Interview with Eric Luna

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Chaz Mulkey Interview

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I first saw Chaz Mulkey fight in a brutal match with Brazillian Marfio Canoletti on a Fairtex card here in the bay. Read more

Interview with James Cook

James Cook is a busy man. He plays in a band, doing classic rock gigs in San Francisco, works for a law firm, and is preparing to take the bar exam to become a full time lawyer. In the ring, Cook is even busier with over 50 professional Muay Thai fights, twenty amateur boxing fights, five professional boxing fights, and a recent handful of MMA fights. I was able to get a hold of Cook over the telephone to chat in between his work out and a show that he was playing in San Francisco to talk to him about his career, his match with Malapet, and the future of competitive fighting sports.

Lucas:How did you get into Muay Thai?

Cook: I was surrounded by people doing Muay Thai in the late 80s, early 90s. At the time I was going to the Minnapolis Martial arts academy. I was professionally fighting out of there for a while. In 1996 I was involved in the Prince’s cup. I did well, beating a couple of Thai guys. I was the only American to win.

Lucas: You’ve expanded and done some boxing as well as MMA how did you get involved in that?

Cook: I’d had a bunch of amateur boxing fights, about 20, and when I became a professional Muay Thai fighter I started doing professional boxing. I did all my pro boxing bouts under Golden Boy productions. I’ve had 5 or 6 boxing fights. I started doing MMA later on as the money was better. There is more stuff to do in MMA. There is more opportunity to be creative and to develop. The sport is still in its infancy.

Lucas: How did you get involved with Fairtex?

Cook:I had been a professional Muay Thai fighter for some time and met Alex Gong on a card we fought on together. In 1998 he and Ganyao asked me to fight for them. In 1999 or 2000 I moved to San Francisco as I got a job out here. Fairtex didn’t have that many fighters at the time, and they wanted more. Coincidentally I was scheduled to fight George Testsui of Fairtex at one point, but we didn’t end up fighting.

Lucas: How many Muay Thai bouts have you had?

Cook: I’ve had in the mid 50s, which is a fair amount for an American.

Lucas: Where do you feel Muay Thai is at in the states?

Cook: Muay Thai to me is a little outdated. Americans aren’t that good at Muay Thai. Europeans are better. That’s why I’ve mainly fought overseas. Here in the states there aren’t many opportunities to fight, so when the fights do happen they suck. Of course there are a lot of things that go into it. There are more sponsorships in Europe, there are more fans… For pro fighters like me, the fights are few and far between. Europe doesn’t match up to the states.

Lucas: Why do you think that Muay Thai hasn’t caught on more here in the states?

Cook: I think that the people that are into Muay Thai are already inclined towards it. They are into the Muay Thai music that plays already, that gross music that sounds like cats dying. There isn’t enough of a show here in the states. You can’t create the same stadium effect of Lumpini, with its live band, here in the states. Americans aren’t very good at the Wai Khru either, its ugly. Every camp in Thailand has a different wai khru so its interesting. I also think that Muay Thai has sexist overtones. Lumpini, one of the biggest Muay Thai stadiums, bans women from its rings. MMA has more female fighters. Muay Thai is pretty esoteric. Its okay if you’re already into it though.

Lucas: What has traveling internationally to fight been like?

Cook: I’m spoiled, I’ve traveled a lot. I’ve seen a lot of fights in Europe and Asia. I know what good solid Muay Thai is. I’ve seen great styles develop like Dekkers’, or Rob Kaman’s. Dekkers’ style is effective is great against Thais. Americans haven’t come up with an effective style of Muay Thai. We just brawl. Our fights are so ugly.

Lucas: What do you think of K-1?

Cook:K-1 is not violent enough. You can’t elbow, or clinch, and no knees to the head. The big guys are too oafy.

Lucas: What do you feel you got out of your boxing?

Cook: I got better hands. Boxing is a completely different sport. I learned that I liked to fight. I hate fighting outside of rings, in clubs. Yet I like fighting sports and to compete. Its fun.

Lucas: Jongsanaan is your main trainer now, what is he like as a trainer?

Cook: He treats me a little different. He wants shit to be perfect all the time because I’m fighting at a high level and he’s going to make some money every time I fight

Lucas: What was your training like for this fight with Malapet?

Cook: I did the same routines as usual. This time I’m working with Ganyao. I do a lot of conditioning. I know how Malapet fights. Our last fight was close. A lot of people came up to me and said, “Oh you won man,” but I thought he won fair and square.

Lucas: When did you last fight Malapet?

Cook: It was a few years ago. Actually it was a week or week and a half after Alex passed away.

Lucas: How did this fight with Malapet go?

Cook: I lost. The fight was stopped in 4th round. I got broken ribs in the first round when I caught a kick. They tried to stop it in the 2nd and 3rd. By the 4th my rib was sticking out too far. Fun fight though.

Lucas: What did you learn from boxing?

Lucas: How do you prepare yourself mentally for a fight?

Cook: I watch Survivor (laughs). Actually its all in the training.

Lucas: You’ve fought at Lumpini what was that experience like

Cook: I got a standing ovation. I lost a close fight. The Thai judges look for something different than American judges. The Thai judges look for more substance. They want a guy that looks clean, that has really good technique. I saw a lot of fights. A couple of guys from Fairtex were there, they ended up helping corner me, Ryan Roy and Mike Regnier.

Lucas:What is your strongest attribute in your fights?

Cook:It depends on the fight. Usually though conditioning is my thing. I’m always in good shape.

Lucas: What characteristic do you think a great fighter needs?

Cook: You gotta like to fight. You have fun with it. Sometimes people freak out about fighting while others do it and make it look easy. I’m 40 I’m still fighting, and at a high level. If you’re going to fight as long as me, you have to have discipline in other parts of your life. You can’t drink. Your body has to be used to the training.

Lucas: Where would you like your career to go?

Cook: I’ll take any Muay Thai fights. I’d like to keep fighting until I’m 45, so still fight for a while. I want to do a lot more MMA. I think its a great sport. MMA puts on a show. Its more accessible. I like it that women are included. I’d like to coach. I’d like my kids to fight. I’d like to stay involved.

A Can of Coke

Coke, screamed as he kicked, exhaling air and voice as his shin connected with the pad that Jongsanaan was holding. The 28 year old Thai has been training with his original trainer, (og style) several times a week in addition to his training out of his own gym. Coke and Jongsanaan broke up the pad work with laughter, poking fun at friends, and interspersed the aerobic work out with strategic musings. Together they were piecing together a game plan combining years of fight knowledge, and joyous Muay Thai living.

After his pad work, the muscle bound man, worked the pluhm. Known in Thailand for his strong clinch, Coke used his strong upper body to man handle his partners until he had to leave. Finishing with simple calenthestics, he rushed out of the gym to head back to Oakland to teach class. The next morning after his 5 mile run into the Oakland hills I got a chance to sit down with Coke and ask a few questions.

Lucas: Where were you born?

Coke: I was born in Ratchaburi. Close to Bangkok, not too far. Maybe 2 hours from Bangkok.

Lucas: How did you start doing Muay Thai?

Coke: I stayed at a temple with monks. One monk asked me if I wanted to fight. I said “Okay, I want to fight.” They have shows, and celebrations, at the events they would have Muay Thai. I had my first fight for a New Year’s celebration.

Lucas: How old were you when you started fighting?

Coke: Eleven.

Lucas: When did you start at Fairtex?

Coke: I came to Fairtex around when I was thirteen or fourteen.

Lucas: What made you move from the temple to Fairtex?

Coke: At the time I was thirteen and had not finished high school. I had to go to school for three more years, but I didn’t want to go to school, I wanted to go to Bangkok. I worked for one month or two month, and then a friend asked me “You want to go to camp.” I said “I want to go.”

Lucas: You stayed at Fairtex for your most of your career?

Coke: Yes until I came to America. Now I train and teach at Pacific Ring Sports in Oakland.

Lucas: What was it like growing up at Fairtex?

Coke: I just stayed at Fairtex, I don’t know about other camps. I grow up there. My house was there, you know, I had my friends and family there.

Lucas: Who were your trainers?

Coke: At first Jongsanaan, and then Farsai (clear heaven).

Lucas: When did you first come to America?

Coke: I came in 2004 to work, and then I came back in 2007. I live here now.

Lucas: How is the US different from Thailand?

Coke: In Thailand they fight because its their job. Here fighters have to work, training is hard. The fighters have a lot to do. They have to train and work. In Thailand the fighters only have training.

Lucas: What have some of your obstacles been being here in US?

Coke: The language is hard. Not too hard, but I have to learn.

Lucas: How is Thai culture different from American culture?

Coke: It is different. Sometimes people here show respect, sometimes they don’t. The music in America, they like to talk dirty. In Thailand they talk sweet, talk about love. Its different.

Lucas: How are your fights here in the states different from Thailand?

Coke: Here, easy. In Thailand I have to lose weight a lot, almost die (Laughs)!

Lucas: Why are the fights easier?

Coke: I don’t have to lose weight. I can eat. In Thailand I have to train hard and lose weight. Run, train and then fight. Here I train, and then can fight.

Lucas: How would describe yourself as a fighter?

Coke: I think I’m not always smarter than my opponents but I’m stronger.

Lucas: How have you been training to fight for your upcoming fight with Kevin Ross?

Coke: I have been training hard. I can not lose. This time I can not lose because I’m fighting Muay Thai. I have a lot of friends and students coming to see me.

Lucas: What do you expect to happen with this fight?

Coke: I don’t know, we’ll see.

Lucas: What have you gotten from Muay Thai?

Coke: Muay Thai has been really good to me. I’ve learned a language and I can teach people about Muay Thai. “This is from Thailand. This is Muay Thai!” I can teach people how to say thank you and be polite, teach Thai culture.

Lucas: How do you feel American fighters are different from Thai fighters?

Coke: Some American fighters don’t understand training, Thai style. Americans don’t understand about trainers yelling, and pushing you. The trainers want you to be better. Not all American fighters understand that.

Lucas: What do you like to do with your free time?

Coke: Take it easy (laughs). Stay at home, go see movie, sometimes I like to do that.

Lucas: How long would you like to fight for?

Coke: I don’t know. We’ll see how long.

Lucas: What was one of your most memorable fights?

Coke: I remember the fight the best with Anpiichai. He is short but good. First time I lost. First fight I knock him down, and he knock me down too. Third time we fight, it was a big fight for me. I’ve had a lot of big fights. I fought and beat Buakaw. I’ve beat a lot of champions.

Lucas: What would you like to accomplish with your career?

Coke: I want to fight. I want to make my name known. I want people to know that what I do is Muay Thai. I want to make students into strong fighters. I want to be known as a good teacher.

Coke, the Thai with a steel will is set to fight Kevin Ross, the American with an Unbreakable Heart, on October 10th at the Santa Clara Convention Center for War of the Hereos 4. Tickets are available at Pacific Ring Sports on Telegraph and 40th in Oakland and at www.virtualboxoffice.com/coke

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