SCRAPP! FIGHT MAGAZINE
March - 2015
17
important resources such as nutritious
food and adequate training equipment.
Many Cuban fighters have to improvise.
For instance, they may only have access
to a small amount of beans for protein
or sugar water with lemon for a drink to
boost energy. They may only have access
to old tires and heavy rocks for training
equipment. Due to lack of resources such
as these, fighters in Cuba are often more
prone to injury and of course their recov-
ery time is longer.
In the US, athletes have direct access
to proper foods, supplements, training
equipment and gear, even medical teams
if they are injured. A majority of Cuban
fighters do not have this luxury, but they
are as fierce and determined as ever.
There are many skilled elite fighters in
Cuba. Those who know and understand
the situation in Cuba have a greater re-
spect and admiration for Cuban athletes.
SFM:
The Obama administration recent-
ly ‘loosened’ the embargo on Cuba. Has
this improved the situation for Cuban
fighters that want to compete in the US?
Do you feel it easier, more difficult or the
same?
CF:
What I can tell you in that respect
is that we are awaiting the results be-
tween political issues between US and
Cuba and on what impact these results
can have with Cuban athletes, artists and
Cuban professionals. Once visas are of-
fered to them, it will be a great opportu-
nity to showcase the hidden talents Cu-
bans have and have had to the rest of the
world. Right now we are awaiting for
visas to be approved so JKB fighters can
participate in upcoming MMA fights.
SFM:
What do you hope JKB will help
Cuban fighters achieve?
CF: We hope that JKB will open doors for
Cuban fighters worldwide. Eric Castaño
and I believe JKB will be adapted by Cu-
bans as their first and foremost form of
MMA. We hope that, just like Jiu-Jitsu
was claimed by Brazilians, JKB will be
claimed by all Cubans. The World Federa-
tion of JKB has pledged to help as many
athletes, masters, and representatives as
possible. Working alongside JKB sponsors
such as World MMA Association - WM-
MAA Pan-American division and its presi-
dent Tomas Yu and BEST DEFENSE and its
president Rene Valdes, we can show the
rest of the word that JKB is here to stay.
SMF:
What are your goals for JKB?
CF:
We want to show the world that
JKB is unique, in what we offer to MMA
fighters. JKB or Judokickbox is founded
on Judo, kickboxing and Boxing. My big-
gest goal is to have JKB be passed down
from generation to generation and ac-
knowledged as the world’s first Cuban-
based MMA form of its kind.
When you speak with Finales, his pas-
sion and dedication to JKB, Cuban fight-
ers and the sport of MMA is apparent.
Scrapp! Fight Magazine would like to
wish Finales and the JKB team the best
of luck in their endeavors!
