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Lucas Predmore is an American Judoka with an amateur MMA record of 2-3, winning all of his fights via submission. Lucas is a veteran of the Cage of Honor MMA organization. His techniques and overall MMA style are heavily influenced by his base style of Judo. Although at the time of this interview Lucas is nursing an MCL injury, we hope to see him back in the cage very soon. Lucas' club can be found here: http://www.fightcma.com/ JudoMMA: How did you get started in Judo? and how long have you been training in Judo? Lucas Predmore: My father is a nidan in judo and he got me started when I was six, so 13 years. JM: What dojo do you train at? LP: I trained at the Jefferson City Judo Club, run by my father, until I was 18. Then I went to college and started my own club called Central Martial Arts. We practice no gi judo and MMA. During the summers I train at the American Martial Arts Academy in Jefferson City. JM: Have you been successful in Judo tournaments? LP: I was pretty successful in judo competition when I was competing, but I wasn't in very good shape before. I never started training hardcore until this last year when I got into MMA, and now I've lost 50 pounds. I want to get back in and do some judo competition and see what I'll do at this lower weight. JM: So you are not actively competing in Judo? LP: Not in the last year. I've been really consumed with MMA training and haven't worked with a gi for a long time. I had a competion next month but I tore my MCL. JM: What are your favorite newaza and tachiwaza techniques? LP: I like anything that is attacking the neck, strangle-holds and neck-cranks. Mae hadaka jime or the guillotine, is my absolute favorite technique. Standing I like koshi-guruma, morote-gake, and o-guruma very well. JM: Do you have any experience in other martial arts? LP: I have always read books and studied all kinds of martial arts from videos, books, etc. But other than judo I have just recently started taking classes in kickboxing and kali silat. JM: How long have you been competing in MMA? And how many fights do you have? LP: About a year, I've had five fights. JM: Why did you decide to get into MMA? LP: I've always loved judo and other martial arts and I wanted to make a career out of it. And I wanted to see if I could convert my judo effectively for MMA. I also wanted to promote the sport of judo. JM: How did your Judo skills help you prepare for these MMA fights? LP: My judo skills have been the core of my training and they prepared me very well. There is no other sport that is as hard as judo. I didn't do any other training other than judo for my first fight and that was a big mistake. I took a lot of hits standing up but as soon as we hit the ground I was comfortable and back in my element. JM: Coming from an opposite viewpoint, Did you face any difficulties trying to adapt your Judo skills to MMA? LP: Yeah, my biggest challenge was and still is getting used to hitting. When I get out there I get in a complete grappling mode and forget that I can hit the guy. JM: Have you landed any Judo throws in MMA? and if so, what ones? LP: Yeah, moroto-gake and koshi-guruma. JM: When is your next MMA fight? at what event? LP: Right now it is unknown. It will be a year until I fight again for two reasons. One: I need to let my MCL heal which will take at least six months. Second: I want to train harder on striking so that it becomes second nature. JM: Do you know of any up and coming Judoka who want to try MMA? LP: Most the guys I train with are going to get into MMA and will do very well. JM: Who are your favorite MMA fighters to watch, and why? LP: Karo Parysian because his fighting style is very similiar to my own. July 2006 |