Todd Medina contributed in the early days of NHB in the United States by representing Bruce Lee's art of Jeet Kune Do. Even though most of the successful fighters currently follow Lee's cross training philosophy of JKD, not many fighters have come out to represent JKD. Medina improved his grappling skills by joining the Carlson Gracie team. Since then he has never turned down a fight, even when the fights were right after each other. Medina is definitely out there to make a statement, fighting anyone that is standing across from him. I caught up with Medina right after the Warriors Quest, where he fought local star, Niko Vitale.

FCF: Tell us your thoughts going into the fight? Did you know anything about Niko Vitale?
Todd Medina: Not really. Not too much. I actually saw about 2 minutes of a fight of his. He is a tough kid. For that one [fight], I just didn't put that much [training] into it. I give him props though, the kid is good.

FCF: You were definitely caught off-guard by him. Please the go over the fight with Vitale.
TM: I just did not do enough training for it. That fight actually did me a lot of good. I didn't really train for it. I was on crutches up until the day of the fight. I'm still on crutches right now. But the Japanese came in today and a big article came out before that fight and because of the fact that I still fought, even being on crutches like that, I got hooked up in Japan like crazy. I know that he [Vitale] is going to do real well. He's a tough kid.

FCF: What's the story on your injury? How did you get injured? And how long were you injured?
TM: I got hit by a car last year and just trained. I got some big guys, like 320, 290, and 300lbs and it really took a toll. And then it [his leg] really died on me. It was difficult to train.

FCF: Were you rushing your injury and over doing it?
TM: Yeah, just training hard on it.

FCF: Let's go back to when we first saw you. I don't know how much people remember that you were the first and, in my recollection, the only fighter to represent Bruce Lee's art of Jeet Kune Do. When did you start training in JKD and whom did you study under?
TM: Kenny Gabrielson. It was '93 or '94.

FCF: JKD is in theory, made for NHB. What pushed you to compete?
TM: I saw the first UFC and I didn't know that you could make a living fighting. Back in the day, Kimo [Leopoldo, who gave Royce Gracie the fight of his life in UFC 3] and I used to do a lot of security and body guard work and it's something that people just brought to us. People came to talk to us, like the promoters of the UFC and it kind of took off from that.

FCF: So you were actually training with Kimo before you both entered the UFC?
TM: Yeah, way back then. Him and I used to do some crazy stuff back then. [laughs]

FCF: He got into the UFC before you did. Did he get you into the UFC or did you both plan to enter and he just got in there first?
TM: Actually, he got the jump on it first. I don't really remember why, maybe family problems or something like that.

FCF: Now you train in and represent Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. When did you start training in BJJ? I take it you started training in BJJ with Ken Gabrielson?
TM: Yeah, he's one of Reylson's [Gracie] black belts.

FCF: When did you move over to Carlson?
TM: Like 5 or 6 years ago. I met him because I was training with Allan [Goes] a little bit at his school and Wallid [Ismael] and Carlao [Barreto] were fighting in Japan, the same time I was and we kind of ran into each other at Allan's academy. And they said, "hey, come and train with us." So I did and I just hit it off with everyone on the team, Victor and I are really close, so that helped out a lot.

FCF: Was it out of convenience or coincidence that you choose to train under Carlson?
TM: It was kind of like fate. It was weird because I definitely knew who they were when I actually got to train with them. It was a big idol thing. Nothing to take away from Kenny [Gabrielson], but when I started training with those guys, it was a completely different sport or art, whatever you want to call it. They just had some crazy technique, like steel sharpening steel.

FCF: Since we are on the subject, what are your thoughts about a lot of the top Carlson team getting expelled or leaving and forming the Brazilian Top Team?
TM: I think for those guys it's good because the problem was that Carlson had so much guys on the team that he wasn't with one particular guy for any length of time, so they weren't getting the training that they needed. The fact that they had to pay a certain amount to Carlson and Carlson was not there wasn't fair. All those guys training together and not having to give Carlson a percentage is more beneficial for them.

FCF: How are things working out with you and Carlson? Is he spending enough time with you?
TM: I only see him every couple of months. I have a new team coming from Japan that is helping me out. In fact, right after I came back from Hawaii, I had these two Japanese gentlemen over here.

FCF: Do you want to share who they are?
TM: I can't. It's sort of like…

FCF: Ancient Japanese Secret?
TM: Yeah. [laughs] They have taken everything over for me. I have those two Japanese guys. I have a strength coach. I have a conditioning coach, a dietician, all this crazy stuff. I'm excited. They don't want me fighting anytime soon. They're doing all this crazy stuff.

FCF: Are they training you, letting you heal up and basically producing a "new" Todd Medina?
TM: Yeah. They are just going over some crazy new techniques. I am looking at it as more of a business now, instead of going, "hey, you want to fight? Sure, I'll fight." They are going to take care of all that stuff for me now.

FCF: So they act as your manager too?
TM: Yup, everything, management, training, diet, how I spend my money, where I spend it, who I hang out with, everything.

FCF: Why did you start representing BJJ exclusively when the JKD concept guys openly state that you should study Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
TM: It's still JKD and there is still stuff that works, but there is an awful lot that doesn't work. I felt more comfortable with Carlson's style because he makes all his guys box. I started bringing in a lot more leg submissions and wrestling, he still does a little wrestling, but it is more like Jiu-Jitsu and boxing. Wrestling and leg submissions worked better with my style, I think.

FCF: Your perception may be a little different than the average BJJ practitioner because you started studying BJJ as a fighter. What advice can you give BJJ guys who are interested in fighting in NHB?
TM: To get rid of the sport Jiu-Jitsu aspect of it. You got to turn it into a fight. You need to cross train a lot. There are some great, great sport Jiu-Jitsu guys out there, but they don't cross train. You definitely need to cross train.

FCF: How has your view on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu changed over the years from your perspective?
TM: The majority of them are very one-dimensional. When I first got into it, I thought Jiu-Jitsu is the best…and it is the best, single martial art. Not all, but a lot of them are really closed minded. First I thought it was the best and it still is the best, but you need to bring in other tools into Jiu-Jitsu.

FCF: So now you are going to stay out of fighting and let your body heal up. When are we going to see you back in the ring?
TM: Six months to a year.

FCF: Wow. During this time are you just going to train or teach too?
TM: I have got some really good guys. Like right now I have the world's strongest fighter, so I am trying to get these guys going right now.

FCF: Who is the world's strongest fighter?
TM: Jimmy Ambriz. He's like 6'2" and like 320lbs.

FCF: What is he a strongman competitor or something?
TM: Yeah, he's crazy strong. He squats 1,000lbs and benches like 700lbs. He's a wrestler. The thing is, is he is really, really cool. Man, that guy is really low-key, but he can really lay it on.

FCF: Finally, you previously had the nickname "El Tiburon" and now The Shark? And how did you get that name? And what does it mean?
TM: It just means the shark in Spanish. [So much for my Spanish.] I grew up in Santa Anna, it's kind of like the L.A. of Orange County. It's kind of a hard place to grow up. You know what? I don't know how I got that stinkin' nickname. I know that your looking for a story behind it, but there isn't one. [laughs]

FCF: Is it just from when you were a kid and someone called you that one time?
TM: Yeah, I guess. I was the little, skinny kid growing up down there and I would, unfortunately fight a lot, because I was the small guy. So for whatever reason, I guess they call me El Tiburon.

FCF: Do you have anything that you want to add?
TM: I would just like to thank God for all that he's done. I appreciate every single thing. I want to thank my friends and family too.

FCF: Thank you for your time and it was good meeting you at the fight.
TM: Thank you very much. I appreciate it.