Meet Chris "Brandenburg" Biddle

Chris Biddle is a great guy and he was kind enough to let me harrass him with some silly questions and such. Hope you enjoy getting to know him a little better! You can keep up with Chris at http://www.myspace.com/brandenburgbiddle

Did you study martial arts before you wanted to become an MMA fighter or was it that you wanted to fight so you studied martial arts?

I actually started taking Judo with my son because I thought the discipline would be good for his hyper behavior. He decided to quit shortly but I wanted to continue, so I did. Josh(my fight coach now) saw me and asked if I would be interested in fighting for him to fill in for someone who had to back out. I had 2 weeks to prepare. I won that fight and have been addicted ever since.

Are you children involved in any martial arts?

My kids go to Judo with me sometimes. Especially in the summer. With school it kinda keeps them out too late but they still go occasionally. As they get older, I will let them decide if they want to go or not more often.

What degree is your belt? How long have you been studying?

I am a 2nd brown in Judo and I have been doing it for about 3 years. I study under Eb Keislich at Toshi Dojo of Brandenburg. I am a blue belt under Josh Johnson in ju jitsu. I have been studying ju jitsu for around 2 1/2 years.

What is your current record?

Right now I am 10-2 in MMA as an amateur.

Will be going pro soon? What do you feel is the determining factor to make that transition?

I have had numerous people tell me that I need to turn pro. Even four or five fights ago. But I am patient and trust my coach, Josh, 100% percent in helping me decide when the time is right. I think I'm honing in on that time.

The best way to deal with a loss is to take the lessons from it. What do you feel you have learned from a loss in the cage?

In both of my losses I have become better as a result. In my first loss I learned how important conditioning can be especially when matched up with someone of equal skill and strength. My other loss taught me that mental strength is equally important and focus is a must.

You work with a great school and a strong fight team. What do you do outside of training with the schools for your fight game?

I work on my conditioning mostly at home. I have a 450 tractor tire that I flip, usually for rounds. I also beat it with a sledge hammer. I have a homemade sled that I load with weights and drag around my yard. Running ,which I hate, is also part of my training. I usually use these apparatuses twice a week, or run three miles. This along with my class training is plenty for anyone. Any more and I can get OVER TRAINED, which many are victim to.

You are obviously skilled in BJJ so what do you think your next strength is?

I don't feel that I am really good at any one thing. I feel that I am descent at a wide spectrum of things. Mentally, athletically, standing and ground. They are all part of my game.

MMA may becoming a mainstream sport but we are still a very small circle of people. We understand why we are involved in this world but what do you tell family and friends when they view this as a violent thing?

This is a very real question for me. Most of my family, though they support me, don't want me fighting because they think its violent. But I assure them that I try my best to prepare for it. I tell them about all of the benefits I get from the exercise (especially with my diabetes) and confidence I gain are second to none. Plus if I am getting my ass kicked too bad then the referee will save me. LOL

What do your children think of Dad fighting?

They have never been to one of my fights. Hayden is 9 and Macey is 7. I would not have a problem with them going to watch me fight. Almost all of the fights I have participated in and watched have been really calm with no violent outbreaks in the crowd.( except the one at the Hardin County fairgrounds, woooo, what a night). But my wife Emily feels its a little too early for them to attend and I respect her decision. She is usually right when it comes to stuff like that. They have watched all of my fights on video at home though.

You call yourself Brandenburg Biddle. Have you always lived in the area?

Yes, my whole life. Its a funny story how I got that name stuck to me. The first fight that I had, as I talked about previously, was on really short notice. So when the promoters asked Josh what my last name was, he didn't know. He just told them Chris from Brandenburg. In turn they got mixed up and announced me at my fight as Chris Brandenburg. Hence, Chris "Brandenburg" Biddle. My wife hates it but I told her it has sentimental value. LOL

If someone came to you and wanted to start training to fight. What advice would you give them?

Join a club with the best reputation in your area. Be patient and listen to your coach. Usually they know alot more about the game than you. Have an open mind and develop the whole game. Not just one area of fighting. Take care and listen to your body. If your body is telling you that you need to take a break, then take a break. You will come back better as a result!

At the end of your fight career when you look back what are the accomplishments you want to have achieved?

I want to look back and say that I have done things that most people would be scared to do. It really takes some balls to get in the cage for that first time. It wouldn't hurt if I knew that people thought of me as a bad ass either. Maybe when my daughter gets old enough to date, it will keep the boys in line. LOL

MMA now has fighters that are 50 years old and many fighters fighting into their 40s. Do you think that there is such a thing as too old for this sport?

I once did but there are people changing my opinion about this. Randy Couture, Nogaira, Chuck Liddell. And even myself. I am 34 and I am by far in the best shape of my life!

Besides fighting, what do you like to do in your spare time?

Fishing, hunting, going to my kids ballgames. Anything outside. I know this sounds bad but one of my favorite things to do is SLEEP!

Who are your heroes in life?

My parents, even though I haven't always given them the credit they deserve.

5 silly questions

What is your dream car?
65 fastback Mustang, tubbed and fast as hell!

What is your favorite candy bar?
Watchamacallit. No, that's what its called. LOL

What is your favorite type of music?
All music except Opera. I really like Bluegrass too!

What is your favorite color?
Black

What did you have for breakfast?
6 scrambled eggs, oatmeal, Gatorade

Is there anyone you would like to give a shout out to??

Yeah my wife Emily, my kids Hayden and Macey, all my family and all my friends I train with. Thanks for the support and being there for me.