PRESENTS
AN INTERVIEW WITH
NOV / 2007
Martialforce.com: When did you begin studying martial arts and who is/was your instructor?
MATT FLORES: Before I started my formal training in martial arts I was in wrestling from Junior high school throughout high school. With wrestling I believe I learned a great deal about balance, conditioning, and close contact reference one on one grappling. I initially began studying martial arts in 1995, at Royce Gracie’s Academy in Torrance. I stayed at there for a few months then began training with a Brazilian black belt named Pedro Carvalho at his school in Rancho Cucamonga. Pedro is very knowledgeable, and an excellent instructor. I learned a great deal with him over the years and was awarded my purple belt from him. I currently train with a black belt named Rodrigo Teixeira; at his school in Walnut Ca. Rodrigo is Pedro’s younger brother. Rodrigo is one of the best instructors by far that I have ever trained with. His teaching techniques are second to none. Not only does he teach the traditional moves utilizing the Gi, but also strongly focuses on no Gi fighting, which for me as a police officer is essential.
Martialforce.com: Who was your
biggest influence in your study?
MATT FLORES: I would have to say that Royce Gracie initially sparked my interest into the martial arts. After seeing him compete in the U.F.C. I was shocked to see how effective and complete his families fighting style was. After learning more about his family history and all the great fighters in his family I became even more intrigued. Before watching him on the U.F.C. I had never even heard of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I think when his family came to America and exposed the art; they made a major impact on the entire martial arts community.
Martialforce.com: What is your opinion about mixed Martial arts in comparison to traditional?
MATT FLORES: With mixed martial arts one is taking certain effective techniques from many different styles to become a well-rounded fighter. When I am referring to a mixed martial artist I’m speaking in terms of a cage fighter or UFC style fighter. A mixed martial artist must cover all of the aspects of fighting, from stand up to the ground. There are no katas, no forms no weapons training it’s just straight fighting until submission. With traditional arts there is a different approach to training. With the idea of more then just beating your opponent, with traditional arts there is also the mastery of forms, weapons, fighting multiple opponents, and of course the tradition and spiritual aspects that I feel mixed martial arts does not have.
Martialforce.com: Your are a Police Officer, has your Martial Arts training helped you in your profession?
MATT FLORES: As a Police Officer, martial arts training I believe is essential. If you depend strictly on your weapons to defend yourself you are going to be in for a rude awakening if someone takes you down or gets a hold of you. I feel that it has made me a more confident Officer and obviously more capable of taking care of myself against an aggressive suspect. You learn after being on the job that suspect(s) are always sizing you up.
Having the confidence knowing that you can defend yourself I believe is important to any officer. For me as an officer Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has been an art that has definitely been good for me. Most of our confrontations end up going to the ground or we are trying to take the suspect(s) to the ground to gain control and effect an arrest.
With Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, its strength is fighting in all positions on the ground, as well as having effective takedowns. Of course there are a number of different arts that would work just as well but my preference has been jiu jitsu.
Martialforce.com: Do you cross
train reference weights and Cardio and do you feel that this helps at all in
your Martial Arts?
MATT FLORES: I train both with weights and cardio. I think both are very important. As for me I’m only 5-7 and 170 pounds I’m a relatively small person. Working out with weights gives me an opportunity to become strong and solid. Cardio training will obviously help one fight longer periods of time without become too exhausted. Exhaustion can be a major factor, which can determine if one is going to win a fight. If you get too tired you start to lose technique and you become sloppy. In my case as a police officer, if I chase someone for a long distance, with the thirty pounds of added equipment which I carry on my duty belt, if I’m not able to fight once I catch the suspect, then It could be my very life on the line. Of course with either a mixed martial arts fight or a traditional tournament, your life is not on the line but the conditioning could be the difference between winning and losing.
Martialforce.com: Do you think children should be involved in training and if so, at what age and why?
MATT FLORES: I think that children at a certain age should be given the opportunity to learn martial arts. I think that it should be of an age where they would understand the teachings and the tradition of the art. Children can learn a great deal about, discipline, coordination confidence, and the ability to defend themselves if need be.
Martialforce.com: Is there anyone else in your family involved in Martial Arts training?
MATT FLORES: Both of my brothers study martial arts. My brother Michael studies Choy Li Fut, a fighting style from southern China. He studied at Chu’s Martial Arts in Houston Texas under Sifu Paul Chu. My brother Manuel studied Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Pedro Carvalho.
Martialforce.com: What are your thoughts on cage fighting reference entertainment value and the training that goes with getting in the octagon?
MATT FLORES: I think that cage fighting is more popular than ever. In fact I believe that it has surpassed boxing as far as entertainment value. People love to watch two people enter the octagon or cage and fight to submission. Because cage fighting incorporates all the aspects of fighting, kicking, punching, and grappling, it’s more popular because it’s more realistic. It’s almost comparable to two gladiators fighting. As far as the training involved, the fighters must be well rounded but also strong and well conditioned. I highly respect anyone who fights or trains to fight in any cage fighting competition.
Martialforce.com: Can you tell us what your average day of working out consists of?
MATT FLORES: I try to lift weights at least five times a week, mostly for strength. I train in Jiu jitsu at least three days a week. Two of the days I train with a Gi and the last day I’ll train without a Gi to work specifically on techniques for the street. My Jiu jitsu training includes at least four to five minute sparring matches, which helps maintain my endurance. I also like to run at least three times a week. Being a police officer, I also like to train with my duty belt on because I think its important to remind myself that weapon retention is very important. With my handgun and several other weapons on my belt I have to keep constantly aware that if I’m involved in a fight on the ground, a suspect could potentially take them away and use them against me.
Martialforce.com: Reference your Law Enforcement career, is this something you enjoy or just happen to fall upon?
MATT FLORES: From a young age I’ve always wanted to be a police officer. I respected Police Officers highly and looked up to them. It sounds cliché but I wanted to make a difference and positive impact on people’s lives. After doing the job for several years, I feel that I have accomplished that.
Martialforce.com: Where do you see yourself in 10 years with your training and police work?
MATT FLORES: I definitely see myself continuing to train in martial arts. It’s a passion for me. I would one day like to become an instructor at my Jiu Jitsu school and also a weaponless defense instructor for police officers. I think it’s an honorable position to be able to teach a person how to protect himself or herself and give them the confidence they need to survive an aggressive attack.
Martialforce.com:
Police work is dangerous, what does your wife think about your career?
MATT FLORES: My wife Daisy, is my strength, she stands by me no matter what. She knows the dangers involved in Police work, and I know deep down inside she worries, but she knows how much I love the job and she accepts that. She is the type of person who sticks by me through thick and thin and never falters.
Martialforce.com: Do you see your Martial Arts training as lifelong?
MATT FLORES: I think I will train in martial arts as long as I have a breath in my body and the strength to continue.
Eddie Morales: I have known Matt Flores for over ten years; his technique can match any Black Belt and far surpass many. He has a no-nonsense approach to training and his dedication is unquestionable. We at Martialforce.com are proud to present such an outstanding example of the word Martial Artist in the true sense. Matt is a gentlemen in his daily life but his tenacity shines when he gets on the training floor.
Matt Flores, good luck in your endeavors and thank you for this interview.