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Julie Kedzie

TRAINING: A typical day of training starts with cardio, a 10:30 practice, conditioning and then one or two private training sessions in the afternoon, depending on the day of the week. I work at the gym, so very often I am there all day between 7:00am-6:00pm.

When and why did you start training for fighting? I began training in Tae Kwon Do at the age of four and one marital art eventually led to another one. I started fighting after watching some of the early UFCs and then found a DVD featuring an all-female fight promotion (Hook n' Shoot Revolution)...when I became aware that there was an opportunity to test my practical skills as a martial artist, I fell in love with MMA.

What ranks and titles have you held? Notable titles I have won include the 2005 Hook n Shoot Grand Prix Championship; the Extreme Grappling Open Championship, and the Jackson's MMA Series 135lb Championship

Do you have any heroes? My coaches and teammates are my true heroes; I couldn't be where I am today without the love and support I feel from the men and women I train with every day.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? I earned my BA in English from Indiana University

What was your job before you started fighting? I actually learned about fighting when I was still in school and ended up taking as many odd jobs (waitressing, personal training, office administration, etc) just to be able to pay for training. Fighting has been my dream job and goal for a long time.

Specific accomplishments in pro competition? Beyond the titles I have won, I have fought for nearly every major American promotion that holds female fights, including Hook N Shoot, Bodog and EliteXC (of which I was fortunate enough to compete in the first nationally televised female fight)