Nick Honstein

Details

Category: Fighters

How did you become involved in MMA?

Some guys came into a pub I was bar tending at to promote a local MMA show and I signed up for an amateur match on the spot.

Age you started MMA?

19

Height, Weight Off-season and fight weight, DOB or AGE?

5'9" or 1.75m, 68k. Featherweight (65k) or Bantamweight (62k). 22nd of June 1987

Fighting styles you have learnt?

Wrestling, 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai

What is your current business/job/location?

I work as an instructor and MMA coach at Platinum Extreme in North Sydney.

What motivates you to fight?

I love the challenge of another well-trained martial artist looking to beat me up in public.

Your Favourite Domestic and International fighters?

I don't know a lot of Aussie fighters; but I would have to say Jai Bradney for the domestic. He actually shouted profanities at me while I was striking him in the face. That was pretty cool. My hands down favorite international fighter is "The Neo Samurai", Genki Sudo.

How has fighting changed your life?

My success in fighting has given me confidence to succeed in almost everything I do. I could write a book to answer this question, and some day I might.

People that have inspired you not only in sport but in life as well?

Thomas Jefferson, Dan Gable, and Achilles to name a few.

Great experiences that happened in your life?

The standard height for light-switches in the United States is 47 inches. I remember quite vividly the day I was tall enough to reach this height without the aid of a stool. My life has been brighter ever since!

Your Interests and Hobbies?

I have sacrificed a lot of hobbies the last couple of years to focus on my fight game. But I still find time to read, enjoy nature, and do a bit of oil painting.

One tip or quote which continues to inspire you?

First they they will ignore you Then they will laugh at you Then they will fight you Then you win. -Gandhi

Family Background and current family?

I was raised by a typical German-American family in the Midwest United States on a Rainbow Trout fish farm. I have one older brother, Chris, who indefatigably tested my self-defense skills through practical application and no doubt shaped me into the fighter I am now. My parents and brother all still live in Nebraska. I miss them and love them dearly. Here in Australia I have two adopted families. One is my Strength coach and long-time friend Anthony Arnold and his lovely wife, Maya. The other is a local band of North Sydney troublemakers that has been kind enough to accept me into their circle. -953

Happiest memory

Jumping into the Pacific ocean for the first time.

Future Goals in life?

I will be Champion of the World in the bantamweight division, or I will die trying. I would also like to make contact with an extra terrestrial at least once.

What one item can you not live without

My metal Fairtex cup

Favourite holiday destination?

Fairtex at Bangplee, Thailand

If you could have dinner with five people, who would they be?

Socrates, Timothy Leary, Ernest Hemingway, Aldous Huxley, and 50 Tyson.

What one word would you use to describe yourself?

Indescribable

Do you have a sporting mentor?

Yes, Anthony Arnold. I moved all the way across the world so that he could teach me how to train like a professional athlete and I could teach him how to play dominoes correctly. He still sucks at dominoes.

Training Background(sports, etc)?

I was raised on a wrestling mat, grappling has always been my best sport. I also played grid-iron football as a teenager. I started coaching wrestling at the age of 18 and then found Jiu-Jitsu and eventually MMA. Since then I have been diligently practicing my Muay Thai and 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu.

What is your favourite fighting style?

Unorthodox American grappling combined with vicious strikes.

Training Philosophy?

I just try to keep my feet moving and have fun. There's always things to learn, moves to improve.

Favourite Foods/Type of diet you follow?

I keep it simple and try to eat a variety of healthy foods that aren't over processed. The closer to raw the better.

Favourite Train session plus training spilt(training schedule)

Outside of live sparring and live grappling I really enjoy a good yoga session.

Describe a typical day

I wake up around 7 or 8 and listen to some music while I have a coffee and decide what I need to get done for the day. Then I usually start work around eleven. At work I'll spend 1-4 hours training clients and 2-3 hours focusing on my own training. It's always different. I get off work around 9:30 and usually go right home, read something and crash. I break the monotony occasionally with random adventures, but I typically focus on my career 7 days a week.

Worst injury you have suffered

I don't want to jinx myself but I've probably hurt my body more on my skateboard the past few years than I have fighting. I've suffered a few small surface cuts on my face and a nasty case of cauliflower ear but that's about it.

What is your favourite movie?

Snatch is my favorite. But I usually watch 300 at least once on fight week to get me pumped up.

What one lesson did you take from your parents?

My dad use to always say, "you've gotta be tough if you wanna live in the West!" I never knew what it meant but my dad is one tough dude and I've always tried to be the same even though I live on the East coast.

How do you deal with temptation?

I simply remind myself of the goals that I have to achieve and how any bad decision I'm about to make could hinder these goals.

What is your favourite music/band/song?

Modest Mouse

What is your biggest fear?

Failing

Do you believe "never giving up" is the difference between making it and not making it in any sport?

It's definitely a fundamental rule to follow. The sad truth is, it's really hard to "make it" in most sports and usually takes natural talent combined with years of focus and hard work.

Have you ever failed at anything? If yes how did you overcome this?

I have failed miserably at lots of things. Life is full of setbacks; success is determined by how you deal with them.

What inspired you to succeed?

At the end of the day I've always just wanted to make my parents proud. I try

What did you want to be as a kid growing up?

Batman

Who has been your greatest rival?

It's shaping up to be Richie Vas. We have both been burning through the Australian featherweight division and are now scheduled to face each other in February. There's no animosity between us or anything but we both want the unofficial title of "Baddest little dude in Sydney." It should make for an excellent match!

Who would you like to compete against?

I don't normally seek out fighters specifically. I'm happy with matching up against whoever promoters put in front of me.

Fights you have competed in and titles you have won?

I have had 10 amateur matches (9-1) and 18 professional matches (14-4). I won the amateur Kickdown Bantamweight title (Denver). As a professional I have earned 4 titles so far;Kickdown Featherweight (Denver)Rocky Mountain Bad Boyz Bantamweight (Denver)Tuffa Featherweight (Central Coast)Brace for War! Featherweight (Townsville)

Future fights planned?

I will take on Gustavo Falciroli early December for the CFC title. I will also take on Richie Vas in mid February for the Proud Warrior title.

What title would you like to win?

All of them. I want a monopoly on the Australian featherweight and bantamweight divisions.

People you would like to thank?

All of my coaches that have helped so much and gotten back so little. Anthony Arnold, Richie Cranny, Will Ellis, Ben Schissler and Scott Stoltenberg to name a few.

Anything further you would like to add?

My web site will be up soon with anything else you may want to know about me. www.QuickNickHonstein.com

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