10 Questions With Andrew Chappelle (5/27/2007)

[DarrickPatrick]

10 Questions With Andrew Chappelle (by Darrick Patrick)

Andrew "The Powerhouse" Chappelle is a professional mixed martial arts fighter who has appeared in events such as the International Fighting Championship, SuperBrawl, Undisputed Arena Fighting Championships, HOOKnSHOOT, Renegades Extreme Fighting, Talon Challenge, Reality Combat Fighting, Ring Of Honor, and the International Sport Combat Federation.

Darrick: How did you get into mixed martial arts?

Andrew: Like most kids, I got into a lot of fights as a young one. I was really good at it, so when a friend of mine told me that some Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt was living in San Antonio, Texas: I was stoked and decided to check him out. I started training at around 15 to 16 years old and got really good.

After a couple years of training, I entered some grappling tourneys and did really well. I won the Absolute and my weight division the first time competing. I also did a little boxing as a kid. I started training a lot of kickboxing shortly after getting into grappling. I started mixing it up and ended up with a pretty well-rounded game.

Darrick: You're also an airborne ranger. Tell us about that.

Andrew: Oh yeah, well, being a ranger is great. It was a life changing experience for me. I have a blog on my MySpace account about Ranger School. We do so much, so I left a lot out, but I give you a drift on how life was.

I am an Airborne Infantryman in the U.S. Army, with a Ranger Tab! How sweet is that?! Being a Ranger makes work fun. It's hard to really explain the tactical advantage I have to those who aren't tactically incline from military experience, but as a person I have grown and changed so much. To be a Ranger, you have proven yourself to have a Huge Heart! I feel more confident now than I ever have before!

Darrick: What are your other interests outside of MMA?

Andrew: Ha ha, come on now. I am a gym rat when not at work, and work takes up a lot of my time. I like to run. Running used to be a really big hobby of mine.
I like to swim as well. I am an ex-gymnast, so I love to play around in a gymnasium from time to time. I have been slacking on both due to how much time I've been having to put into the Army. I like movies and hangin' out with my girlfriend. I study a lot as well.

Darrick: Who are some of the people who have greatly influenced your life?

Andrew: Everyone has influenced me equally.

Darrick: What does a typical workout session for you consist of?

Andrew: Wow, well, I don't do the same type of work outs everytime I go to the gym, but I can say that gymnastics is a big part of my conditioning. I play with a lot of my conditioning. It makes training so much funner.

I swim and run for fun. I'll hit the weights 2-3 times a week: any more than that and I blow up. I hit the bag roll on the mat. Some times we'll mix it up and do MMA. I don't do anything special. I don't have a set curriculum that I follow either. Being in the Army, I couldn't keep up with a set schedule/curriculum.

Darrick: Tell us something that most people don't know about you.

Andrew: I have the potential of being a World Champion. I have a year & a half left in the U.S. Army and when my ETS date comes, I'll be a full time college student/professional fighter. I'll have more time to train and will be making huge waves in MMA.

Darrick: What's the most fulfilling aspect of MMA to you?

Andrew: I love the sport. Man vs. Man, no weapons, no number advantages: just a clean fight! MMA is the ultimate sport!

Darrick: If you were stuck in the middle of a jungle with no supplies, what would be the first thing that you would do?

Andrew: I'd try to pin point my location and work from there.

Darrick: Would you eat another person to stay alive?

Andrew: No, I don't see that happening. (Laughs) I have morals, and even if I didn't, my mind set wouldn't look at a human as food. Not to mention that I wouldn't be ignorant enough to think I couldn't find food otherwise. Believe me, I have been food deprived and I know how it is to really be hungry!

Darrick: If you were born at another point in time, what time period would you prefer?

Andrew: I like my time period. (Smiles)

FOR OTHER EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS BY DARRICK PATRICK:

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=4974388&bl ogID=343519835

You can also check out Andrew Chappelle in the following places:

Official Andrew Chappelle MySpace Profile:

http://www.myspace.com/amazinga

Andrew Chappelle on Fight Finder:

http://www.sherdog.com/fightfinder/fightfinder.asp?fighterID=8070

Andrew Chappelle Photo Gallery at Sherdog.com:

http://www.sherdog.com/news/Picture_gallery.asp?f_id=8070@@Andrew%20Chappelle