KMA-Kirik, you are very active in the martial arts. You run the biggest
online martial arts forum on the internet, you own a gym and you also
help out with the NAGA competition in Hawaii. Am I missing anything
here?

Kirik-We recently expanded our efforts on the Net, acquiring maXfighting.com for news, IslandMartialArts.com for instructional DVDs, and we are in negotiation with a company to stream fights. We are betting the sport is at the beginning of a major upsurge.


KMA-Why do you think the Underground forum on www.mma.tv has become so popular?

Kirik-The forum was basically an afterthought when we first opened, as SubmissionFighting.com (there was even a predecessor to that on aol, called The Sport of NHB Fighting). The one thing I understood was that I was not smart enough to understand what was going on, so I tried to be as open as possible to whatever people seemed interested in. So the popularity of the page is I think due to the fact that the members guided its form. I am just not smart enough to, unfortunately.


KMA-Do you feel MMA fans are tougher on fighters than lets say basket-ball fans on their stars?

Kirik-A few years back I was dating a woman who was a professional horse trainer. At one point I checked out the message boards for horse people. Some breeds are very expensive, a game for the rich basically, and ever there people were ranting at each other online –
“YAH well, you eat poopie on the roof.”
“No, you are dookie head.”
On and on in that vein.

It actually made me feel better! I figured MMA fans online were about average, whereas before, I was a little worried about some of them.


KMA-The NAGA tournaments seem to be run exceptionally well. The referee's seem to be fair and unbiased, matches seem to go by efficiently. I remember Kipp Kollar mentioning that Hawaii was one of his favorite places to hold a tournament because the contestants showed great sportsmanship unlike other places. Is this true or does he say that in every city he goes to?

Kirik-Thanks for the kind words about the reffing. A number of us have been reffing for 10 years, many times per year, and hopefully, at our best, it shows.   Kipp does not say that in every place, believe me!

Hawaii is one of the best places on Earth to throw a tournament, because it is one of the best places on Earth. But as much it is a great experience, because the competitors are remarkably intense, and at the same time, never take it to a personal level – they will go from fighting like tigers to a big, smiling hug as time is called.

KMA-What do you think of the MMA scene in Hawaii?

Kirik-Per capita, Hawaii has the best competitors of anywhere I have ever been. I have reffed, cornered, judged, competed, or spectated in at least 20 states, and there is no question what so ever in my mind that person for person, Hawaii is #1.

KMA-Have you ever been to Kauai?

Kirik-It is funny you mention that as when we come back in Feb, we are going to take a night there. On the subject of NAGA Hawaii, if anyone has any ideas about places to hold the show, please email me at Kirik@mma.tv

KMA-Anything else you would like to say to the martial arts fans in Hawaii?

Yah, it is a honor to visit - you are the best.