My Interview with the Legend Namkabuan Nongkeepahuyut

This is an interview with Namkabuan Nongkeepahuyut (video above, turn on subtitles), 130 lb Lumpinee Champion for 6 straight years (this was an incredibly competitive weight class) and a Legend of the Golden Age. Namkabuan's career painted a broad stroke across weight classes, as he was able to fight top competition as he grew from a young teen into an adult, climbing the weight classes. 

In this interview we talk about his career and training with his older brother, fellow Golden Age Legend Nampon Nongkeepahuyut. At the time of this interview, now a few weeks ago, Namkabuan had recently been diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer, which has already spread into his brain. He'd already received radiation treatment on the tumors in his brain and was awaiting the start of chemotherapy, so he's visibly very tired and at times struggles to remember things, but his boyish charm and energy cannot be contained and you get to see what is very purely "Namkabuan." 

Thing I loved to hear in this interview with him, be sure to watch the whole thing!:

• He didn't want to do Muay Thai, but once he had success they kept booking him. "I'm the kind of person who, if I do something, I give it my all" 
• lost his first 3 fights in Bangkok but the audience loved him 
• fought for the Lumpinee title far above his favored weight class because his brother held - the title 1 class up 
• his daughters found out he was a fighter from their PE teacher at school

At the time of this publishing we have been able to raise nearly $3000 to help with Namkabuan's medical expenses and treatment (you can help and get updates on how he is doing here), thank you so much to everyone who has contributed. If you'd like to donate you can do so through the link above and we cover all fees, so 100% of every donation goes to Namkabuan. This is part of the Preserve the Legacy project, to interview Legends (this is at Namkabuan's home/restaurant in Nakhon Rachasima). Documentary projects like this and the translation is made possible through the generosity of my patrons; make sure to turn on the English subtitles. This is a huge part of what the Preserve the Legacy ambitions are, documenting not only the muay, but also the men of Thailand's great fighting past. 

As it turned out we drove up with the legend Karuhat, who really wanted to see Namkabuan as this time of sickness. When we drove up we were really surprised to see Samart and his brother Kongtoranee sitting there visiting as well. Kevin really wanted to shoot some portrait photography of Namkabuan, and ended up with some beautiful photos of everyone there. You can see more from the shoot over the two days (any prints sold in this series go 100% to support Namkabuan). On the second day we were able to interview Namkabuan's long time kru since childhood, Arjan Pramod. That interview is coming soon, as well as Namkabuan's watch with me commentary over his fight vs Cherry. 

In the Muay Thai Library you can watch my filming with Namkabuan a few years ago, as he teaches some of his style here:

watch this session 

And we were lucky enough to also do a Watch With Me with Namkabuan as he commentated on his fight vs Ramon Dekkers (available for everyone, on YouTube):

watch this 1997 fight here 

Again, thank you everyone who has supported me in my attempt to document and show care for these amazing men, and their muay which is their art. We are pulling for Namkabuan as he battles and fights toward health.

Here is the English Subtitle transcript for those who would like to read it:

0:01:58.616,0:02:02.187

Please tell us about your life.

0:02:02.306,0:02:08.080

What age did you start Muay Thai?

0:02:08.719,0:02:10.571

from childhood to an adult,

0:02:10.571,0:02:12.784

from the day I started until I retired.

0:02:12.784,0:02:14.657

- about my background?

- Yes

0:02:17.027,0:02:19.134

- OK

- Your brother started first, right?

0:02:19.134,0:02:21.907

- what?

- Did your brother start first?

0:02:21.907,0:02:23.434

Or did both of you start at the same time?

0:02:23.434,0:02:24.549

My brother started first.

0:02:26.996,0:02:30.051

How old was your brother, Nampon, when he started?

0:02:31.051,0:02:32.299

at 10 years old.

0:02:33.471,0:02:36.685

He was at 10. I was around 5.

0:02:40.368,0:02:46.687

He was 10. We are 3 years apart.

So, I was around 7.

0:02:46.687,0:02:50.065

- 7 years old.

- But I didn't start training right at 7.

0:02:51.372,0:02:53.367

Where did you train for the first time?

0:02:53.638,0:02:56.229

I trained at Arjan Pramod's house.

0:02:56.229,0:02:57.229

It was a gym.

0:02:57.455,0:02:59.827

- From day one with Arjan Pramod.

- Yes

0:03:00.132,0:03:05.246

My brother trained there.

I went to watch him train.

0:03:05.246,0:03:07.294

I didn't want to train at that time.

0:03:07.514,0:03:09.089

- You didn't want.

- No I didn't want.

0:03:09.693,0:03:10.889

Why didn't you want to train?

0:03:10.889,0:03:14.071

I saw how my brother trained.

It looked exhausting.

0:03:14.348,0:03:15.738

Because he was Muay Khao, right?

0:03:15.738,0:03:19.517

I saw him training and he ran all day.

No, I couldn't do that.

0:03:20.237,0:03:22.219

I played a bit in the gym.

0:03:22.219,0:03:24.792

But I didn't want to train.

0:03:25.293,0:03:28.454

Did you want to be like your brother?

Was he your idol?

0:03:28.454,0:03:31.845

I watched him. We were in the countryside.

0:03:32.204,0:03:34.370

I went to see Muay Thai fights.

0:03:34.370,0:03:39.120

I thought it would hurt.

0:03:39.120,0:03:42.342

So I didn't want to do it.

0:03:42.526,0:03:45.459

Later on I went to see

my brother's fights.

0:03:47.837,0:03:49.283

the fighters...

0:03:49.283,0:03:51.305

In the past in the countryside,

0:03:51.305,0:03:53.693

it was like...

0:03:54.151,0:03:56.043

If anyone wanted to fight

0:03:56.866,0:04:00.342

they could just show up at the ring

and get matched right there.

0:04:01.387,0:04:05.411

At that time, there was only one fighter.

0:04:05.411,0:04:08.702

My brother pushed me to go to fight.

0:04:09.571,0:04:12.244

I went up without knowing anything.

0:04:12.244,0:04:14.298

I didn't want to but they

still pushed me to go up.

0:04:14.298,0:04:15.898

So I went up and fought.

0:04:15.951,0:04:17.141

It was a tie.

0:04:17.381,0:04:18.873

I got 80 Baht.

0:04:19.019,0:04:21.237

It was a tie.

The audience tossed the money to us, like tips.

0:04:22.853,0:04:23.888

No payment from the promoter, no purse.

0:04:23.888,0:04:25.301

The audience applauded and tipped us.

0:04:25.301,0:04:28.593

- They tossed money to us.

- like tips. 80 Baht

0:04:28.593,0:04:31.408

It was 160 Baht in total.

80 Baht each.

0:04:31.408,0:04:34.661

like in Pattaya where people tossed money.

0:04:34.661,0:04:37.563

- It was a big amount for a kid. right?

- right.

0:04:37.563,0:04:38.626

What did you buy?

0:04:38.626,0:04:40.803

Oh 80 Baht

0:04:40.803,0:04:42.548

I was really happy.

0:04:43.334,0:04:45.604

Never got that much money before.

0:04:50.103,0:04:53.032

What was Arjan Pramod like at that time?

0:04:53.471,0:04:55.960

After that

0:04:55.960,0:05:00.545

they started seeing me fight.

0:05:00.545,0:05:01.999

I never gave up when I fought.

0:05:01.999,0:05:03.977

So they arranges matches for me.

0:05:04.808,0:05:09.642

I had no choice.

I didn't want to train but I had to.

0:05:10.595,0:05:13.009

I needed to continue training.

0:05:13.398,0:05:16.210

It made me...

0:05:16.210,0:05:19.331

I couldn't stop.

0:05:20.210,0:05:25.280

It was not like I wanted to

fight from the beginning.

0:05:25.736,0:05:28.016

After I won,

0:05:28.016,0:05:30.379

they arranged another match for me.

0:05:30.379,0:05:31.579

I had to continue.

0:05:33.437,0:05:36.631

It was like being forced but

0:05:36.631,0:05:42.040

I am a type of person who, if I'm going to do something, I give it my all.

0:05:42.614,0:05:45.100

My brother trained hard.

0:05:45.100,0:05:46.686

I also trained hard.

0:05:46.686,0:05:48.752

If he trained, I also had to train.

0:05:49.861,0:05:52.441

My brother was famous

0:05:52.441,0:05:54.497

in the Isaan region.

0:05:54.497,0:05:57.917

He was so good that nobody

could fight him anymore in that region.

0:05:57.917,0:06:01.765

I was the same.

We went to fight together.

0:06:01.765,0:06:06.698

I was in junior level. My brother was

100 lb already, so he went to Bangkok.

0:06:07.485,0:06:09.864

- Did he go to Bangkok before you?

- Yes

0:06:10.929,0:06:15.795

When your brother went to Bangkok, would you go with him?

0:06:15.795,0:06:17.227

I didn't go.

0:06:17.227,0:06:18.360

I stayed at home.

0:06:20.283,0:06:24.629

I trained and fought in the local area.

0:06:25.919,0:06:27.884

I fought in the local area at that time

0:06:27.884,0:06:33.426

until 100 lb, not even 100 lb.

0:06:34.633,0:06:39.250

Then nobody could fight me anymore

0:06:40.402,0:06:42.752

I started travelling to

other regions to fight.

0:06:43.022,0:06:45.523

Eventually, I could go to go to Bangkok.

0:06:46.086,0:06:47.934

I lost in my first match.

0:06:47.934,0:06:49.544

I lost in my second match.

0:06:49.544,0:06:50.910

I also lost in my third match.

0:06:50.910,0:06:52.398

I lost all first 3 matches.

0:06:53.329,0:06:54.795

lost all of them.

0:06:54.795,0:06:59.996

But they were entertaining fights.

The audience was happy and cheered.

0:06:59.996,0:07:05.667

After that I had to improve myself.

I couldn't entertain the audience only.

0:07:06.545,0:07:08.425

I had to win.

0:07:09.019,0:07:10.898

I must learn how to win.

0:07:11.476,0:07:17.248

If I could win, my purse would go up.

0:07:18.137,0:07:21.268

I thought my purse

would go up after I won.

0:07:21.268,0:07:22.949

- good

- good

0:07:22.949,0:07:24.030

That's correct.

0:07:24.925,0:07:28.930

At what age did you go to fight in Bangkok?

0:07:29.186,0:07:30.947

I was 13 at that time.

0:07:30.947,0:07:34.616

13? You became a champion at 18,  right?

0:07:34.619,0:07:36.317

Yes

0:07:36.953,0:07:39.097

I was 13.

0:07:39.741,0:07:41.275

13 years old.

0:07:42.065,0:07:45.065

I went to Bangkok at 12 years

old, almost 13.

0:07:45.903,0:07:48.654

My weight was less than 100 lbs.

0:07:48.654,0:07:52.197

You had to eat before stepping on the scale, to make 100 lbs.

0:07:53.073,0:07:54.349

very tough

0:07:55.246,0:07:57.494

My weight was increasing.

0:07:58.057,0:08:03.351

1 year after I moved to Bangkok...

0:08:04.214,0:08:07.033

My compensation was 100,000 baht in the second year.

0:08:08.679,0:08:10.745

I fought Hippy at 108 lbs, for the Lumpinee title

0:08:12.055,0:08:14.925

- My weight was 112 lbs. I lost by cuts from elbows.

- How old were you?

0:08:14.925,0:08:16.747

I was 14 years old.

0:08:16.747,0:08:21.419

- so young.

- should be around 13 or 14 years old.

0:08:21.885,0:08:24.593

I fought for a championship just 1 year after moving to Bangkok.

0:08:24.593,0:08:29.225

When Hippy talked about beating you, he was very proud.

0:08:29.250,0:08:33.689

But he never said that you

were only 13 or 14 years old.

0:08:33.689,0:08:36.004

- You were still a child.

- I was still young.

0:08:36.004,0:08:39.198

I didn't have much experience.

0:08:39.198,0:08:40.828

Hippy slashed me with elbows.

I got cut here.

0:08:40.987,0:08:45.827

One. Two. Back elbow

0:08:46.415,0:08:47.743

How many stitches?

0:08:48.423,0:08:49.838

30 stitches

0:08:50.587,0:08:52.454

10 here, 10 here and 10 here

0:08:52.726,0:08:54.336

3 cuts

0:08:56.576,0:09:02.575

You fought for a long time.

You started young and

0:09:02.575,0:09:06.814

fought with everyone as you moved up in weight.

0:09:07.404,0:09:08.915

fought with Hippy

0:09:08.915,0:09:15.297

After Hippy, it was Toto.

0:09:16.286,0:09:18.097

Toto Por Pongsawang

0:09:19.020,0:09:21.080

and ...

0:09:21.529,0:09:25.073

Ai Lerd Lek.  What's his name?

0:09:25.073,0:09:28.340

- He was good.

- And Karuhat. right?

0:09:28.340,0:09:30.205

I didn't fight with Karuhat yet.

0:09:30.205,0:09:33.373

I fought with Karuhat when

I was more than 120 lbs.

0:09:33.373,0:09:35.787

Around 110 lbs,

0:09:35.787,0:09:38.472

I think I fought with

Pairojnoi Sor Siamchai

0:09:41.427,0:09:45.501

After that I fought with

Hippy again at Koh Samet.

0:09:45.501,0:09:47.031

Because I was big.

0:09:47.031,0:09:49.223

We fell and I landed on him.

0:09:49.223,0:09:51.757

I just used this strategy. Just to hurt him.

0:09:52.872,0:09:54.008

very smart

0:09:54.008,0:09:56.612

He was under me.  He couldn't get up.

0:09:59.120,0:10:03.065

After that, I fought with Dokmaipa.

0:10:03.065,0:10:06.336

Dedduang Por Pongsawang

0:10:06.336,0:10:10.929

Toto Por Pongsawang, Dokmaipa, Dedduang

0:10:10.929,0:10:12.983

- You fought all 3 brothers?

- Yes

0:10:12.983,0:10:14.275

I won.

0:10:15.275,0:10:19.593

Punch, leg kick, punch, leg kick

0:10:20.634,0:10:22.379

The easiest way to prevent them

0:10:22.379,0:10:24.366

from punching and kicking

0:10:24.366,0:10:27.668

was to grab and hug.

I did that in all 5 rounds.

0:10:27.668,0:10:29.709

And I wouldn't get hurt.

0:10:30.735,0:10:34.375

If I stayed far away,

I would be hit and hurt.

0:10:34.375,0:10:36.371

because I would be in

their proper range to strike.

0:10:37.243,0:10:39.945

Then...

0:10:43.774,0:10:47.447

At one point, my weight

0:10:48.521,0:10:53.814

increased to 122 lbs.

0:10:54.486,0:10:56.788

I fought with a lot of good fighters.

0:10:56.788,0:10:59.945

My brother was 126 lb champion.

0:11:00.522,0:11:02.447

My weight was 122 lbs.

0:11:02.447,0:11:05.101

My brother was a champion in 126 lb.

0:11:05.101,0:11:08.494

I didn't fight for the title at that weight because of my brother.

0:11:08.494,0:11:10.481

They arranged me to fight

for 130 lb championship

0:11:10.481,0:11:12.300

with Cherry.

0:11:13.342,0:11:15.140

That fight is so good.

0:11:15.140,0:11:21.118

I was ranked second at 122 lbs.

0:11:21.118,0:11:23.212

But I fought for the 130 lb title.

0:11:23.212,0:11:25.161

- had to skip over your brother's weight

- yes

0:11:27.594,0:11:32.511

Cherry fought with my brother. I went

to see all matches. They were all draws.

0:11:33.455,0:11:39.902

Why was it different?

Both Nampon and Cherry are Muay Khao

0:11:39.902,0:11:46.539

What did you think when you fought?

0:11:46.539,0:11:49.380

I watched him against my brother in 3 fights.

0:11:49.380,0:11:51.455

Nampon liked to use power.

0:11:52.126,0:11:56.117

He used too much power

and got tired later.

0:11:56.775,0:11:59.365

We must... I didn't use much power.

0:11:59.365,0:12:03.990

I only waited for him to lift his

leg (in the clinch), then I pulled.

0:12:03.990,0:12:06.718

I was never defeated by knee style.

0:12:06.718,0:12:08.202

I actually liked it.

0:12:08.999,0:12:11.013

- another thing...

- because he came forward, right?

0:12:11.013,0:12:14.271

Another thing is if your body is straight,

0:12:14.271,0:12:16.004

and your base is strong,

0:12:16.004,0:12:20.030

we won't... If we crouch or go backwards, our body will be...

0:12:21.242,0:12:22.843

stay close to the opponent

0:12:22.843,0:12:26.060

avoid the knee using your waist

0:12:27.604,0:12:31.057

If you bend down, he can grab you.

0:12:31.057,0:12:33.987

If you straight up, he can't grab you.

0:12:33.987,0:12:37.209

If he wants to elbow, and you bend

down, he will hit you easily.

0:12:37.209,0:12:39.850

You have to look and be careful.

0:12:41.629,0:12:47.847

After that I fought every 6 months

to defend the championship title

0:12:49.669,0:12:53.908

with many people.

0:12:54.848,0:12:57.033

But there are so many good

fighters at this weight.

0:12:57.033,0:12:59.009

- yes

- This class is very difficult.

0:12:59.009,0:13:06.650

Before becoming 130 lb

champion, I fought Pi Sian (Karuhat).

0:13:06.650,0:13:08.148

Boonlai

0:13:12.140,0:13:14.057

Somrak

0:13:14.057,0:13:16.284

Did you fight with Sangtiannoi?

0:13:16.284,0:13:21.426

I fought with Pi Too (Sangtiennoi) at 130 lbs.

0:13:22.196,0:13:24.199

Sangtiannoi was a big guy.

0:13:24.199,0:13:27.840

They asked Sangtiannoi

to fight in 127 lbs.

0:13:29.141,0:13:34.992

He was tall.

Yeah, but you, like, jump-kicked his head.

0:13:34.992,0:13:36.330

How did you do that?

0:13:36.330,0:13:40.519

They told me to do this in rounds 1, 2, 3.

0:13:40.519,0:13:42.212

Joints were still good.

0:13:43.019,0:13:45.950

If you want to get a knock out...

0:13:47.159,0:13:51.706

When I was young,

I could show Muay Thai art of defense.

0:13:51.706,0:13:54.491

But in the past, they didn't give points.

0:13:54.491,0:13:59.338

If they did, I could show

the Muay Thai art much more.

0:13:59.923,0:14:03.699

In the past, you were so strong.

You could grab your opponent and

0:14:03.724,0:14:09.689

throw him down. But now they don't

give points for this. What do you think?

0:14:09.689,0:14:13.559

It disappeared because of gambling.

0:14:13.559,0:14:16.450

In the past, there was

knee, jump and teep, etc

0:14:16.450,0:14:20.437

But today you jump,

you will fall down right away.

0:14:21.777,0:14:22.837

- It changed a lot.

- yes

0:14:22.837,0:14:25.150

Nowdays kicking out the leg isn't a foul.

0:14:25.150,0:14:29.375

In the past, if you jumped to kick,

you had to kick with the back of your feet.

0:14:29.375,0:14:30.815

But today you can use your heel.

0:14:31.180,0:14:33.781

Not a foul.  But it was a foul in the past.

0:14:33.781,0:14:36.382

Using heels was foul.

0:14:37.155,0:14:43.632

You had plowing style.

When did you change?

0:14:43.632,0:14:49.239

It changed in 1997.

0:14:49.239,0:14:50.516

I think.

0:14:51.281,0:14:55.219

I was almost 20 years old.

0:14:55.219,0:14:58.804

I got the championship.

I fought with Cherry.

0:14:58.804,0:15:04.285

They cancelled the plowing style in less

than a year after I fought with Cherry.

0:15:04.285,0:15:07.559

How did you feel when they changed?

0:15:07.559,0:15:12.061

I was ok if they didn't

want me to use this style.

0:15:12.061,0:15:13.200

But...

0:15:14.322,0:15:17.079

Sometimes I grabbed and didn't move yet.

0:15:17.079,0:15:18.395

Normally you are allowed 2 steps.

0:15:18.395,0:15:21.012

The referee stopped me right away, no steps.

0:15:21.012,0:15:24.038

I didn't move 2 steps yet.

0:15:24.788,0:15:26.233

- right?

- yes

0:15:26.233,0:15:28.818

I grabbed. The referee stopped me.

I got kicked here for free.

0:15:28.818,0:15:30.636

- right?

- yeah

0:15:30.636,0:15:35.831

I didn't have to plow.

I could grab and use other techniques.

0:15:35.831,0:15:39.105

But the referee didn't give me a chance.

0:15:39.665,0:15:41.670

He kicked. I grabbed.

The referee stopped me.

0:15:42.773,0:15:45.361

Break

0:15:46.117,0:15:52.117

You know. You can grab

and then toss and kick.

0:15:52.117,0:15:54.475

- But the referee didn't give me a chance.

- right.

0:15:54.475,0:15:55.858

I'm Muay Khao.

0:15:55.858,0:15:59.046

Referees, as soon as they see it's me, are itchy to break right away. They don't ref other fighters like that.

0:16:02.594,0:16:06.504

I think it's not fair.

0:16:11.861,0:16:18.150

In your 20s, when Nampon had a

fight, did you go?

0:16:19.255,0:16:20.627

Normally we trained together.

0:16:20.627,0:16:25.099

If my brother had a match,

I would help him train.

0:16:25.099,0:16:27.290

- Was he good?

- Very good

0:16:28.157,0:16:30.585

Nampon was very good.

0:16:31.081,0:16:35.250

When he kneed,

he jumped and kneed like this.

0:16:36.087,0:16:37.203

When I was young,

0:16:40.391,0:16:44.485

When we trained,

my brother would be very powerful.

0:16:45.197,0:16:48.707

- He didn't take it easy on his brother.

- Not at all. I cried a lot.

0:16:50.280,0:16:56.695

Normally you use your thigh for training.

But he used the knee.

0:16:58.748,0:16:59.971

Very brutal.

0:16:59.971,0:17:04.719

He hit me here a lot.

0:17:04.719,0:17:05.972

I got used to it.

0:17:05.972,0:17:08.337

So you didn't have any

problem in the real fight.

0:17:09.645,0:17:12.807

- Totally. He was good.

- You were used to it.

0:17:12.807,0:17:18.836

Then I got taller.

When he hit me, I hit back.

0:17:18.836,0:17:20.852

We became comparable.

0:17:21.817,0:17:24.964

Later it was him to tell me to be softer.

0:17:25.991,0:17:31.473

When you trained with your

brother, what did you do better?

0:17:31.473,0:17:36.233

I normally was more technical, Femeu.

0:17:36.233,0:17:39.350

If we grabbed each other, it would depend on timing.

0:17:40.527,0:17:44.507

I was strong. But he kneed very hard.

0:17:46.521,0:17:50.166

He hit with around here with his knee.

It hurt a lot and I would turn red.

0:17:50.166,0:17:54.388

turn and knee, turn and knee

0:17:59.744,0:18:01.117

he was so strong

0:18:01.736,0:18:03.871

Later on

0:18:03.871,0:18:05.379

I was getting taller.

0:18:05.379,0:18:08.645

When he turned to knee, I also turned and

0:18:08.645,0:18:11.458

pushed him out.

0:18:12.067,0:18:13.559

He got angry.

0:18:13.559,0:18:21.166

He was angry. He had hot temper.

0:18:21.166,0:18:22.670

Was he calm?

0:18:22.670,0:18:26.501

He had hot temper

especially with his brother.

0:18:26.501,0:18:27.564

with me

0:18:27.564,0:18:29.371

very good.

0:18:34.481,0:18:35.665

That's all.  Thank you very much.

0:18:36.558,0:18:38.576

Anytime

0:18:38.576,0:18:41.515

I have a lot.

0:18:42.748,0:18:46.758

We would spar boxing.

Our gym didn't do much boxing.

0:18:47.504,0:18:49.405

Nampon had strong punches.

0:18:50.307,0:18:53.514

I only ran away.

0:18:54.353,0:18:55.855

He jabbed. I ran.

0:18:55.855,0:19:00.749

When he punched, I just avoided. Not like a fighter.

0:19:01.914,0:19:05.596

He jabbed. I ran.

He yelled at me "where are you going?"

0:19:07.481,0:19:09.497

I would die if I stayed.

His punch was so strong.

0:19:10.285,0:19:17.506

After he got the car accident, he didn't

fight much. But he could train, right?

0:19:17.506,0:19:21.612

Yes he could train. He got the car

accident but got minor injuries

0:19:22.185,0:19:26.201

on his foot. Not serious injury.

And few cuts.

0:19:27.261,0:19:29.255

But he drank a lot.

0:19:30.012,0:19:35.871

But he trained very hard

when he prepared for a fight.

0:19:36.744,0:19:38.935

He would only train and

didn't do anything else.

0:19:38.935,0:19:44.012

Not like me, I'd pretend to go running but sneak breaks or hang out.

0:19:46.585,0:19:49.754

I saw your matches on Youtube.

0:19:49.754,0:19:54.285

When you won, Arjan Pramod

always gave these great high fives.

0:19:54.285,0:19:56.867

- Oh, he did the best high fives!

- Yes

0:19:56.867,0:19:59.725

He did this since the beginning.

0:20:04.486,0:20:06.510

One, Two ...

0:20:08.346,0:20:12.131

Sometimes I'll skip through just to watch the high five.

0:20:12.611,0:20:16.417

Arjan Pramod, between rounds,

0:20:16.417,0:20:19.661

I always looked at my opponent.

0:20:19.661,0:20:21.738

When I sat down during the

break, I stared at my opponent.

0:20:21.738,0:20:26.308

He always called me. "Piaw, Piaw"

0:20:26.308,0:20:28.624

I didn't look at him.

I looked at my opponent.

0:20:29.554,0:20:31.987

He'd hit me hard until I had to turn to him.

0:20:32.763,0:20:36.105

I listened to him but I

always looked at my opponent.

0:20:37.303,0:20:39.851

He said, "Listen to me".

0:20:39.851,0:20:42.075

"Yes sir"

0:20:42.075,0:20:47.548

I was staring to threaten my opponent.

0:20:47.548,0:20:48.717

But I was also listening.

0:20:52.192,0:20:53.391

Like Robert

0:20:53.391,0:20:55.482

I fought with Robert.

0:20:55.482,0:21:00.007

He kicked my leg. When the round ended,

0:21:01.711,0:21:05.671

I told my trainer "leg leg" while

locking eyes with my opponent.

0:21:05.671,0:21:08.340

But I had to do it without moving my mouth.

0:21:08.340,0:21:10.622

"leg, leg'

0:21:15.141,0:21:18.601

Did he piss you off with dancing?

0:21:18.601,0:21:25.678

I didn't care. I stared at him. But I

must not let him know that my leg hurt.

0:21:27.178,0:21:31.296

But I had to tell trainer without

moving my mouth "leg, leg".

0:21:31.988,0:21:34.009

- He must not know.

- yeah, don't let him know.

0:21:36.508,0:21:40.740

It was psychology.

It was like showing him

0:21:40.740,0:21:43.121

that I was not hurt.

In reality, it hurt.

0:21:43.917,0:21:45.653

What did you do when you

retired from fighting?

0:21:45.653,0:21:49.364

- I came here.

- Came to the restaurant?

0:21:49.364,0:21:53.427

- How many years here?

- 25 years.

0:21:54.464,0:21:57.952

When this place was not opened yet,

0:21:57.952,0:22:03.183

after finishing a fight, I just

went back to the gym. Nothing much to do.

0:22:03.183,0:22:04.830

Did you train others?

Or do something else?

0:22:04.830,0:22:07.918

- You didn't want to be a trainer.

- I am too tired.

0:22:07.918,0:22:10.379

I wanted to take a break.

0:22:11.930,0:22:15.750

Later on there was no opponent

0:22:17.497,0:22:18.987

for 4 months.

0:22:19.458,0:22:25.311

Then every fight they wanted me to give up 10 lbs, 10 lbs, 10 lbs.

0:22:25.550,0:22:29.082

But it became too difficult.

0:22:29.082,0:22:30.890

I trained for 4 months

0:22:31.858,0:22:33.956

but my purse didn't go up.

It went down.

0:22:33.956,0:22:36.831

I used to get 20% increase

after winning a fight.

0:22:36.831,0:22:40.674

But the compensation went

down substantially when I lost.

0:22:44.822,0:22:46.828

I finished on good terms.

0:22:46.828,0:22:48.139

Plowing style was not allowed.

0:22:48.885,0:22:52.545

I stopped plowing style.

0:22:52.545,0:22:54.251

In the match with Lamnamoon,

plowing was already not allowed.

0:22:54.251,0:22:57.414

There were a lot of fights after they'd made plowing illegal.

0:23:01.624,0:23:04.644

In the fights with Sakmongkol,

it was not allowed also.

0:23:04.644,0:23:06.265

- 2 fights with him, right?

- Yes

0:23:06.265,0:23:11.695

In my opinion,

I think I never lost to him.

0:23:12.470,0:23:15.818

I think it would be either a draw or a win for me.

0:23:15.818,0:23:18.181

I felt like I won.

0:23:19.996,0:23:23.202

At the end it depends on

the judges' decision.

0:23:23.202,0:23:24.826

- You felt bad, right?

- Yes

0:23:25.756,0:23:30.034

Referee's decisions matter. Sometime it

was an influence from gamblers.

0:23:32.475,0:23:34.474

Have you ever criticized those gamblers?

0:23:34.474,0:23:37.119

Never. They only scolded me.

0:23:37.119,0:23:39.556

They scolded me

because they lost their bet.

0:23:43.667,0:23:46.333

How could I scold them?

There were so many of them.

0:23:46.346,0:23:49.292

When they lost money,

0:23:49.923,0:23:51.231

they scolded.

0:23:51.231,0:23:56.172

When I won, they applauded.

0:23:57.973,0:24:00.793

When I lost, they scolded me.

0:24:00.793,0:24:02.312

- It's always like that.

- Yes.

0:24:05.682,0:24:07.343

Who was your last opponent?

0:24:07.758,0:24:09.405

Kaolan Kaowichit

0:24:09.405,0:24:11.233

- Kaolan

- Kaolan

0:24:11.233,0:24:14.469

It should be... I can't remember.

0:24:16.006,0:24:18.997

Kaolan yes Kaolan

0:24:18.997,0:24:20.546

I gave up 10 lbs

0:24:20.546,0:24:24.233

I already opened the restaurant.

0:24:24.233,0:24:27.608

Restaurant was making

more money than fighting.

0:24:28.307,0:24:31.986

- Did you still train?

- From time to time

0:24:31.986,0:24:35.714

I made around 50,000 Baht a day.

0:24:36.749,0:24:37.820

I mean in the past.

0:24:38.612,0:24:43.189

I had one match in 4 months.

The compensation was 150,000 Baht.

0:24:44.061,0:24:46.048

Half of 150,000 Baht is around 70,000 Baht.

0:24:46.048,0:24:47.731

yeah not the same.

0:24:47.731,0:24:52.782

I made 50,000 Baht at the restaurant, so for a month...

0:24:53.514,0:24:57.948

So I thought it was better to focus on the restaurant business.

0:24:57.948,0:25:01.259

The business did well in the past.

But it went down a lot these days.

0:25:04.045,0:25:07.049

Things change with time.

0:25:07.049,0:25:11.872

Nobody can be a champion forever.

0:25:11.872,0:25:14.182

There is no one who doesn't know what it is to lose.

0:25:14.182,0:25:15.476

right?

0:25:15.476,0:25:17.616

You have to know how to lose first.

0:25:20.787,0:25:22.950

Yes in the past.

0:25:23.805,0:25:26.607

Loss or win are normal things these days.

0:25:27.228,0:25:29.670

I don't look at it for gambling.

0:25:29.670,0:25:33.109

I think win or loss is just the beginning.

0:25:33.109,0:25:34.789

Loss is the beginning.

0:25:34.789,0:25:39.356

It is a good start.

Because it makes you think how to win.

0:25:40.757,0:25:44.453

Could you tell us about your 2 daughters?

0:25:44.453,0:25:48.760

One of them is a veterinarian.

0:25:48.760,0:25:51.253

The other one is...

0:25:51.253,0:25:53.850

She likes the entertainment field.

0:25:53.850,0:25:55.321

She likes singing...

0:25:55.321,0:25:57.866

entertainment like her father.

0:25:59.304,0:26:04.230

- She likes to entertain, sing, etc.

- They're both beautiful.

0:26:04.230,0:26:10.575

They were models for a boutique shop.

0:26:12.765,0:26:15.811

They are quite stubborn like me.

0:26:17.638,0:26:21.388

- It's normal for girls.

- Yeah normal.

0:26:21.388,0:26:25.372

Are they interested in Muay Thai?

0:26:25.372,0:26:27.628

- They train.

- I mean to watch.

0:26:27.628,0:26:31.227

I brought them to watch.

But they trained for exercise.

0:26:31.227,0:26:33.833

Did they watch your old fights?

0:26:33.833,0:26:35.678

They didn't know that I was a fighter.

0:26:35.678,0:26:40.097

When they went to school,

they had physical education class.

0:26:40.097,0:26:41.526

The teacher showed Muay Thai.

0:26:42.490,0:26:45.852

The teacher asked where they lived.

0:26:45.852,0:26:47.035

They answered they lived

at Namkabuan Restaurant.

0:26:47.035,0:26:50.083

The teacher told them, "your dad is a famous fighter."

0:26:50.083,0:26:53.195

The teacher was surprised.

0:26:56.532,0:27:04.289

After that the teacher changed

the attitude about my daughters.

0:27:07.105,0:27:10.727

- Yeh it's like that.

- They were really naughty.

0:27:11.696,0:27:14.994

- Thank you very much.

- Thank you.