10 Questions With Tammie Schneider (10/21/2008)

[DarrickPatrick]

10 Questions With Tammie Schneider (by Darrick Patrick)

Tammie Schneider is a professional mixed martial artist who has competed in organizations such as C3 Fights, Fatal Femmes Fighting, Premier Championship Fighting, International Fighting Organization, and Freestyle Cage Fighting.

Darrick: What was the path that led you to professional mixed martial arts competition?

Tammie: My husband is who got me started. I've known him for fifteen years, we started dating, and about four years ago or a little longer, I told him I wanted to start training. He said "that's what all of my girlfriends say" and I said "I'm not them". So I went and two months later I did the first MMA women's fight in Missouri and won.

Darrick: Generally speaking, what does a typical training session for you consist of?

Tammie: In the mornings, I do boxing and grappling - I go until I drop a lot of the time, it's about three hours training. In the afternoon, I go to the gym, run, lift weights, and do the sauna. After that, I go back to the dojo for kickboxing and grappling for another two hours.

Darrick: Any words of advice for other individuals looking to compete in MMA?

Tammie: Well, it seems like I'm always getting onto people lately about backing out of fights right before they step in the cage. I hate that. They are amateurs, but still. So, if you really want to fight, do it for the sport. Don't get in there just to make yourself look good, put one hundred percent into it like you would anything else that you do. Also, get beat by a girl first, it always helps. (Laughs) Guys hate that.

Darrick: Are there any extra struggles being a female in mixed martial arts or do you believe it to be basically the same difficulty for both genders?

Tammie: For me, I'm always busy. I have two small kids - a two year old and a one year old, plus I also work. My husband is also a fighter and he is the head coach. It's so hard to do everything around everyone's schedules, but I try to do what I have to do. It's like having three jobs, I don't get a lot of free time like most people.

Darrick: Who are a few of the people in the sport that you highly respect?

Tammie: I respect everyone. If you get in there, I have respect. The person I look up to the most though is Arlovski - I like his style and he is just a real nice guy. I also have a lot of respect for Joe "Daddy" Stevenson. I like his training skills, he is straight forward about what people need to do to be the best. He shows that there is a time for fun and a time to be serious. I love that guy. I have almost no respect for people that are overly cocky, rude, or just plain assholes.

Darrick: What brings you the most fulfillment out of martial arts?

Tammie: Being able to beat someone up in public, get paid, and not got to jail. (Laughs) It also gives me time to go to my "happy place" to release all of my frustrations out.

Darrick: Outside of MMA, what are your other interests?

Tammie: Just my family, I love to spend as much time as I can with the kids. We watch TV, play around, and just have fun together. My boy already knows how to ground and pound, and do an armbar. (Laughs)

Darrick: If you were the last person alive on Earth, what do you think you'd do to entertain yourself?

Tammie: Wow. I would try to find myself. (Laughs) Just kidding. I would be doing a lot of running on the beach, swimming, relaxing, and crying from being so lonely.

Darrick: Tell us something about you that most people don't know.

Tammie: I'm a quiet person, but I talk to everybody. I don't disrespect anyone, but I'm also very outspoken. I'll snap quick if I don't like something, but I'm mainly calm. My whole family and I try to do right in God's eyes.

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

Tammie: Fighting the Feather boys outside of my house and my dad watching. Those were the good times. (Laughs)

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 Tammie Schneider in the following places:

Official Tammie Schneider MySpace Profile:

http://www.myspace.com/mamatammi

Tammie Schneider on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/tammie-schneider-25422

Tammie Schneider Photo Gallery at Sherdog.com:

http://www.sherdog.com/pictures/gallery/fighter/25422