Our man in Holland, SFUKER, was privileged to get this interview with RINGS boss, Akira Maeda and his associate Motoko Uchida (incidentally, Rickson Gracie's agent in Japan), backstage at the recent Rings KOK event in Holland. This converstaion took place in Yamamoto's dressing room after his fight.

SFUK: Kon nichi wa Maeda san

Akira Maeda: Kon nicha wa

SFUK: Are you pleased with tonight's event?

Akira Maeda: Ah, well, my fighter lost (gestures towards Yamamoto sitting next to us)

SFUK: He fought very well. The rules for tonight's event was King of King rules. Do you see this a development for the future, are these going to be the rules for future events?

Motoko Uchida: The kok rules is 2x5 minutes and if there is a draw there is one more extra round.

Akira Maeda: No escape, only KO

Motoko Uchida: or TKO

Akira Maeda: or stopping the fight

Motoko Uchida: our regular rules in Japan, are similar to the KOK rules now, no rope escapes, the first round is 10 minutes, the second round will be 5 minutes and then it's a draw

SFUK: I see

Motoko Uchida: so now it's a little bit different, the rules over here to Japan since the KOK rules.

SFUK: and do you see a lot of events in the future now being run under these rules?

Motoko Uchida/Akira Maeda: yes

SFUK: and are you planning a lot of these events in Europe?

Motoko Uchida: ah well now we are really getting involved with the bigger promoters and we have a major kok Tournament starting on 15th of July at Salt Lake City, Utah, then the following month in Hawaii and the final will be in September.

SFUK: You have a new headquarters in California now. Is this moving more towards American....

Motoko Uchida: Well because it's been always his dream (Maeda) to becomes successful in the US, so he....

Akira Maeda: We are going to beat Heavyweight boxing

Motoko Uchida: His goal is to have world titles and world ranking

Akira Maeda:: We are ready for work title and world rankings now, that's why, we are establishing networks with north America and the USA, south America and Brazil so we are all over the world, Russia, Japan and Australia, England, Holland, Georgia so, all over the world, so we can establish world title, world championships, world ranking.

SFUK: Do you plan to work alongside Pancrase again (Rings and Pancrase have recently worked together for the Colloseum 2000)

Akira Maeda: I don't now, maybe it's possible, they decide, I'm always neutral.

SFUK: Are you planning signing any new fighters to Rings?

Akira Maeda: I always looking for fighters world-wide. We may have a Rings Russia fighter so I go over to see him, 1998, 1999 continued Sambo Champion I pick up. In Japan I always look around for the next fighter.

SFUK: Next year is ten years of Rings

Akira Maeda: Yes, I started this company in 1991.

SFUK: Do you plan a big event for your tenth birthday

Akira Maeda:Yeah, very (big) yeah

SFUK: And that will be ?

Akira Maeda: In Japan

SFUK: Good, I look forward to seeing that.Maeda San, thank you very much for your time

Akira Maeda: It's, 18 years ago, I'm in England, at that time I'm in New Japan and they send me to England, I'm 23 years old at that time and after that I establish freefight.

SFUK: Thank you both very much for your time and good luck for the future.

Motoko Uchida: Your welcome, Can you send me an email when the article is published ? Thank you.

SFUK: Can you pass on our best wishes to Yamamoto from SFUK as I don't want to disturb him at the moment.

Motoko Uchida Passes on our message to Yamamoto in Japanese while he receives medical attention.

 

*New Japan means New Japan Pro Wrestling company - note by Tadashi Morishita - thanks!