Interview with Denis Kang

Denis Kang is a Korean/French-Canadian professional mixed martial artist whom has fought for many different organizations including Pride FC, Dream, Spirit MC and UFC since turning pro in 1998.

Denis is currently training for his two upcoming fights. He is scheduled to fight Dae Won Kim at W-1 MMA: Judgement Day in Montreal, Canada on June 19, 2010 and follows that up with a fight against Paulo Filho at Impact FC: The Uprising in Sydney, Australia on July 18, 2010.

HalfKorean.com is pleased to present this interview with this veteran mixed martial artist.

Please note that HalfKorean.com comments/questions are in BOLD.

Background: The Basics on Denis Kang

Where were you born?
I was born in the French colonial islands called St Pierre & Miquelon.

Where were you raised and currently reside?
I was raised there until the age of 9. We then moved to the Canary Islands (Las Palmas) in Spain and eventually settled in Vancouver BC. I now live in Montreal. I’ve been here about 2 years.

How did your parents meet?
My father was in the Merchant Marines on a trip to St Pierre. The crew only spoke Spanish and Korean and my mother was a Spanish/French interpreter.

Do you have any brothers and/or sisters?
I have two younger brothers.

How’s your Korean?
So-so. haha I know enough to order food and say hi but not enough for a conversation.

So you mentioned that you currently reside in Montreal; how big is the Korean community there? Are there any good Korean restaurants?
The Korean community in Montreal is small but strong. There a few Korean restaurants that are excellent. I even found a great place that serves delicious Galbi Jim stew!! I couldn’t believe it. One of my favourites.

What is your favorite Korean food?
Jumullok bulgogi is my ultimate favorite but I love pretty much all Korean dishes.

Did you grow up around other mixed Koreans or people of mixed heritage?
Not at all. While we were in St Pierre, my brothers and I were the only kids of a different ethnicity other than Caucasian French. In Vancouver there were more Asians, but not many half Koreans.

Did you ever experience any identity issues while growing up?
You know I remember sometimes feeling like it was a little hard to fit in with a specific side of the family. It seemed like not matter what we were always different. Not quite French and not quite Korean. I don’t feel like that anymore, but it did take some adjustment and soul searching while growing up.

When was the last time you have been to Korea?
About two years ago.

Will you be going back to Korea any time soon?
I plan to go back this year.

What do people who meet/see you think your ethnicity is?
Most people just think I’m a mix of something. lol But I’ve had Koreans not believe me that I had Korean blood.

The “Super Korean” & Mixed Martial Arts:

How did you initially get involved in MMA?
By watching UFC when I was 17. I was always into martial arts and when I saw it I thought it was the greatest thing in the world.

What martial arts have you trained in and is there any you consider your strongest? I believe I’ve read that you are a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) black belt?
I’ve trained in so many, but the main ones are BJJ, Wrestling, Boxing, kickboxing. BJJ is my base and, yes, I’m a black belt.

What is your typical training regimen like?
If it’s close to a fight, then it’s usually 2 times a day with a nap in between. Not every training session is intense. Some can be more technical. But, even when I don’t have a fight, I’m at the gym trying to improve myself.

How supportive has your family been in your career pursuit?
My family was always behind me 100%.

Who came up with the nickname “Super Korean” and how?
Actually it was kinda by chance. My brother Julien and I were at a sauna and being filmed by XTM. This particular sauna was pretty hot and we decided to have a contest on who could stay the longest, I won and when I came out of the sauna I told the camera I was a super Korean. I was probably pretty dehydrated and not thinking straight. lol

You have been fighting professionally since 1998. Has the MMA world changed much from your beginning to the present day? Also, is it better/worse/same?
It’s definitely better now; I remember when the name MMA didn’t even exist. We used to go from gym to gym so that we could cross-train in different styles. We were always outsiders and nobody really would take us like real athletes.

Fighting in Korea/Asia:

You mentioned earlier that your last trip to Korea was two years ago. Was that for a fight or vacation?
Yes. My last time in Korea was for my title defense in Spirit MC vs. Kim Jae Young.

What was it like to fight in Korea? You gained quite a following in Korea. What was the reception like by fans and Koreans in general?
The reception in Korea changed my life. I went over there first to fight for Spirit MC and I immediately felt a strong connection with the country. It really gave me a chance to get in touch with my ethnicity as a Korean.

You have spent considerable time fighting in Korea & Japan. What do you think of the Korean/east Asian MMA representation and fighters? How do they compare with the rest of the world?
Korean fighters are VERY skilled and tough. The only problem is the lack of smaller shows in Korea. This makes it hard for young fighters to gain experience to compete in the international level.

UFC:

You were with UFC in 2009 and went 1-2 in your 3 fights. What did you take from your experience in UFC?
It was like any other fight. I made some mistakes in certain fights and others in training but overall I walked away a better fighter and person.

If the opportunity arose, would you join UFC again in the future?
I don’t think so… at least not for a few years. I would like to fight less for the glory and money of UFC and more for the true passion of the sport.

Even though you are no longer with UFC, what is it like to be in the UFC Undisputed 2010 video game? Is this the first time you have been in a video game?
Yes, it’s the first time. It feels kinda neat. I have not seen myself yet.

W-1 MMA & Upcoming Fights:

You are currently signed to W-1 MMA but missed your first fight due to injury (W-1 Bad Blood on 3/20/2010). What kind of injury did you have and are you fully recovered now?
I had some herniated discs in my neck which was causing me numbness in my arm. Thankfully this is fully healed now and I’m back to training.

When will be your first fight for W-1?
I will be fighting a fellow Korean fighter, Kim Dae Won, at W-1 on June 19 in Montreal.

You are also scheduled to fight Paulo Filho on 7/17/2010 in Sydney, Australia for Impact FC. What are your thoughts on this fight?
You know, Paulo and I were supposed to face off in the finals of the Pride Bushido GP back in 2006. He got injured and had to pull out. So, to me, this is like the finals of the tournament all over again. This will give us a chance to get closure and establish the real GP champion.

MMA Opinions & Future:

Have you met fellow mixed Korean fighters BJ Penn or Ben Henderson and do you have any opinions on them?
I know BJ Penn and look up to him a lot. Every time I study his fights I learn something new as he has an amazing and technical style. Ben Henderson I don’t know yet, but I also like to watch his fights. The kid is on fire right now.

In your opinion, who is the better fighter, BJ Penn or Georges St-Pierre? I’m curious of your opinion since they have had 2 major fights and BJ is a fellow mixed Korean while GSP is a fellow Canadian and you have trained together.
GSP beat him twice, so who do you think is the better fighter? BJ is a great fighter, but I think he should stay at lightweight where he is better.

I know that you have fought worldwide. Is there any particular location that you have enjoyed the most (to fight in)?
Korean, Japan, Russia were the coolest places.

Out of all your fights, which would you consider to be your favorite?
Probably my fight vs. Amar Suloev in Pride.

Is there any particular reason why you chose that fight?
Everything went well for this fight. I felt like I was really sharp during the fight and Amar was a highly ranked fighter back then. He had just beaten Murillo Bustamante before we had fought. By beating him, I had cemented my presence in the Pride Bushido GP.

What was it like to have the 23-fight unbeaten streak (April 2003-November 2006)?
You know, I never lost my humbleness. I always trained like I had just lost a fight.

How difficult was it to be able to fight only a short time after your fiancé, Shelby Walker, passed in late 2006?
It definitely was not easy but I did it.

Is there anyone out there you would like to fight that you haven’t already?
At this point, no. Later on this year I may have a few guys in mind. For now I’m just concentrated on my immediate fight.

Do you prefer to fight in a traditional 4-sided ring with ropes or a cage setup/Octagon (“UFC” style) and why?
I don’t really care, honestly. I really feel like a very well rounded fighter so I can adapt easily to any type of rules or fighting surface. Half Koreans don’t care, half Koreans just fight!! 😉

So what’s next for you as an MMA fighter? How long do you plan to fight and where do you see yourself in 5 years or so?
I don’t know how long I plan to fight for. I don’t want to give myself a deadline. I’ll do it until I lose the passion for training. Then settle down and open a school. Teaching is my other passion.

In MMA, what is your ultimate goal?
To achieve my peak potential and be a strong role model for all the young fighters.

So, have we not seen the best of Denis Kang yet?
I’m always improving and give my all. My mind is now more mature and stronger than ever.

Your younger brother, Julien, is a model/actor in Korea and I know that you have done some commercials (Everlast) out there. Are or would you pursue other (non-MMA) entertainment opportunities in Korea (or elsewhere)?
This is definitely an area that I will be exploring more.

Regarding your website deniskang.com, are you the one who created it and maintains it?
It’s a friend of mine who does it all.

Any words of wisdom you would like to pass on to upcoming MMA fighters?
Train hard and keep an open mind.

Random/Personal on Denis:

What is your current relationship status and do you have any specific dating preferences?
I’m single. I like all women as long as they are cool and down to earth.

What are some of your interests that you do to relax?
PS3, movies, internet, take naps, eat junk.

Anybody you respect/look up to?
My mother. She is one of the strongest willed people I have known.

Do you drink and/or like soju?
I drink but I don’t like soju. I prefer beers like Cass or OB to go with my sam gyup sal.

I noticed your upper arm/shoulder tattoos. One of them looks like it is a Korean mask. Does this tattoo have any specific significance or meaning to you?
Yes the one on my left shoulder is the Korean god of war, “Chi-Woo.” I really wanted something that represents me as a fighter but as a person as well. This one was perfect.

What was your take on Korea’s reaction to Hines Ward after he was MVP of Super Bowl XL?
I don’t follow football but I know who Hines is and I’m happy for his success.

Do you get on the Internet often and, if so, what are some of your favorite websites?
MMA.TV, Facebook, Twitter, HalfKorean.com… 😉

How did you find out about HalfKorean.com and what did you think about HalfKorean.com when you first saw it?
I saw it on Facebook. Seriously, the site rocks. I love reading the interviews and learning about the lives and viewpoints of other half Koreans.

Any words that you would like to pass on to the community?
Be proud of your heritage and embrace your uniqueness. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Be sure to check out out his two upcoming fights at W-1 MMA: Judgement Day on June 19, 2010 and Impact FC: The Uprising on July 18, 2010. Let’s cheer on the “Super Korean” as he looks to improve on his current 32-12-1 record.

Thanks to Helicon Kuan for contributing additional questions for this interview.

Interview by: David Lee Sanders

Posted: 6/14/2010

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