Landry Lynne Interview

The old saying is "You can't judge a book by it's cover". Want proof that that saying is correct? Look no further than Landry Lynne. You may say she "is too cute to fight" or "she should be modeling not grappling". But Landry has done a few grappling tournaments and plans to eventually fight in MMA. But she is being smart about it. She isn't rushing into the cage. She knows she has more to learn and will do it when the time is right. And I have every reason to believe she will be a success. So anyone who says she is too cute to fight, I dare you to get on the mat with her.

Q: Before you started training Jiu-Jitsu, would you say you were athletic or play any sports?
A: Yeah, my whole life I played sports and everything. I played soccer for fourteen years, and swam, and tennis, basketball and baseball. A little bit of everything. So I've always been active and have tried to stay active and everything.

Q: What initially got you interested in Jiu-Jitsu?
A: A couple of my friends were fighters and training and everything. Me and my friend decided to try it out just for something different. Just cause I work8am to 5pm now and I didn't have anything that kept my interest. I don't like going to a gym and just running on a treadmill. So I tried it out and kept doing it.

Q: Was it particularly hard at first or did you pick it up pretty quick?
A: I am used to being athletic and doing pretty well at everything like soccer and that stuff. It was tough for me but that made me want to stay in it and challenge myself. It was a big challenge for me and obviously still is.

Q: If you could single out one part of it that you could say is the best part of doing it, is there that one thing?
A: I think the best part would be, its like mediation and therapy for me. It gets my brain off of everything else and daily life. You have a bad day or good day and you go to the gym and it wipes everything clean. It sets my mind at ease eve though it is a challenge. Its good for my brain I guess.

Q: How long did you train before your first tournament?
A: Probably about, a little under a year I think it was.

Q: What made you decide to start doing grappling tournaments?
A: I kind of wanted to take it to the next level I guess. Instead of just doing it for fun, I wanted more of a challenge for myself and see where I stood. It's a pretty quick learning lesson when you are in there with people who take it 100 percent serious. I wasn't there my first one or the second one, but its a learning lesson and its great to challenge and see where you stand and how you progress. I have progressed from each match. I am not where I want to be but its good to see that and feel whats going on.

Q: You are obviously attractive. Do you think people see that and maybe not take you serious?
A: Oh absolutely. Just the fact that I'm a girl I think. Even my friends still kind of make fun of me cause they don't understand what Jiu-Jitsu or training or anything is. So they are like "Yeah, you can't do anything", but that puts fuel in the fire and makes me want to do even better.

Q: Do you plan to eventually compete in MMA?
A: Yeah i would absolutely love to. I know it takes a lot of hard work and dedication, but its in my plans. I don't know when, but I would like to.

Q: Do you train in anything else right now besides Jiu-Jitsu?
A: Well I just switched gyms and was on a six months leave from everything and just got back into training. But I do train kickboxing, Jiu-Jitsu, the whole nine yards. So I am active in it all.

Q: Do you have any kind of time frame for when you would like to fight?
A: I wish I could put a time frame on it but I don't want to eat my words. Whenever I am ready my coaches, I would trust their judgment. But sooner rather than later, but I want to be prepared.

Q: When people first find out you train for combat sports, are they surprised?
A: Yeah, I guess maybe by my looks or something, I don't know. They dont even think I am athletic to begin with. So they are shocked, surprised and don't believe me. Its kind of fun to play around with.

Q: Sometimes I interview females and they say their parents where worried about them getting hit in the face at first. Is that a problem you experience?
A: Yeah. I am their youngest to begin with so I am the baby of the family. But they know I am a little rough around the edges I guess. They are ok with it now. They have been around the sport for awhile and understand its not just two people hitting each other in the face. They are still nervous I guess. I guess any parents would be. They came to terms with it.

Q: Are you an MMA fan in general, watch it on tv?
A: Yeah, every chance I get. I was always into boxing, then my friends got me into MMA a few years ago. So every chance I get to go to fights and support people I know and learn from people.

Q: Are there any specific fighters you are a fan of?
A: Of course I love watching the girls. Jessica Eye is a huge name and I look up to her.

Q: Do you have any short term goals, fighting, improving, anything?
A: Short term goals..... I would like to get my butt in a couple more competitions and then kickboxing.

Q: Say five years from now, where do you see yourself?
A: I would like to have a couple fights by then, but nothing specific. Just see where it goes.

Q: Before we finish, anyone you want to thank or mention?
A: I just started at Next Level Martial Arts and thank them for welcoming me and making me part of the family.