Gina Carano Fan Experience: In This Corner…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Growing up, I wasn’t an athlete. I always considered myself an average girl. It wasn’t until high-school that I found out that I loved entertaining people through dance and theatre classes. 

It was the summer after I turned 17 and graduated. I auditioned for The Phoenix Suns Dance Squad. I remember practicing so hard to make it on the team. All of the girls were so beautiful; I started to lose confidence. Even though I had the skill, I didn’t shine in the audition. At that point in my life, I started to hate myself. I hated the way I looked and how short I was. Everything put me through a depression.

A month later everything changed. Watching one of Gina Carano’s fights for the first time left me speechless. It was the StrikeForce Women’s Featherweight Title fight against Cris Cyborg. Even though she lost, she just seemed so superhuman to me. I was at loss for words. I just wanted to see more of her. I watched all I could until I was exhausted for school the next day. Every video I watched made me say, ” Gosh, I want to be like her.” She inspired me so much that I questioned myself thinking, “Why not… why not give it a shot?” Don’t get me wrong, I was terrified of fighting. I had never gotten into a fight or even hit anyone, and the next thing I know, I’m stepping foot into a Muay Thai Gym. 

Just the sound of “Muay Thai” was intimidating. I didn’t know what to expect. The coach was a little man from Thailand. He gave me my first pair of pink boxing gloves and red Muay Thai shorts. After changing clothes, I remember looking in the mirror and thinking, “I can’t believe I’m here right now!” I then tried to pump myself up, thinking “Okay, be like Gina, be like Gina.” Walking out of the bathroom, the coach said, “Oh good, you look like a fighter now.” By the end of the class, I fell in love with it; I was so excited. 

It lit a whole new fire inside me. The girl who had once hated herself now had confidence. 

I wanted to learn everything, every: punch, kick, knee and elbow. I would then watch Gina’s training footage and try to mimic her combos by shadow boxing in the hallway of my house and in front of my dresser mirror. I felt the urge to kick everything when I was at work and school, just because I finally knew how to. I became so obsessed with the sport and the culture, that it turned into a way of life for me. By Gina inspiring me to get out of my little box and try something new, my whole world changed in such a small amount of time.

After only 8 months of training, I dropped out of college to prepare for my first smoker fight at Master Toddy’s gym in Las Vegas. I lost the fight by split decision. Even though smokers don’t count on any record, losing made me learn and grow into the fighter I am today. After that, I trained so hard and pushed my body and mind, surpassing my limits.  I quit school, my two jobs bagging groceries, and working at a sports bar. I sacrificed relationships, giving up going out with friends because of my dream.

 

 

    
I’ve been doing Muay Thai for two years, & have 2 title belts in the 105lb. Atom-Weight Division for the State of Arizona, & the 105lb South-West Regional Title from The United States Muay Thai Association. I came a long way in a short amount of time, and it all started because of being inspired by Gina.

There is nothing more rewarding than accomplishing a seemingly impossible goal. My journey of becoming a Muay Thai Fighter is just getting started. I am still a student with alot to learn. One of my goals is to go to Thailand, and experience what it is like to live, train and fight out an authentic Muay Thai camp, and learn more about the culture. In the next 5 years, I hope to become a world champion, inspiriting others like Gina Carano did, and they can in-turn share their “Gina Carano/Athena Austin story”. Even though she may not be fighting now, she is still someone I will look up to and thank throughout my journey. I think it is amazing that she is in the movies now because it shows just how many doors can open through hard work and dedication.

     Through this journey,  I have met wonderful people who’ve shared my dream. So, I’d like to give special thanks to all the training partners and coaches I’ve ever worked with, my amazing parents, my boyfriend who shares the same love for Muay Thai as I do, and my friends who support me 100% and never want to miss a fight. you all have helped me become the fighter I am today.    – Athena Austin 

 

 

Official Fast and Furious 6 trailer – extended 1st look video & Superbowl spot

 @ginacarano: “flips and tricks with #fast6″ (click for full pic @ twitter)

(credit: swinjen & AMC)

Gina Carano at Superbowl 47 weekend – pics & videos, interview with ESPN & USA Today (*updated 02-05)

Gina Carano promoting Under Armour gear at Superbowl 47 weekend in New Orleans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  CLICK HERE for more candid pics.         

                    (credit: Paul877, swinjen, & Andrey) 

ESPN’s Lynn Hoppes – “Fast & Furious 6” is getting a lot of buzz. What was it like on the set for you? 

Gina: “It was a great time watching all these people I grew up watching in movies my whole life. I got to see them in action and see all their different styles and personalities. It was interesting watching them either mesh together or not mesh together! It was really cool. Movies being made is a miracle.“

– You’ve been working a lot lately, with a handful of movies under your belt. I hear you have another one in the can as a starring role also coming out this year? 

“That’s ‘In the Blood,’ about me tracking down my kidnapped husband. That was a quick shoot for director John Stockwell. It was one of the most extreme things I’ve done in my life. I had to zipline. I had never ziplined before. And the first time I’m doing it I have someone hanging on me swinging and screaming. It was the coolest and hardest thing I’ve ever done.”

– You’ve starred in a few projects, but what’s the latest on the female version of “The “Expendables”?

“There are several in development now and it’s all about getting the right people and who’s going to be first to the production. You have to get the right cast. It’s a competition right now.”

Speaking of competition, do you ever think of getting back in the ring? 

“I am always training, because I love it. But I would have to train specifically with a fight in my mind. That hasn’t entered my mind yet. I’m just preoccupied with my next project. I want to grow in this space. It’s really challenging for me. It’s attractive to me. Not like fighting isn’t. But it’s emotionally painful to act. You want to get better even after people smash you down. You want to be better than you were before.” 

– Do you think you were ahead of your time? Now female mixed martial arts is really coming into its own with the arrival of superstar Ronda Rousey. 

“I love what’s happening now. I love that Ronda came along and revamped the sport, and she brought it back. It broke my heart when it fell apart a few years ago. It was kind of hard when I was fighting, because people were saying, ‘Who are you going to fight now? What are you going to do now?’ I would love to be a part of it now. When I watch UFC, it’s still my dream to fight. I’m so happy that it’s happening for the women. I feel like I was a part of the beginning of it.” 

– You’ve always tried to stay in shape, and now you’re working with Under Armour on a project for women called “What’s Beautiful.” What does that mean for you to inspire women to get into shape? 

“We’re all given gifts. You shouldn’t be greedy. You should feel good about yourself and not be greedy of what other people have. It’s a constant battle for everybody, but you need to be happy with yourself.” 

– Are you happy now? 

“It’s been a struggle, but I’m growing into a person I’ve always wanted to be. If you’re bad to yourself, you’re going to feel bad. You have to treat yourself better to start to feel better. I think it’s people’s mentality that slips when it comes to getting into shape. If you allow your mentality to be healthier, I think it’ll help you out. Too many people get stressed out.” 

– So it’s time for you to take a break, right? 

“I’m just returning to Los Angeles to think about what’s ahead. I finally got a break. I didn’t think my mixed martial arts world would end the way it did [failing a prefight medical exam before her final match]. I was just taking opportunities in the off-times, and that took me in this direction. I’m grateful. I’m trying to better myself. I don’t want to be a person with a short-term career who just went from sports to the movies on a whim. I want something different. As long as I can be artistic, I’ll be good. I think the shock factor is good to keep people interested.“

(source: Lynn Hoppes / ESPN.COM)

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