Will Michael Drau participate in "White Collar Fights"?

28.07.2016uranium

Today we will talk with the famous Russian Dark-Wave artist and frontman of the group Otto Dix by Michael Drau, but the conversation will be less about his career as a singer, and more about the popularization of martial arts. Michael, good afternoon!

Hello :)

Question one: A long time ago, when I was at your concert in Novosibirsk, I saw you in a new image of a fighter and heard a song with a fighting motif. After a while, I saw your videos where you train. In this regard, the first question is: how long have you been involved in martial arts in general and what influenced your decision to take up them? Did your interest manifest itself since childhood, in the 2000s (in the wake of the popularity of Fedor Emelianenko) or after watching action films?

In fact, everything turned out quite strange. I became interested in American pro wrestling, and in particular Dave "The Animal" Batista. And it came just at the end of his career in WWE and experiments in mixed martial arts. And I also decided to experiment. This happened in 2013. At one time I was training very intensively - six times a week, and the coach was already inviting me to compete. But then he quit and where he disappeared - I don’t know, and somehow the whole fuse went away for me. A trainer for a fighter is almost like a father. So far I don’t have such motivating trainers. Although now I am training with a very good trainer, a professional with a pedagogical streak.
By the way, I have nothing against Fedor Vladimirovich, but I am more of a fan of Mirko Cro Cop.

Why Cro-Cop?

He is similar to my first trainer, only one and a half times more powerful. And so - something elusive is present... In addition, I am amazed by his left high kick. Three tons!

Have you ever done martial arts before? Or is MMA your first try?

As a child, I trained in taekwondo and karate. From karate there is a tight upper shoulder girdle, from taekwondo - a high kick.

You saw the 90s in all their “glory” and therefore a reasonable question is: was this knowledge useful in real life? And if yes, tell us about such an experience.

I'm not that old! :))))) Throughout the 90s, I went to school peacefully and did not participate in any gang violence.

Well, you never know, the gopniks were digging there and all that?)

I have never had problems with gopniks in my life. Once they picked on us when we role-players were sitting on the street and asked to “clarify” who we are, what we are, and so on. I, a naive child, began to explain. The Gopniks listened.
I've never had to fight on the streets at all, and I really hope that I never have to. The street is not a ring, there are no rules. Any coach will tell you - run whenever possible.

I think that you are right - the martial artists with whom I communicated also say - at the first opportunity - to run away. Then the next question: I knew one of your fans, who soon after your MMA videos began to actively engage in martial arts. This suggests that, in my opinion, you are setting a good example for your fans, and let’s be honest, this is very good and useful, taking into account the fact that most of your fans are either girls or informals who do not always have a brilliant physique. Therefore, the question is whether to expect the development of this theme in your work in the future: will there be clips with staged fights, new action songs (like “Octagon”) and images both at concerts and in your theater?

I’ll start from the end - the filming of “Octagon” was postponed due to the fact that Slip (Sergei Slobodchikov, composer and arranger of “Otto Dix” - author’s note) wants to redo the arrangement (and in general, he really doesn’t like the fact that I do MMA) , and due to the fact that we did not find a suitable octagon for filming. Maybe in the future we will shoot this video. I know a lot of fighters now. In general, initially my first coach was supposed to film there, but, as I already said, we lost contact with him. And as for my fans...
Thank God that I, with my influence on people, am not a drug addict and a degenerate, but set only a good example - sports, a healthy lifestyle, and some philosophical views on life. But what saddens me is that fans often don’t think about the consequences. For example, they get pigs because I have guinea pigs, and then they don’t know what to do with them. Or here - MMA. This is not a woman's business. I really hope that after I begin to actively demonstrate my results in ballet, the girls will retrain for ballet. It would be better if guys started doing MMA while looking at me, honestly!

However, will the popularization of MMA continue?

Yes, I’m not popularizing it. To be honest, I don’t popularize anything at all. I just do what I like in life, and I do it without regard to society. Well, that’s all I want, that’s all. It’s just that I probably do it so contagiously that many, looking at me, want to do the same. Well, for God's sake, I don't feel sorry :)))
But to be honest, I am against girls doing MMA. Maximum - taekwondo or some kind of kungfu. MMA is a strong form of martial arts with a high risk of injury. There is no place for girls there (I foresee some of my feminist fans getting hurt). But it is so! Just look at what professional female fighters are like. Some kind of monsters...

The interview will probably be read by people who want, but are afraid to take the first step into the world of martial arts - but you took it. Was it difficult to start at all and what awaits a person who decided to take up MMA from scratch? What should you be prepared for?

First of all, a zero beginner needs to choose a club very carefully! There are organizations that use the “shock therapy” method - immediately harsh sparring, insults, and other “strength tests”. If your character allows you, then of course you can do that. Usually this method gives results quite quickly. “If you want to live, you won’t get so excited” (c) DMB. But for example, my life is already stressful, I don’t go to the gym to prove something to this world and to myself. I go to the gym to relax my body and soul. I have a completely decent, well-mannered, patient coach, excellent adequate guys, all the conditions, comfort and so on. In addition, you should immediately decide - do you need martial arts in order to lay your life on their altar, or, as I do, “for yourself”? If the first option, then don’t be lazy, tear your veins, go ahead and don’t be afraid of anything. And if it’s for yourself, then at least don’t be lazy.

Some video bloggers have also taken up MMA and write blogs on this topic. At least two of them took it seriously - bodybuilder Vadim Docha is preparing for a fight with another like him, and the notorious Maxim Martsinkevich has already entered the cage (and lost by knockout). Are you planning to have a professional or exhibition fight with anyone? Have you received any calls yet?

Well, for example, there is such a show - “White Collar Fights”, with Bogdan Khmelnitsky. He intended to hold a BBW in St. Petersburg, and for me to select an opponent for a grappling match. But for now there is some silence. In grappling, I enjoy squeezing someone and tying them in a sea knot. To be honest, I would have fought with someone anyway, without a show. I used to go to different clubs so that my opponents would be different. Now, due to the opening of a bookstore, I only have enough time for ballet, I’m out of shape :( Well, never mind! “Izerkilchik” is inevitable for me no matter what my form is.

Let's talk about crowdfunding - the fact that your videos are filmed with the feasible participation of fans (not only financially, but also materially - props are also provided), indicates good feedback between you and your fans. I and many aspiring musicians (as well as game developers, self-taught directors, and so on) are curious how easy or difficult it is to create new videos using crowdfunding? Do funds for the video immediately begin to flow in response to such requests, or did people not always respond willingly?

I can honestly say that the lion's share of financial contributions comes from us and from one main sponsor, whose financial support always covers all other donations. But it’s clear that these people remain behind the scenes of their own free will. This happened with both “Clay” and “Orpheus”. With Anima, the situation was beyond my control, so I can’t really say anything. And before that, we shot all the videos entirely with our own money. "Freaks" and "Old Watches", for example, I financed from my own pocket.
They say that sites like “Planets” sometimes help you collect even a five-digit number. I don't know, I haven't tried it.

Let's get back to MMA. You mentioned Mirko Filipovic, tell us where you met him? Were you able to communicate?

It was in Moscow, March 21, 2014. I went specifically to his seminar. Then I went to the office of the owners of the “Number One” club, where Mr. Cro Cop and I took a photo, and I gave him our “Mortham” disc, saying, “From Russia with love.” He smiled and looked pleasantly surprised. It seems to me that he is not accustomed to any gifts. And by the end of the seminar, I already understood Croatian without a translator... (laughs)

How do you feel about action films? If it’s positive, tell us about your favorite action actors, those who should be followed by example?

Well, my childhood idol was Shoichi Kosugi. Thanks to him, I became interested in martial arts in general and ninjutsu in particular, and even from Japan I ordered a self-instruction tape with interesting techniques, which supposedly showed the last real ninja. And Kosugi-san should be known from the movie "Revenge of the Ninja". In the 80s he was a cult action actor.

Are you planning to act in films?

I would like to star, but they don’t call me yet :)

And at the end of the interview, name 5-10 things point by point to create a good, memorable video.

1. Fresh idea.
2. Operator with arms growing from the right place.
3. Good musical composition.
4. Powerful computer
5. Quality monitor
6. A person with artistic taste and good knowledge of editing programs who would edit the video, do color correction and add effects.
7. And of course, a good computer is impossible without money.

Well, this concludes our interview, thank you very much, Michael, for answering the questions, I wish you creative success and new albums. Your Novosibirsk fans are waiting for you in our city in the fall)

Please :)) Well, lead a healthy lifestyle and play sports!