10 Questions With Jared Hamman (3/12/2010)
Posted: Fri Mar 12, 2010 3:45 am
10 Questions With Jared Hamman (by Darrick Patrick)
Jared "Switch" Hamman is a professional mixed martial artist who has appeared in organizations such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Strikeforce, California Cage Championships, ShoXC, International Fighting Championship, Chaos In The Cage, EliteXC, Beatdown In Bakersfield, Pangea Fights, and California Xtreme Fighting. At the time of this interview, his next scheduled match is against Rodney Wallace in the Ultimate Fighting Championship at UFC 111: St-Pierre vs. Hardy on March 27th, 2010.
Darrick: What was the journey that led you to professional mixed martial arts competition?
Jared: I was coaching college football at the University of Redlands and towards the end of the season I started getting real antsy. I was twenty-three years old and felt that I could still compete at something. A college buddy of mine came up to me after our last game and mentioned he was training MMA at a local gym and suggested that I should check it out. Two days later, I began training and never looked back. I had my first amateur fight two months later, followed by my first professional fight a few months after that.
Darrick: Do you have any words of advice for other individuals looking to compete in MMA?
Jared: Surround yourself with people who believe in you and don’t focus on the things that you can't control. I'll never forget when I was cornering a guy who was super nervous. I talked to him and he told me he was worried about getting hit. I told him, “Dude, you're about to get into a fight. You're going to get hit. Don’t think about winning or losing, just focus on giving a one hundred percent effort and the end will take care of itself."
Darrick: Your next scheduled fight is against Rodney Wallace on March 27th. What are your thoughts about this upcoming match?
Jared: I absolutely love fighting and I’m happy to get another chance to battle. I always train for my fights as if it's my last because in this life you never know, things may happen. I just thank the Lord for the ability to compete. Wallace seems to be very tough and I’m sure he’s very motivated after losing his UFC debut.
Darrick: Who are a few of the people in the sport that you highly respect?
Jared: Anyone who does something for the youth through the sport of MMA is someone that I highly respect. The budget problem in California is reducing a lot of the programs available to students and it's leaving them with nothing to do after school, which leads to poor choices in many cases. There are some gyms I know that open their doors for after-school programs, giving the youth another option in which they could spend their time. Anyone who uses the gifts they have been blessed with to help someone else deserves the utmost respect.
Darrick: What brings you the most fulfillment out of martial arts?
Jared: I love the training and discipline. I love the fact that you can test yourself in the ultimate way, toe-to-toe. What I love about mixed martial arts in particular is that you can fight a guy and then afterwards go have a beer or whatever with him. I love the respect this sport brings…in most cases.
Darrick: Who are some of the people that greatly influenced you while growing up?
Jared: My mother, a single parent, has the most fierce "never give up" spirit I’ve ever seen - as well as a tremendous heart. I have some awesome uncles who have been mentors to me while growing up as well. My football coaches have played an integral role in my upbringing too, specifically Mike Maynard of the University of Redlands.
Darrick: Outside of MMA, what are your other interests?
Jared: I love the outdoors, especially surfing. I absolutely love coaching and I'm looking forward to getting back to that. My biggest interest right now though is kidnapping my girlfriend's new puppy and taking her places.
Darrick: Tell us something about you that most people don't know.
Jared: I have won a dance competition...in high school.
Darrick: What is your oldest memory?
Jared: We used to have a tree in our front yard that looked like something out of The Lord of the Rings. My brother and I used to go crazy playing on and around that tree.
Darrick: If you were stuck in a bomb shelter for the rest of your life, what three items would you take in with you besides food and water?
Jared: The first two items would be a Bible and a guitar so that I could actually learn to play it finally. The other thing would be paper and a pen so that I could write down all of the memories and stories I could remember. Perhaps write a book. Who knows?
FOR OTHER EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS BY DARRICK PATRICK:
http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=4974388&blogID=343519835
You can also check out Jared Hamman in the following places:
Official Jared Hamman MySpace Profile:
http://www.myspace.com/87681500
Official Jared Hamman Facebook Site:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=46003012
Jared Hamman on Fight Finder:
http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Jared-Hamman-15949
Jared Hamman Photo Gallery at Sherdog.com:
http://www.sherdog.com/pictures/gallery/fighter/15949
Jared "Switch" Hamman is a professional mixed martial artist who has appeared in organizations such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Strikeforce, California Cage Championships, ShoXC, International Fighting Championship, Chaos In The Cage, EliteXC, Beatdown In Bakersfield, Pangea Fights, and California Xtreme Fighting. At the time of this interview, his next scheduled match is against Rodney Wallace in the Ultimate Fighting Championship at UFC 111: St-Pierre vs. Hardy on March 27th, 2010.
Darrick: What was the journey that led you to professional mixed martial arts competition?
Jared: I was coaching college football at the University of Redlands and towards the end of the season I started getting real antsy. I was twenty-three years old and felt that I could still compete at something. A college buddy of mine came up to me after our last game and mentioned he was training MMA at a local gym and suggested that I should check it out. Two days later, I began training and never looked back. I had my first amateur fight two months later, followed by my first professional fight a few months after that.
Darrick: Do you have any words of advice for other individuals looking to compete in MMA?
Jared: Surround yourself with people who believe in you and don’t focus on the things that you can't control. I'll never forget when I was cornering a guy who was super nervous. I talked to him and he told me he was worried about getting hit. I told him, “Dude, you're about to get into a fight. You're going to get hit. Don’t think about winning or losing, just focus on giving a one hundred percent effort and the end will take care of itself."
Darrick: Your next scheduled fight is against Rodney Wallace on March 27th. What are your thoughts about this upcoming match?
Jared: I absolutely love fighting and I’m happy to get another chance to battle. I always train for my fights as if it's my last because in this life you never know, things may happen. I just thank the Lord for the ability to compete. Wallace seems to be very tough and I’m sure he’s very motivated after losing his UFC debut.
Darrick: Who are a few of the people in the sport that you highly respect?
Jared: Anyone who does something for the youth through the sport of MMA is someone that I highly respect. The budget problem in California is reducing a lot of the programs available to students and it's leaving them with nothing to do after school, which leads to poor choices in many cases. There are some gyms I know that open their doors for after-school programs, giving the youth another option in which they could spend their time. Anyone who uses the gifts they have been blessed with to help someone else deserves the utmost respect.
Darrick: What brings you the most fulfillment out of martial arts?
Jared: I love the training and discipline. I love the fact that you can test yourself in the ultimate way, toe-to-toe. What I love about mixed martial arts in particular is that you can fight a guy and then afterwards go have a beer or whatever with him. I love the respect this sport brings…in most cases.
Darrick: Who are some of the people that greatly influenced you while growing up?
Jared: My mother, a single parent, has the most fierce "never give up" spirit I’ve ever seen - as well as a tremendous heart. I have some awesome uncles who have been mentors to me while growing up as well. My football coaches have played an integral role in my upbringing too, specifically Mike Maynard of the University of Redlands.
Darrick: Outside of MMA, what are your other interests?
Jared: I love the outdoors, especially surfing. I absolutely love coaching and I'm looking forward to getting back to that. My biggest interest right now though is kidnapping my girlfriend's new puppy and taking her places.
Darrick: Tell us something about you that most people don't know.
Jared: I have won a dance competition...in high school.
Darrick: What is your oldest memory?
Jared: We used to have a tree in our front yard that looked like something out of The Lord of the Rings. My brother and I used to go crazy playing on and around that tree.
Darrick: If you were stuck in a bomb shelter for the rest of your life, what three items would you take in with you besides food and water?
Jared: The first two items would be a Bible and a guitar so that I could actually learn to play it finally. The other thing would be paper and a pen so that I could write down all of the memories and stories I could remember. Perhaps write a book. Who knows?
FOR OTHER EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS BY DARRICK PATRICK:
http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=4974388&blogID=343519835
You can also check out Jared Hamman in the following places:
Official Jared Hamman MySpace Profile:
http://www.myspace.com/87681500
Official Jared Hamman Facebook Site:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=46003012
Jared Hamman on Fight Finder:
http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Jared-Hamman-15949
Jared Hamman Photo Gallery at Sherdog.com:
http://www.sherdog.com/pictures/gallery/fighter/15949