10 Questions With Shayna Baszler (9/7/2008)

[DarrickPatrick]

10 Questions With Shayna Baszler (by Darrick Patrick)

Shayna "The Queen of Spades" Baszler is a professional mixed martial artist who has appeared in organizations such as EliteXC, Bodog Fight, ShoXC, New Fight Films, MARS, Freestyle Combat Challenge, Mix Fighting Championships, Ring Of Fire, Jungle Madness, and Reality Cage Fighting.

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

Shayna: I started by taking one small local fight at a poorly run amateur event, kept winning, and started getting bigger and bigger offers.

Darrick: Who are some of the people that greatly influenced you while growing up?

Shayna: Definitely my parents, a youth pastor I had named Ernie, and my advisor Tom in college.

Darrick: In your opinion, are there any extra hurdles being a female in mixed martial arts or do you believe it to be basically the same struggle for both genders?

Shayna: I believe it's the same struggle, but that we are having the same struggles men had ten years ago. We are going through the same thing, it's just that female MMA and the understanding of it is behind a little bit.

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

Shayna: Honestly, learning new techniques. I know that the things I study are real, because I have to use them, so I love learning new techniques and then pulling them off.

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

Shayna: Josh Barnett, of course, because he truly cares for me and my development as a fighter and as a person. Also, Frank Shamrock because I think he gets things - not just fighting, but the part of fighting that is outside of fighting.

Darrick: What does a typical training session for you consist of?

Shayna: Well, what I specifically study depends on what day it is, but I usually train four to six hours a day plus lifting. I always split it though - some striking consisting of Muay Thai and/or boxing, some clinching like more Muay Thai, wrestling, or Judo, and grappling like wrestling or BJJ.

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

Shayna: I love shredding on the guitar and playing video games.

Darrick: If you lost one of your senses, which could you stand to be without?

Shayna: Tough one, but probably touch. I don't know. Hopefully, I would get to have a trial period with each one first.

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

Shayna: I own two Sugar Gliders.

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

Shayna: I remember when my sister was first born, we shared a room and I used to jump in her crib, make it collapse, then hop out, and jump back into bed. One time I missed and hit my head on the headboard, so I got caught.

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 Shayna Baszler in the following places:

Official Shayna Baszler MySpace Profile:

http://www.myspace.com/shayna_baszler

Shayna Baszler on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Shayna-Baszler-12116

Shayna Baszler Photo Gallery at Sherdog.com:

http://www.sherdog.com/pictures/gallery/fighter/12116

[Panther]

She has Sugar Gliders? Shayna rocks!