carano, who has lived 15 of her 24 years in Las Vegas, is a Psychology major with just 18 credits to go at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, but has put that on hold for now because of her busy schedule. She does plan to return and finish the courses required for her degree.

Family is the cornerstone of Gina's life. She has two sisters, and laughingly refers to herself as the emotional, troubled middle child who actually has her act together but no one knows it.

"I have the best family that anyone could ask for," she gushes. "They're just amazing. God has blessed this family so much. My grandparents are amazing.

Sports fans may recall Gina's father, Glenn Carano. Glenn was the backup quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys from 1977-1983 before moving to the USFL to start for the Pittsburgh Maulers for the 1984 season. (Gina is quick to point out that her mother was quite athletic herself.) Glenn Carano also served on the Nevada State Athletic Commission from 1997-2002, and played an integral role in the Mike Tyson hearings after the Evander Holyfield ear biting incident that resulted in Tyson's license being suspended for 15 months. He also played a large role in bringing the UFC to Nevada in 2001, and along with Marc Ratner worked to institute rules and weight classes to make the emerging sport more acceptable to the mainstream.

It turns out that coincidentally Glenn Carano is a friend of Pro Elite's President in charge of live event promotions, Gary Shaw.

"I wasn't informed that they were friends," Gina explained. "But once my dad heard that I'm going to be fighting for Gary Shaw, he said 'Great, sign the contract.' My dad is a marketing director and he works to bring events together and he and Gary knew each other through boxing shows in Reno.

"I'm excited. I think Gary is going to bring a lot to the sport given his background in boxing. On a personal level I think he's completely himself. He's honest and he doesn't tell people what they want to hear."

Gina Carano is the real deal. She puts on no airs about her obvious physical gifts and natural beauty.

"People talk about it and it boggles my mind. If you had asked me four years ago I wouldn't have believed it. I have a long ways to go. I haven't even reached my potential. People might say she's attractive but I think it's more because I wear my heart on my sleeve and people see something in me that's kind of unique. But it's a positive to my ego and that's okay with me" she concludes, laughing.

A reviewer of "Ring Girls" might have put it best when he described Gina Carano as "stunningly gorgeous and tough as nails." It's worth tuning in to EliteXC on Showtime on February 10 just to see her in action - she's destined for stardom.

My thoughts on the 2/10 EliteXC Destiny Event

ginacarano — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 5:02:28 PST

It's a phenomenal opportunity to be part of such a big event representing women's efforts in fighting. So excited to be a part of it.