Heartland Mom Trains for Mixed Martial Arts Fight

PizDoff · 2/04/2008 10:46pm

Heartland Mom Trains for Martial Arts Fight
By: Arnold Wyrick

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Raising kids can often times be difficult, but, for one southern Illinois mom raising her 18-month-old son is just part of her daily routine. It's the other hat she wears that really gets her blood pumping.

Jill Fickes is a mixed martial arts fighter. That's right, she climbs into a ring and goes toe to toe in a full contact fight for fun!

"I started training in martial arts when I was eight years old. I've been doing it pretty much my whole life. I think it defines me as a person as much as my name or where I come from," Fickes said.

At 19 years old, Jill competed in her first martial arts competition and won. She's gone onto win a Golden Gloves Championship and earn a black belt in Kempo Ju Jitsu.

"And it's the adrenaline rush from that first time of being in the ring, that's just, you can't touch it. And I've been going after that adrenaline rush since then."

But, those pursuits were put on hold temporarily when her and her husband's first child came rushing into their lives. He's a bundle of energy that keeps mom on her toes most days.

"He's the greatest thing that's ever happened to me in my whole life. He was planned and I'm ready to have more," Jill said.

Those plans are currently on hold though as she trains for a fight against another female mixed martial arts fighter from Detroit. The bout is the headliner fight scheduled to take place Saturday night in Carbondale at Sports Blast.

"It's been a challenge to train and still be a mom and raise an 18-month old son."

She's already got little Jake punching and kicking the bags at Dojo USA.

"Martial arts is a great part of my life. And something that I've really enjoyed. It's done nothing but give me positive things in my life. And I really hope that he does choose to follow the same path," Jill said as she strapped on her punching gloves.
Link with videos!

That's pretty cool!
Looks like she's having a ton of fun learning usable skills!

**Vincenzo** · Posted On: 2/04/2008 10:51pm

Must have been a bitch trying to get back in shape.

**bitparity** · Posted On: 2/04/2008 11:35pm

I'm thinking of a 4 letter acronym right now for her...

**Kid Miracleman** · Posted On: 2/05/2008 1:00am

What bitparity said. Mmm-hmmm....

Oh, and "Kempo Jiu-Jitsu?" Musta been an error by the journalist...

**Kuma** · Posted On: 2/05/2008 7:59am

Originally Posted by bitparity

I'm thinking of a 4 letter acronym right now for her...

Four? I count seven.

**partyboy** · Posted On: 2/05/2008 8:14am

good for her.

now if kat and ash have a kid, they can get on the news too.

**The Question** · Posted On: 2/05/2008 8:27am

Very nice clip.

Still, soccer moms training MMA? Awesome.

**TheMightyMcClaw** · Posted On: 2/05/2008 12:31pm

Originally Posted by Kid Miracleman

What bitparity said. Mmm-hmmm....

Oh, and "Kempo Jiu-Jitsu?" Musta been an error by the journalist...

It's about time someone put the two vaguest names in martial arts together.

**Vulgar42Ox** · Posted On: 2/05/2008 1:09pm

whats kenpo ju jitsu?

is that like middle aged woman cardio jiu jitsu?

**krazy kaju** · Posted On: 2/05/2008 3:05pm

Kempo Jiu-Jitsu was the original term that Mitose used for his martial art (later it became Kosho-ryu Kempo).

Must be another kempo offshoot using the original terminology, but my guess must be that it's pretty good, considering that she's a golden gloves winner (maybe a combined boxing-kempo school?).

I know that ke?po has a bad rap, but I know that the two Tracy Kenpo schools here in Michigan are pretty good. One of them even has an amateur MMA team.