Dan "Bam Bam" Stell
Fairfield, California, USA




FIGHTER - OFFICIAL - TRAINER

IKF
Pro & Amateur Referee & Judge
IKF Advisory Board Member

ISCF
Pro & Amateur Referee & Judge
ISCF Advisory Board Member

THURSDAY, MARCH 8th, 2007, AT 11:55 PM, PT

Up Close and Personal with...

Dan "Bam Bam" Stell

Sacramento, CA - March 7th, 2007 : We thought it might be a good idea to dig into the mind of one of our silent heroes in the martial arts today...Mr. Dan Stell of Fairfield, CA. Most martial artist / kickboxers know him as 'Bam Bam' relative to his impressive knockout wins in his amateur & professional kickboxing career. Dan works relentless to perfect his craft. He knows the rules and regulations and knows them well. As the Head of Officials for the International Kickboxing Federation (IKF) and a licensed and certified referee for the California State Athletic Commission, many have seen him at work but perhaps few know a lot about him. This is our effort to assist you in getting to know Dan just a little better.

Those of us who dedicate our lives to the martial arts rarely get the recognition perhaps deserving. Sacrifices made by a few are many times not brought to the attention of the masses. However, there are those out there who burn the midnight oil and work tirelessly to assure a future for martial arts in particular Kickboxing, Boxing and MMA. Although the job of the referee could be a critical life-line between two combatants giving their all to get the win, too often they are the unsung heroes. I clearly remember introducing a referee to a friend as one who had officiated high profile fights and the comment back was "no one remembers the referee!" I remember the look on the ref's face as slightly embarrassed.

Hopefully in our interview with Dan, you will become more familiar with the thoughts and ideas of one who is recognized around the world and becoming a model for many to follow. By his own admission, he's not perfect and occasionally makes mistakes (don't we all) but one thing for sure...when "Bam Bam" is the center of your event, you will get 100% effort; 100% fairness and 100% commitment to making your event successful! So, without further ado please enjoy our Up Close and Personal conversation with ... Mr. Dannn "Bam Bammm" Stellllll!

• AKP: We're here today with Mr. Dan Stell...Dan, how are you?
  DS: "Pretty good! How are you?"
  
  
• AKP: Fine! Dan elaborate a little on how long you've been in the martial arts and what got you started?
  DS: "I got started when I was nine years old. Everyone was into the Bruce Lee movies...me and my brothers got started and we went from there. "
  
  
• AKP: Tell me a little about your career? Do you fell that you accomplished everything in your career that you wanted?
  DS: "A lot of these things you want to accomplish but you never do. Hey, I'm satisfied with what I got. I won four titles and I'm pretty happy with that."
  
  
• AKP: You were a professional...right?
  DS: "Right."
  
  
• AKP: Did you ever fight outside the U.S.
  DS: "No. All of my fights were in the United States."
  
  
• AKP: What kind of record did you end up with?
  DS: "I was 17-0-15 KO"s!"
  
  
• AKP: Wow! (laugh) that's impressive! I do remember seeing you fight and you definitely had some 'skills'!
• AKP: As an American Kickboxer, where all kicks are thrown above the waist... Do you prefer (personally) that style over International Rules where kicks to the legs are allowed and Muay Thai where you can do the later and use knees?
  DS: "Back then no one got paid and hardly gets paid now and you had to work on another job to make a living." I had one International rule fight and that was it for me." (Dan alluding to the additional damage those kicking to the legs receive above and beyond that of non-leg kick fighters)
  
  
• AKP: I understand that you were one of the co-founders of the IKF...tell me more about your affiliation with the IKF and how it all got started and how that's working out today.
  DS: "Back in 1991, I met Steve Fossum (Current President of the IKF) at a show with another promoter and he asked me if I was fighting and I said no, my brother is and later we would meet at another show. He and I hooked up and I started teaching a kickboxing program at his school. One day after class, we were frustrated that we never knew who was ranked where and who the champions were for our fighters to challenge. So, one night after training we were at Denny's restaurant talking about our frustration about no real rankings for amateurs so we figured that the only solution would be to start our own ranking system, from that came the idea to start an organization which led to the idea to start the IKF."
  
  
• AKP: So you played an intricate role in forming the IKF? You must be very proud of its accomplishments today?
  DS: "Yes!"
  
  
• AKP: Fast forward...today you are a veteran referee of all types of fights Boxing, Kickboxing and MMA...I know that you are very concerned with the safety of the fighters...what are some of the signs you look for to determine when a fighter is just...done?
  DS: "Fatigue!...Tired!...you just have to remember the number one thing is about the safety of the fighters. Being a fighter myself, you always have that instinct to keep on going and going but there is a time you have to quit! I think your corner-men really need know that even more about fighters and throw the towel in rather than waiting for the referee to stop the fight."
  
  
• AKP: Do you ever feel obligated to stop a fight...if its a small fight or a big fight... do you kinda' get a little bit into the crowd for what they might be wanting see...even if a fight is going bad for one of the fighters...do you maybe... let it go longer or do you just make a decision and do what you gotta' do?
  DS: "I do what I gotta' do! Every fight is the same...whether its a three rounder or four rounder or world title fight...safety is the number one issue! If the fighter is hurt and you gotta stop the fight... then you do it!"
  
  
• AKP: I know you have great passion for the sport of kickboxing but MMA has grown tremendously in the past couple years. What kind of hope can you give to the kickboxers out there who are dreaming about bigger paydays etc.?
  DS: "Everybody talks a good game with Kickboxing and everybody wants a world title, everybody wants a gig and you gotta' do what you want. You got to make a move...find the right promoter and a venue and start nailing down some fights!"
  
  
• AKP: As you know, I'm a big fan of IKF Point Kickboxing, it will be in the IKF World Classic this coming August in Chicago. You where even the first referee for the first IKF Point Kickboxing Event about five years ago in San Jose, CA. Do you feel that PKB can recycle and, or resurrect the sport of kickboxing.
  DS: "PKB is a stepping stone, you got to have a stepping stone to help develop your fighters right before the amateur full contact fights or you won't have good pros...so, its needed!"
  
  
• AKP: You are a referee and judge for the State of California. Sometimes, you have some funny calls but of course judging is subjective. What do you think about some of the bad calls and what can be done about them? Do you think we will be able to ever resolve bad calls are is this resolvable?
  DS: "Judging a fight, you got three judges and you got your own opinion. You have a lot of judges that go the old school way and will always give a close fight to the hometown fighter. But what you got to do is just watch the fight closely and judge it fairly. Everybody deserves a 'fair shake!' A good example was a fight with former world boxing champion Greg Haugen...right there in San Rafeal, California and I went against the home town fighter and gave the fight to Haugen. The whole place went into shambles'!"
  
  
• AKP: Do you think there are a lot of politics in judging?
  DS: "Yes, it is! That's what I like about kickboxing and MMA, a lot of the judges know the fighters and there is a little more respect there in the ring and when judging a fight."
  
  
• AKP: Do you feel that your past in the martial arts as a fighter and referee gives you a little more insight on judging fights?
  DS: "Absolutely! I figure that's the edge I have on some of the judges and referees in which some of them have never been in the ring. I feel I have an edge too because, I have been in there, I have passion for the sport and I want to make sure I give fighter's a fair shake."
  
  
• AKP: When you are in the ring, are you actually judging the fight as you are refereeing. Being that you were a fighter, can you see the punches, kicks a little better than perhaps someone who has never been in the ring...better yet, should you be a judge too while refereeing?
  DS: "No...you got to make a split second call and don't have time to watch the fight per say and once again, your job as a referee is for the safety of the fighter. Honestly, sometimes I see two guys fighting and I wonder...is this all these guys got and it makes me want to come back and fight...! (laugh) But there is a time to step down and never go back in the ring. And I feel the same as a referee. When you're too old and you can't be in there with conditioning and timing, I think its time to step down and go to the sidelines and become a judge." :)
  
  
• AKP: OK Bam, when everything is all said and done...when you are too old to jump around in the ring to ref.'; too blind to see the fighters or do anything physical in the sport.... :) how would you like for all of the people you've touched; those you have trained; refereed; those who have seen you around the world on TV; and those young fighters who for the past eight years have witnessed you work the IKF National/World Classic Kickboxing Tournament ... how would you like to be remembered?
  DS: "I would really like to be remembered as a fair, referee, fair judge and a fair person all around! That's all you can look for...nothing bad to say about me and the job I've done but...saying that... I plan to be around for a long time in some capacity!" (laugh)

"The true test of a person is not during times of comfort and convenience but in times of trials and tribulation" as paraphrased by the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr..

This saying fits Dan like a glove. Through good times and bad, he continues to stand tall, remain committed and grace the ring with his presence, knowledge and passion! He sincerely cares about the sport and the fighters. Be sure you let him know how much you appreciate his efforts next time you see him! Forward March!

The Dan Stell interview was conducted by IKF/AKP Staff Writer Johnny Davis. More information at www.AKPromotions.org More on Dan Stell... Click Here.

MONDAY, MARCH 5th, 2007, AT 10:50 PM, PT

Up Close and Personal with...
Dan "Bam Bam" Stell!

FRIDAY, February 4th, 2011, AT 5:05 PM/ PST

WHAT-CHA ALL DOIN THIS WEEKEND?

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