Interview with Chris "The Westside Strangler" Brennan

The following Interview is presented by MMA Industries, providers of MMA clothing and MMA gear to fighters around the world.

Chris "The Westside Strangler" Brennan

I took Karate for a few months when I was about 12 but that didn’t last long. From there I didn’t take another Martial Art until I started training in BJJ and Boxing for MMA. I knew from the first day I walked in the school I wanted to fight and I was training in each style to fight not to compete. It changed my life in so many ways.

My plans for the future are always big. I’m never not doing something or about to do something. I keep busy and keep my hand in a lot of different things. I am still teaching BJJ/MMA at my place in Dallas, I travel the world throughout the year teaching seminars, I am still involved with Nogi Industries, and I train a bunch of Motocross kids with they’re Strength, Conditioning, and Nutrition. I started racing Motocross at the beginning of this year and love it. I have always followed it but now that I’m on the bike it’s amazing. I will continue to do that until I get to hurt to do so. I’m in the process of writing a book about my life that some people might fall of their chair while reading LOL! I want to start another clothing brand and I think it will be HUGE. And lastly I want to continue to take care of my family and enjoy every minute of that.

I would have to say one of if not THE toughest loss would have to be Kawajiri. There was such a big story behind that fight that no one knew about. About 10 days before the fight I got bit by a brown recluse spider and had minor surgery and tried to pull out of the fight. Yokino (chick at Pride back then) said I couldn’t drop out and if I did they were going to void that fight off my contract. At that point and was getting paid pretty well and couldn’t allow that to happen. So after much debate and argument and not training one day in the last 2 weeks to prepare I walked in and got my ass kicked in a horrible fight as a big fuck you to them. I didn’t try at all and they knew it but I was on all sorts of meds and still had crap oozing out of my leg at that point, so it was horrible of them to even make me get in the ring. I know I could have done well with him and the training leading up to that point was going great so I was pretty upset about that. John Alessio was another tough loss to me as well just because I didn’t have or stick to the game plan I should have. Lastly I guess was the second Miletich fight because me and everyone in the crowd knew won that fight but you know how it goes...And Cecil Peoples wasn’t even a judge back then LOL!

As far as training tips go I have a few. #1 find a good school. Find a school that not only trains in MMA but that actually has classes that break it down: a Jiu-Jitsu class, a Wrestling class, and a striking class. Learning MMA is one thing, but the details of each style are what’s really important to refine your skills and have good basics and basics are everything. Don’t over train. Listen to your body and know when to take a day off for rest. Eat well and stay in decent shape all the time. I have been working with lots of people on their physical training and nutrition for a long time now and it’s really helped them. For info on that, e-mail Chris Brennan