UFC 9 Veteran and Olympic Gold Winner in Wrestling, Mark Schultz recently got interviewed by the Grappling Central podcast. This is what we learned listening to the episode:
1) Mark Schultz said: “…Wrestling is great sport but it’s not the ultimate Martial Art like Brazilian Jiu Jitsu”
2) Mark Schultz came in touch with the only non Gracie black belt Pedro Sauer in Utah by chance – he was working in the area at the time. Rickson and Mark faced off sometime later, but there were rules – for all intents and purposes it was a grappling match. Rickson managed to catch Mark in submission holds a couple of times. This is what got Mark really into jiu-jitsu.
3) Initially Schultz was to train Dave Beneteau for UFC 9 but ended up breaking his hand in training.
4) Schultz wasn’t into wrestling or competing. He got into gymnastics but after frequent sibling fights (and bullying) he realized he needed to master groundwork. Schultz has always considered Wrestling a Martial Art primarly
5) Prince Albert of Monaco wanted to start a wrestling team and asked Mark’s brother Dave to head up the new organization but Dave declined saying “I’m sorry I can’t wrestle for you, I’m coaching for the prince of Pennsylvania” – and this is how ESPN’s episode of 30 for 30 dedicated to Foxcatcher farms got named “Prince of Pennsylvania” (go watch it, it’s great!)
6) Mark Schultz believes in making losing as terrible of an experience as possible (as did his brother Dave). Cursing, crying and hitting things is a part of an experience. If you make it as horrible as possible odds are in the future you’d do anything to avoid it.
7) Schultz is happy about the fact the movie immortalizes his brother Dave who was a huge influence on everything he did and about the movie shining a positive light on wrestling
8) Schultz is nowadays friends with Gary Goodridge who he famously fought in UFC 9
9) UFC 9 was actually ordered to not feature any Closed Fists Striking due to several politicos making a fuss but it was never defined in court what closed fist striking was so Big John McCarthy (who referees to this day) took some liberty in explaining/redefining what Closed Fist striking meant – Thumb position apparently made all the difference!
10) Schultz was actively copying Rickson Gracie during his UFC bout, he had seen Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in action videotapes and several other fights.
Check out the entire 2 hour interview at the Grappling Central Podcast website!