At this point the word "Amazon" has lost its power under the crushing weight of discounted books, cheap DVDs, and all the other crap sold online, but there's a woman out there who's taking the name back: Amazon of Extreme Chickfights.
Extreme Chickfights is an independent DVD series that collects ultimate fighting-type battles between some very burly women. Still very much an underground phenomenon, matches are organized in small gyms and backyards in California, and the fights are fast moving and very brutal. I had a chance to talk with Extreme Chickfights champion Amazon about their DVD releases.
Buy the DVD of Extreme Chickfights
Daniel Robert Epstein: Is this sport really called Extreme Chickfights?
Amazon: It is definitely Extreme Chickfights. It is derivative of what Ultimate Fighting is for men. You dont normally see women do this and in that effect it is sensitive and extreme.
DRE: How long have you been involved in it?
A: Pretty much from the beginning of the fights. Not from its birthing but it has been a few years.
DRE: How did you get involved?
A: A friend of mine told me about it and I just went and said Yeah, youre damn right. I want to do that.
DRE: What were you doing before that?
A: I worked in the entertainment industry. I do stunts, modeling, acting, as well as production work.
DRE: I did see a picture of you wearing makeup for a horror movie.
A: That was for a spec commercial for the SciFi Channel. I was a stunt zombie actress person.
DRE: Were you a champ right away in Extreme Chickfights?
A: I am fortunate enough to be a champ but it wasnt immediate.
DRE: So even though the sport is very underground, it isnt illegal.
A: No, not at all. I dont think theyd put the DVDs out if they were but you never know. But we mostly advertise through word of mouth. We get a big response from fighters as well as audience members.
DRE: On the first DVD you have one fight with a women Juicy. It seemed pretty brutal, what was it like for you?
A: Nothing is ever typical with this. You go in there as prepared as you can. You have your own game plan but you also have to have another game plan in case that one falls through. But I still came out with a win.
DRE: Were you badly hurt after that fight?
A: She scratched the shit out of me. I was so mad. Check your nails. I had to put rubbing alcohol on and you know what happens on open wounds and alcohol, say no more.
DRE: So shes allowed to scratch you?
A: Well, it wasnt discussed because usually girls have proper grooming. You just go there and you take whatever comes. Sometimes you just dont know. I think I had an advantage because I played rugby for so many years where I went up against much bigger girls than Juicy. It allowed me to do a weight variation in the way I came at her in order to make sure that I could get the job done.
DRE: So you dont do makeup or costumes for this sport?
A: No, at this point Im just a fighter and a referee if they need me.
DRE: Do you feel like youre developing a character the way they do in pro wrestling?
A: I am a character. Its all developing around me [laughs].
DRE: I was hesitant to do this interview just because the word chick doesnt make a lot of people happy. Do you look at what youre doing as any kind of feminist act?
A: It does give women a platform to stand up on their own and know that they can fight. Every woman almost every day deals with crazy shit on the streets but you just never publicize it because women are dainty. Theyre not supposed to do that. I look at it as empowering to other women but also empowering to me because we all need help. Unfortunately some women have been molested and had atrocities happen to them to where they lost their way. So whatever can help them propel themselves to the level where they are confident and then they can realize they dont need anyone to help them. I definitely want to be a part of that.
DRE: What would you say to someone that thinks Extreme Chickfights exploits women?
A: Women exploit themselves. If women didnt want to do it then they wouldnt. If you dont like it, dont do it. You dont like someone else doing it, dont watch. That is your option. That is your opinion. If you dont like it, get the hell out of the room. If you want to make money, this is a way to make money. This is a way to get clout and this is a way for women to feel good about themselves. So just stand back because youre blocking the good energy.
DRE: Do you guys get a large female audience at the actual matches?
A: Since Im a fighter, I dont see the audiences faces a lot of the time.
DRE: Could there ever be sport where men fight women?
A: I think that would open up too many dark doors because too many women have dealt with that to really want to watch and enjoy it unless that woman was beating that mans ass.
DRE: Would you ever want to fight a man in your weight class?
A: If its an even match and an awesome competition, then yes I think women would be interested in seeing it. For me, Ill stick to fighting women. Id rather see some sci-fi movie than that.
DRE: Do you ever see Extreme Chickfights becoming less of an underground thing and becoming a spectacle like Ultimate Fighting?
A: I hope so. We have everything else. You can watch martial arts. You can watch extreme stuff on TV with guys. But Im done. Im sick and tired of watching guys. There are women out there. Theyve trained for many years in different martial arts variations. Theyve got skills. Lets see what they can do.
DRE: Is being in these fighting matches much different from when you play sports?
A: The energy is definitely different because when youre playing other sports youre not really trying to rip somebodys head off. Youre not trying to block a blow or a kick and theres no one trying to hit you in the kidneys when youre on the floor.
DRE: How often do you have a match?
A: At least once a month.
DRE: Where do they take place?
A: Mostly in California but theyre trying to branch out.
DRE: Would you eventually like this to become your full time thing or is it too dangerous?
A: Everything is too dangerous. All it takes is a microorganism and youre dead. Id like to see this rise to the heights that this company would like to take it and I want to be there all the way.
DRE: I was watching that game show Identity last night and you appeared on it! Im very fascinated with that particular game show. How did you get involved with that?
A: I just went in and I was one of the few fortunate ones that actually played my cards right and I ended up on a great show.
DRE: Did you make up that line you said when they guessed your identity?
A: They help you. I had one other one but that felt better at the last minute.
DRE: Where did you grow up?
A: Mostly in Long Beach California.
DRE: Were you always tough?
A: Oh man, I popped out of my moms belly and ran five miles.
DRE: Were you into martial arts or weight training?
A: Gymnastics was my first sport ever. From training with that I got into weights. With all the sports I played I always lettered. I played volleyball, I did track and field and broke records at my school. I love all sports.
DRE: How did you get into working on movies?
A: I started out modeling with a gentleman who had a company that sold exotic wares and they wanted to do movies. But the deal was that they had to use the same models. I love the whole atmosphere of making movies. I just ate it up and kept doing it.
DRE: Have you heard of SuicideGirls before?
A: Im sorry to say I have not.
DRE: Its like Playboy for punks.
A: Woo! Sign me up! Im so ready. Im a single lesbian and Im ready to meet some ladies!
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
Extreme Chickfights is an independent DVD series that collects ultimate fighting-type battles between some very burly women. Still very much an underground phenomenon, matches are organized in small gyms and backyards in California, and the fights are fast moving and very brutal. I had a chance to talk with Extreme Chickfights champion Amazon about their DVD releases.
Buy the DVD of Extreme Chickfights
Daniel Robert Epstein: Is this sport really called Extreme Chickfights?
Amazon: It is definitely Extreme Chickfights. It is derivative of what Ultimate Fighting is for men. You dont normally see women do this and in that effect it is sensitive and extreme.
DRE: How long have you been involved in it?
A: Pretty much from the beginning of the fights. Not from its birthing but it has been a few years.
DRE: How did you get involved?
A: A friend of mine told me about it and I just went and said Yeah, youre damn right. I want to do that.
DRE: What were you doing before that?
A: I worked in the entertainment industry. I do stunts, modeling, acting, as well as production work.
DRE: I did see a picture of you wearing makeup for a horror movie.
A: That was for a spec commercial for the SciFi Channel. I was a stunt zombie actress person.
DRE: Were you a champ right away in Extreme Chickfights?
A: I am fortunate enough to be a champ but it wasnt immediate.
DRE: So even though the sport is very underground, it isnt illegal.
A: No, not at all. I dont think theyd put the DVDs out if they were but you never know. But we mostly advertise through word of mouth. We get a big response from fighters as well as audience members.
DRE: On the first DVD you have one fight with a women Juicy. It seemed pretty brutal, what was it like for you?
A: Nothing is ever typical with this. You go in there as prepared as you can. You have your own game plan but you also have to have another game plan in case that one falls through. But I still came out with a win.
DRE: Were you badly hurt after that fight?
A: She scratched the shit out of me. I was so mad. Check your nails. I had to put rubbing alcohol on and you know what happens on open wounds and alcohol, say no more.
DRE: So shes allowed to scratch you?
A: Well, it wasnt discussed because usually girls have proper grooming. You just go there and you take whatever comes. Sometimes you just dont know. I think I had an advantage because I played rugby for so many years where I went up against much bigger girls than Juicy. It allowed me to do a weight variation in the way I came at her in order to make sure that I could get the job done.
DRE: So you dont do makeup or costumes for this sport?
A: No, at this point Im just a fighter and a referee if they need me.
DRE: Do you feel like youre developing a character the way they do in pro wrestling?
A: I am a character. Its all developing around me [laughs].
DRE: I was hesitant to do this interview just because the word chick doesnt make a lot of people happy. Do you look at what youre doing as any kind of feminist act?
A: It does give women a platform to stand up on their own and know that they can fight. Every woman almost every day deals with crazy shit on the streets but you just never publicize it because women are dainty. Theyre not supposed to do that. I look at it as empowering to other women but also empowering to me because we all need help. Unfortunately some women have been molested and had atrocities happen to them to where they lost their way. So whatever can help them propel themselves to the level where they are confident and then they can realize they dont need anyone to help them. I definitely want to be a part of that.
DRE: What would you say to someone that thinks Extreme Chickfights exploits women?
A: Women exploit themselves. If women didnt want to do it then they wouldnt. If you dont like it, dont do it. You dont like someone else doing it, dont watch. That is your option. That is your opinion. If you dont like it, get the hell out of the room. If you want to make money, this is a way to make money. This is a way to get clout and this is a way for women to feel good about themselves. So just stand back because youre blocking the good energy.
DRE: Do you guys get a large female audience at the actual matches?
A: Since Im a fighter, I dont see the audiences faces a lot of the time.
DRE: Could there ever be sport where men fight women?
A: I think that would open up too many dark doors because too many women have dealt with that to really want to watch and enjoy it unless that woman was beating that mans ass.
DRE: Would you ever want to fight a man in your weight class?
A: If its an even match and an awesome competition, then yes I think women would be interested in seeing it. For me, Ill stick to fighting women. Id rather see some sci-fi movie than that.
DRE: Do you ever see Extreme Chickfights becoming less of an underground thing and becoming a spectacle like Ultimate Fighting?
A: I hope so. We have everything else. You can watch martial arts. You can watch extreme stuff on TV with guys. But Im done. Im sick and tired of watching guys. There are women out there. Theyve trained for many years in different martial arts variations. Theyve got skills. Lets see what they can do.
DRE: Is being in these fighting matches much different from when you play sports?
A: The energy is definitely different because when youre playing other sports youre not really trying to rip somebodys head off. Youre not trying to block a blow or a kick and theres no one trying to hit you in the kidneys when youre on the floor.
DRE: How often do you have a match?
A: At least once a month.
DRE: Where do they take place?
A: Mostly in California but theyre trying to branch out.
DRE: Would you eventually like this to become your full time thing or is it too dangerous?
A: Everything is too dangerous. All it takes is a microorganism and youre dead. Id like to see this rise to the heights that this company would like to take it and I want to be there all the way.
DRE: I was watching that game show Identity last night and you appeared on it! Im very fascinated with that particular game show. How did you get involved with that?
A: I just went in and I was one of the few fortunate ones that actually played my cards right and I ended up on a great show.
DRE: Did you make up that line you said when they guessed your identity?
A: They help you. I had one other one but that felt better at the last minute.
DRE: Where did you grow up?
A: Mostly in Long Beach California.
DRE: Were you always tough?
A: Oh man, I popped out of my moms belly and ran five miles.
DRE: Were you into martial arts or weight training?
A: Gymnastics was my first sport ever. From training with that I got into weights. With all the sports I played I always lettered. I played volleyball, I did track and field and broke records at my school. I love all sports.
DRE: How did you get into working on movies?
A: I started out modeling with a gentleman who had a company that sold exotic wares and they wanted to do movies. But the deal was that they had to use the same models. I love the whole atmosphere of making movies. I just ate it up and kept doing it.
DRE: Have you heard of SuicideGirls before?
A: Im sorry to say I have not.
DRE: Its like Playboy for punks.
A: Woo! Sign me up! Im so ready. Im a single lesbian and Im ready to meet some ladies!
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
VIEW 10 of 10 COMMENTS
I wonder if she ever signed up for the site...