Dan Henderson on MMA's Popularity and the Martial Arts
Dan Henderson on MMA's Popularity and Why Traditional Martial Artists Should Love ItBy Edward Pollard |
Henderson boasts a record of 25-7. The native Californian spent seven of his 12 years in MMA competing in RINGS and PRIDE shows in Japan, and before that, he fought in the Brazil Open. During his on-again-off-again stints with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, he won five out of his seven matches. On December 5, 2009, he signed a four-fight deal with Strikeforce, surprising some fans who thought there was nowhere else for him to go after the UFC. That move may have indefinitely postponed his wish for a rematch with UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva, who rear-naked-choked him into submission at the UFC 82, but it’s likely thrown him straight into a Strikeforce middleweight title bout with Jake Shields, a man who’s eight years his junior and undefeated in his last 13 matches. Black Belt caught up with Henderson between workouts and got his views on some of the hot topics in his fight career and in the mixed martial arts in general. Observation: Henderson is a founding member of Team Quest (along with Matt Lindland and Couture). His success at the Murrieta, California, branch of the team has outgrown the facility. That says something about him, as well as the sport he represents. In recent years, there’s been controversy about the effect MMA is having on traditional martial arts schools that don’t acknowledge the new sport’s influence. Some dojo owners go so far as to say that MMA is killing the traditional arts. Response: “Well, no offense, but a lot of the stuff that the traditional martial arts guys do is impractical in the real world. Maybe it works in a certain scenario or if both guys have the same art background, but in the real world, it’s not [always] practical.” Observation: Some believe that in marginalizing the mixed martial arts, school owners are harming themselves more than they’re sending a message to the powers in MMA. Response: “If they try to stay separate, then MMA just delegitimizes them. All in all, the mixed martial arts represent the fighter or the true warrior and what works.”
Response: “There’s a small aspect of them all in what we do. For the most part, that’s three basic arts—wrestling, kickboxing and Brazilian jiu-jitsu—but a lot of other martial arts get mixed into the stand-up striking and the submissions. Wrestling is pretty much its own thing.” Observation: In wrestling, a competitor avoids being on his back, but in jiu-jitsu, he embraces that position. It’s one aspect of the wrestling mind-set that must be overcome to be successful in MMA. Response: “Yeah, but you learn that pretty easily. The most difficult thing about wrestling is being able to punch holes in [the game of] another fighter. Whether it’s standing or on the ground, it’s usually the wrestler who can dictate the direction. You have more ability to control where the fight goes, but wrestling doesn’t finish fights. You need to have submission skills.” Observation: Normally, if a fighter knocks out his opponent, he’ll notice his defenseless condition and leave him alone. That’s not what happened when Henderson met fellow Ultimate Fighter coach Michael Bisping at the UFC 100. The bout took place after lots of uncomfortable face-offs and grumblings. Afterward, Henderson seemed to crow about his spectacular knockout and follow-up strike for the TV camera. Response: “I would have done that to anybody—just to make sure, just to make the ref stop it. I was already up in the air before he even landed. I hit him with my fist, and then his head turned and my forearm got him. But I did the same exact thing to Wanderlei Silva. You never know with anybody how bad it really is. Some guys get hit hard and fall down, but they’re still conscious.” Observation: Most spectators at the event saw Bisping go slack and hit the canvas like a sack of rocks, which flies in the face of the notion that he had to make sure his opponent was out cold. Response: “If you stop for a second and then he recovers, the fight can have a different outcome.” Observation: The Ultimate Fighter provides a proving ground for athletes who want to compete in the UFC, but it’s not the only avenue for athletes who want to follow in the footsteps of men like Henderson. Response: “There’s a ton of smaller shows that put on amateur or pro fights. They have other guys there who are starting out, too. It’s just a matter of getting into a good gym that can give you guidance. They can match you up with somebody who has equal abilities so you don’t just get creamed. Having a good gym will do that, especially if you’ve never done it before. There are plenty of gyms that have good reputations.” Observation: Seasoned mixed martial artists have the ability to watch an unknown fighter and know whether he has the talent he needs to be a champion. Response: “Mostly [you look for] somebody who’s not only talented but also has a good mind. He can’t be afraid to get out there and bang—that’s the biggest thing. A lot of guys will have plenty of skill and learn fast, but they’re afraid when they get out there.” Observation: Henderson must know what he’s talking about. The enrollment at his Team Quest gym has maxed out the building’s 4,300 square feet, causing him to make plans to move into a 12,000-square-foot facility nearby. The students who rely on his expertise represent a broad cross section of society, all excited to learn from the MMA veteran. Response: “We’ve got between 20 and 30 fighters who practice every day, with a total of about 350 members. It just keeps growing, but a lot of people are waiting. If there’s space for them, we can squeeze them in, but some people don’t like the fact that it’s getting crowded.”
Response: “It’s the popularity of the sport and the fact that people realize they don’t have to be a fighter to join a gym and train. It’s a good workout that can keep you in shape.” Observation: Raising his three kids—10, 8 and 2 years old—is important to Henderson, so he makes sure his schedule leaves plenty of time to be with them. He’s remarkably clearheaded for a guy who’s been trading blows for 13 years. Meanwhile, many MMA fighters are expressing concerns about how long they’ll be able to keep up the pace. Response: “I’m happy to still be fighting, but I don’t know if I want to be fighting as long as Randy [Couture]. I’m sure I’ll be fine for two or three more years and then maybe retire. It just depends on where I’m at financially and where I’m at with my kids. They’re doing a lot of sports right now, and I don’t want to miss any of that.” Observation: To diversify his revenue streams, Henderson founded a clothing line called Clinch Gear. The company has been going strong for three years. Response: “I’ve been spending time helping to promote it and making our products the best on the market. We definitely have the reputation of having the best shorts on the market. Their flexibility, durability and comfort are all excellent. Once you try them, you won’t want to wear anything else. [The clothing company] will allow me to stay involved in the sport and not get beat up when I’m too old to compete. That and coaching—I definitely want to stay involved with MMA.” Observation: Henderson exudes calm and common sense while most fighters exhibit aggression. Response: “The more relaxed you are, the more you have your wits about you. The more relaxed you are out there, the better you can perform. It doesn’t have anything to do with being aggressive during a fight. I think I’ve shown that I don’t have a problem doing that. I don’t know [where it comes from]; I just know that I have it when I need it.” (This article originally appeared as the cover story for the April 2010 issue of Black Belt.) |
