“HE’S BIG; I’M SMALL. EVEN IF I WENT ASCRAZYONHIMASICOULD,
WHATWOULDIDO?”—DANJACOBS
opportunity to fight in a tournament.
REVOLVER How did you do in the Gracie Invitational? HERMAN LI It was a good fight. I got two takedowns and almost got my opponent in an arm bar, but I lost on points, unfortunately. The guy that beat me won the tournament, but it doesn’t matter. It was an incredible adrenaline rush that you cannot get playing a gig.
in London. And when we’re on tour, I learn Muay Thai kickboxing from our drum tech Stuart Murray, who used to teach martial arts and does Jiu-Jitsu a bit. Also, our sound engineer is a Kung-Fu guy, so I grapple with him.
to see what they’re like. Everyone learns from different teachers and at different places, so everyone has different game. Right now I’m doing submission grappling with our opening band Powerglove. I’m never bored on tour.
I never get angry enough to want to beat someone up or punch someone out. I did tell someone from a magazine in England I was gonna kick his fucking ass if he didn’t stop bullying Sam [Totman, guitar]. The
guy was an asshole.
What do your bandmates think about your training? They think all the rolling around on the floor is gay. Unless you”ve been there, you can”t understand it.
Where do you train? I’m a blue belt under Roger Gracie
You sparred with Five Finger Death Punch guitarist Zoltan Bathory when you were on the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival last summer. Do you like to fight other musicians? I like to train with every person I meet
been. I’m never tired onstage.
How does your martial-arts training benefit DragonForce? It makes me more energetic and more able to concentrate. I started my heaviest training last year and I think I’m the healthiest I’ve ever
Ever been injured? I screwed up two fingers when we were recording Ultra Beatdown. I was sparring and I grabbed someone’s pants, and they just pulled off and ripped my arm off. My fingers weren’t
broken, but the joint was bent in a funny way. Now I tie my fingers up so that doesn’t happen. Also, I got caught in an arm bar a year before. I was in pain for at least a month.
Have you used your training in any street fights?
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