10 Questions With Chad Robichaux (7/28/2010)

[DarrickPatrick]

10 Questions With Chad Robichaux (by Darrick Patrick)

Chad "Robo" Robichaux is a professional mixed martial artist who has competed in organizations such as Reality Combat Fighting, Legacy Promotions, Reality Check, World Vale Tudo Federation, and Battle of New Orleans. At the time of this interview, his next scheduled match is against Humberto Deleon at Strikeforce: Houston on August 21st, 2010.

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

Chad: I have sixteen fights now, eight of them as pro. I think in the beginning though, I learned the same lessons that the young new athletes are learning today with patience. I did traditional martial arts, American and Japanese Jiu-Jitsu as a kid, so I sincerely thought I was a complete martial artist. I trained with some novice BJJ guys in California in 1996 and did well rolling, so I thought I was solid in my martial arts skill set. I found out the next year how wrong I was.

In 1997, Karl Schmidt, Matthias Meister (now of Gracie Barra New Orleans), and myself walked into the Reality Self Defense Academy in Metairie, Louisiana which was headed by my long time professor and friend, Alfredo Ramirez. Josh Stuart had just fought in the UFC out of that academy and my friend Gino referred it as the right place to start if I was interested in MMA. The three of us were very humbled that night by Josh and Professor Ramirez, and then all three of us were hooked after that! Schmidt would later on become a 15-3 professional fighter, and now Meister is the head of the academy which is now Gracie Barra NOLA. I always think back of how cool it was that the three of us started together. We pushed each other every day and grew together. "Iron sharpens iron" - As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. (Proverbs 27:17)

Prior to starting to fight, I was in the U.S. Marine Corps and served as a Force Recon Marine. So, for the next six years I was focused on serving the country through several efforts, some of which had me living in the Middle East and Southeast Asia for three months at a time. Although I trained the entire time, to include 3.5 years with Nate “The Great” Marquardt, a lot had changed in the pro fight game while I was out. My 6-0 professional record seemed to have an expiration date on it and I had to get a current fight under my belt. So, I stepped back into the cage in 2009 and landed two quick submission wins. One over 10-3 Lewis McKenzie to earn the Legacy FC Bantamweight Title. This bumped me to the #1 ranked pound for pound fighter in my region as well as #1 in my weight division (bantamweight), and now has me booked for Strikeforce next month in Houston on August 21st. I will be fighting the #2 ranked bantamweight, Humberto Deleon.

Darrick: Do you have any words of advice for other individuals looking to compete in MMA?

Chad: I always tell my students not to be too anxious to fight, learn the basics first and have a solid foundation. With that said though, the competition is a lot stiffer a decade later. At my academy, we have the students do four months of BJJ Basics before they can enter a MMA training session. Nonetheless, I was young, confident, and just as eager as the guys are now. I fought three times that same year in 1997 at a hole in the wall called the “Chop Shop”…I think back of it being kind of a foolish thing to do. No doctors, no match-ups, no weight class, or even gloves. Karl and I showed up there and the promoter asked who were the fighters and he matched us up by looking at us right there. I fought a Karate guy who had to outweigh me by 50 pounds and submitted him after about ten minutes of fighting. It was a great first experience.

However, I was quickly derailed when I went that same year to Florida and fought a very seasoned Din Thomas, who submitted me in the first round. Just after that, I lost my third match and decided to get back to training hard and focusing on the basics of BJJ and wrestling. I fought again a year later and haven’t lost since. I submitted my opponents in my next five amateur matches and in all eight of my pro fights. If you have an art, know it. Drill it until you are bored. Bruce Lee said, “Learn it until you forget it”. Nothing will replace the sweat and time you put on those mats - nothing.

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

Chad: Renzo Gracie because of his belief in BJJ and his passion as a competitor. No one has the desire to compete like Renzo...for him, it is truly what he was born to do. He is a warrior who represents his family, his art, and what he believes in. He is also the funniest man on the planet. How can you not love this guy?

Also, Nate Marquardt. We trained together for four years when I lived in Colorado. Since I moved away, we have met up to train here in Texas a few times. The thing I love about Nate is his values and character as a Godly man - it just doesn’t get any higher. He is a true complete martial artist and competitor. His work ethic is unmatched of anyone I have ever seen.

Darrick: Your next scheduled fight is against Humberto Deleon on August 21st. What are your thoughts about this upcoming match?

Chad: Humberto is a cool kid. He's a very talented young guy and a very respectful martial artist. I think he's 18-0 as an amateur with five titles or something like that, and he is 6-3 as a pro. Lots of flashy stuff such as armbars, flying knees, jumps guard, etc. It's an honor to fight him...however, I already have won this fight in my mind.

There is no way that I can lose this fight. I work too hard, my BJJ is far superior, and my striking doesn’t leave any room for him to even make one mistake or he will be in major trouble. Honestly as a coach, I would be hard pressed for a strategy putting him against me. I have all the respect in the world for him, but just to be honest, I think he is in over his head. Strikeforce is a place I earned my right to be and I won’t walk in unprepared. Humberto better be ready for war because I’m going to bring it hard. I wish him the best of luck and I will see him on Aug 21st.

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

Chad: Coaching and seeing it change people’s lives. When I opened the Academy just three years ago, we started with a very large base of about 150 students. I was running the BJJ and MMA, and Daniel Kim focused on the Muay Thai. Now, we are right at 500 students and I don’t know too many BJJ schools with this many guys but it is an incredible thing. The energy and camaraderie in our academy is something I’ve never seen. Everyone there are friends inside and outside the academy. Having a Gracie Barra academy is a dream come true to me and the staff. It is such an opportunity and privilege to reach people looking for ways to improve their fitness, confidence, self-defense skills, and to just have a fun hobby and network of friends.

You might expect a typical ego-filled gym, but when you walk into our place you’ll see something totally different...no egos and a true team. Sparring is something for the experienced and select, we mainly focus on classes and teaching. It is a lot of work but we have a great staff and everyone loves their job. It isn’t just the development of martial arts that I’m speaking of changing people. It is the core of them - their character, discipline, work ethic, personal pride, and dignity. It is an amazing thing to watch these traits develop and grow in someone.

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

Chad: I grew up with kind of a rough life. I thank God every day for my grandparents who raised me and my grandfather who taught me about hard work and accomplishing anything I wanted in life. Everyone else told me the opposite but all of my life I gravitated towards his leadership for me. He definitely inspired me to get through my Force Recon training, college, and fighting. He has seen me compete several times already, including my pro debut, and on August 21st he’ll be right there cheering me on at 77 years young and scoping out the ring girls as he always does.

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

Chad: God, my kids, mentoring, and when I have time...the beach. Nothing in life makes me feel more at peace than sun, sand, and warm water.

Darrick: What is your oldest memory?

Chad: My oldest memory is probably my beginning as a martial artist. Ironic, but true. I started off in a little town called Raceland in Louisiana. Who would have knew that it would have led to this?

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

Chad: I have a MBA (Masters of Business). Luckily, I finished before getting hit too many times! It was just a personal goal to me. Nobody in my family had ever been to college.

Darrick: When you're no longer amongst the living, how would you most like to be remembered?

Chad: As a man of character who left the world a better place than when he came into it.

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 Chad Robichaux in the following places:

Official Chad Robichaux Website:

http://www.chadrobo.tv

Official Chad Robichaux MySpace Profile:

http://www.myspace.com/chadrobotv

Official Chad Robichaux Facebook Site:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1564962879&ref=profile

Official Chad Robichaux Twitter Area:

http://www.twitter.com/ChadRobo

Gracie Barra - North Houston Website:

http://www.graciebarranorthhouston.com

Gracie Barra - The Woodlands MySpace:

http://www.myspace.com/chadmma

Chad Robichaux on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Chad-Robichaux-25199