Steve Cardenas was most certainly not.
He was anything but.
And you know what?
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DEN OF GEEK: Its been about fifteen years since you leftPower Rangers.
Since then youve been working as an instructor in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.
Could you tell us a little bit about your school, the programs there?
STEVE CARDENAS:Sure.
The school is called Force Balance Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and we teach just that.
Its a style that involves a lot grappling, sort of like wrestling almost.
And thats pretty much what we offer there.
We teach kids and we teach adults.
What is it about it that appealed to you so strongly and continues to do so today?
The movement, the physicality, or is it something else completely?
The mentality behind it, perhaps?
It was a real eye-opener for me, so thats what intrigued me about it.
It took me over eight years to get a black belt.
DG: Did your training in BJJ overlap with your time onPower Rangers?
SC:Most of the stuff we did on the show was really choreographed.
It just looks like people rolling around on the ground.
DG: Do you find that your Ranger cred helps or hinders when it comes to your students?
SC:I really dont…
Enough that you guys might have happened upon one another at some point?
Had any of you met before or were you complete strangers?
SC:Complete strangers.
Id never met them before.
I didnt even meet them at that first audition.
There were so many people, over four-thousand, at that audition.
I didnt meet them until we came out to California to do the second audition for the producers.
It wasnt until considerably later that their personalities really started to evolve.
Youve mentioned that you were fond of the development you got inPower Rangers Zeo.
Anything in particular you’re free to remember offhand?
It made it fun, more interesting on set.
DG: How much involvement did you have in the development of your character?
We just tried to take what the script gave us.
I did have an acting coach that came to the set and helped me go through things.
He helped me to develop the character based on what lines they were giving me.
DG: Theres a bit of a contradiction in how Rocky is presented at different points in the show.
Not unintelligent, just a little out of it, a little less self-aware than the others.
Was this intentional, and which version of Rocky do you officially endorse?
SC:I dont know.
DG: There are conflicting reports surrounding your departure from the series.
Right here, right now, without naming any names, whats the full story?
SC:There was no injury.
That was the way they came up with to write me out.
They really didnt see my value at all or appreciate what I brought to the show.
It really just came down to being treated fairly.
DG: Youre still close to certain cast members.
Youve mentioned youre neighbors with David Yost and keep in touch with Karan Ashley and others.
Again, without naming names, were there any castmates you really didnt get along with?
If so, how?
SC:No, no.
There was nobody I didnt get along with.
It wasnt until we started doing all these reunions and conventions that we really became close again.
When I was on the show, I actually ended up hanging out more with the crew.
They were just hardworking, good people and a lot of fun to be around.
DG: There was a major cast shake-up inPower Rangers Turbo.
But if you had stayed around, they might not have felt that way.
One ranger leaving here and there had become a staple ofPower Rangersby then.
Well bring our best, and let us all get paid the same.
SC:I think Rocky is a lot like how I was anyway.
Taking care of all his brothers and sisters and all that.
I come from a very big family, a broken home.
I teach kids martial arts.
Those aspects of Rocky I really liked.
They were the things they modeled after me personally.
They would make me be this clumsy guy sometimes.
Its not really part of who I am, but it was fun to do.
DG: You were off the grid for a little while.
The producers failed to contact you for the 10th AnniversaryForever Redepisode because you were in the process of moving.
I dont know if they changed their minds or if they didnt have my new number.
I dont really know, but I just chalked it up to me moving.
To me, its still a mystery.
I totally would have been down for it.
I think the most diplomatic way to put it would be a party person.
You seemed like you were having a pretty wild time.
Because if so, you seemed to have calmed down quite a bit in the intervening years.
Or was it all just internet smoke and mirrors?
SC:No, I did party a little bit.
I dont even go out.
Now, if I drink two beers, I wake up in the morning with a headache.
I couldnt go out like I used to.
A lot of it just came from wanting to train and be healthy.
I changed everything, the way I ate; Im a vegan now.
Id say 98% of my diet is vegan.
DG: You seem to have really found your niche with martial arts instruction.
Would you consider returning to thePower Rangersfranchise for a guest spot or even a recurring/starring role?
SC:I definitely would, but again, it comes down to being treated fairly.
If theyre going to bring people back, treat them all same.
If they were to ask me again…
I think I would do it for the fans.
Id probably just go ahead and do it.
When you divide your time like that, you dont get either right.
Theres a lot of people that want to see Rangers but dont know theyll be at these shows.
I pretty much just do it for the fans.
DG: Is there anything youd like to plug?
Future appearances, programs at your school?
SC:Im going to London to do the London Comic Con.
Im going to be doing Alamo City Comic Con near the end of October.
Rhode Island Comic Con.
They LOVEPower Rangers, so theyve been begging me to come out there.
Also, if anybodys in the LA area, stop by the school and check it out.
Thankfully, Steve was a good enough sport to indulge me.
DG: As Im sure youre aware, there is a LOT ofPower Rangersfan fiction out there.
Like… a lot, and within it, a visibly strong slash contingent.
Rocky/Adam is a pretty popular pairing.
Neither ever really had any love interests on the show, and they were seen together an awful lot.
Speaking strictly in terms of the fictional characters… you think anything ever happened there?
SC:You mean, like… romantically?
No, there was nothing like that.
I always thought Rocky was into girls.
There was the blind girl, there was the tutor.
Who does Rocky wake up next to?
SC:Haha, let me think about that one.
Or maybe… maybe Tanya.
Yeah, I could see that.
Now that I think about it, I can kind of see it too.
It would sure as hell beat snagging his friends girl.
For shame, Rocky DeSantos!
For information about Steves school, go towww.forcebalancebjj.com.
you might also like his official fan page atwww.facebook.com/stevecardenas123and follow him on Twitter at @SteveCardenasPR.
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