With a career spanning 15 years, Denis Kang is a name that resonates in the world of MMA, having competed in Pride and UFC. Born in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, he reflects on his journey.
His journey is remarkable. As a pioneer in French mixed martial arts, Denis Kang made his mark, participating in Pride in 2005 and the UFC in 2009. Known as The Super Korean, he paved the way for future athletes in the sport. However, at 46 years old, he speaks about his experiences with humility. “I’m just a little guy from Saint-Pierre who, through hard work and determination, managed to achieve his dreams. It shows that anything is possible.”
Also read: Christiane Macé, a judo legacy from Saint-Pierre and Miquelon
His journey began on the Rock. Born to a mother from Saint-Pierre and a Korean father who came to the archipelago for fishing, young Denis earned his first sports licenses locally. Initially starting with judo under Guy Lelorieux, he also took up swimming with Yannick Arrossamena to build his fitness. “I was primarily a sports fanatic, but I had a strong inclination towards martial arts. I was captivated by Bruce Lee movies and fighting video games like Street Fighter. This really shaped my approach to sports and martial arts.”
Guy, a prominent figure in the Butokuden Dijon local club, recalls Denis as a student who was always unafraid to enter the ring.
He was diligent, strong-willed, and above all, determined. He was never afraid of combat; in fact, he enjoyed it.
At the age of ten, Denis and his family relocated to Canada, where his journey began to gain momentum. He stumbled upon MMA through a video cassette and instantly fell in love with this blend of styles, a revelation that came at a time when he struggled with competitive sports. “I just enjoyed sports for fun. I found it hard to push myself until I discovered MMA, and it changed everything.”
To begin his foray into the sport, Denis honed his wrestling skills. At that time, MMA was not widely recognized; in fact, it was often criticized for being violent and poorly supervised. It took a vision – even a bit of madness – to consider a career in it. Denis admits, “It’s true, the sport had a bad reputation back then. It barely resembles what it is today. Many people did not take it seriously and thought it impossible to dedicate one’s life to it.”
In search of a martial art that aligned closely with MMA, Denis turned to hapkido, a blend of various fighting techniques. This led him to meet someone pivotal in his career: “I met Marcus Soares when he moved to Vancouver. We connected, and he has been an unwavering presence throughout my career.”
But how does one dive headfirst into the sport? The athlete recalls struggling to find fights, needing to be resourceful and innovative. “There weren’t many fights available back then. Fortunately, an extensive online community helped me make connections, find fights, and train elsewhere.”
Vancouver soon felt limiting as Denis trained daily and turned professional. He focused on boxing, ground fighting, and physical and mental preparation, leaving nothing to chance. “
Things became serious once I committed to training every day. I took a step further by training in Florida with a professional team, the American Top Team.
This led to fights in South Korea and then Japan, where he competed in one of MMA’s most esteemed organizations: Pride. “It was just as good, if not better, than the UFC back then.”
This is a report from 2008 during a visit to the Denis Kang archipelago.
With his career taking off, Denis became a recognized fighter. In Japan, the heart of martial arts, Denis thrived. The fights at Pride held a unique allure. “Anyone who watched Pride knows what I mean. The level of fighting was exceptional. The atmosphere was rich, and fighters came from around the globe. Pride emphasized the spectacle.”
His fight against Andrey Semenov in July 2005 stands out as particularly memorable. The two faced off for a rematch after a previous encounter in Saint Petersburg ended in a draw. This time, Denis emerged victorious in a spectacular fashion. “I actually broke my hand, so I relied solely on my ground techniques to win. It’s a memory I cherish because it was a significant achievement.”
Unfortunately, the Japanese organization faced challenges, prompting Denis to seek new opportunities. The UFC naturally became the next step. He returned to Canada to train with Quebec MMA legend Georges Saint-Pierre.
Training with him was an eye-opener. Before, I thought I had a good training routine, but I realized I was mistaken. Georges Saint-Pierre leaves nothing to chance in terms of recovery and preparation… I’ve learned so much from him, and we’re still in touch.
“Just because we’re not fighting anymore doesn’t mean we’ve stopped training,” he asserts when discussing his daily life as a retired fighter. Even in retirement, he spends time in the gym, not only to stay fit but also to nurture the athletes at his combat academy in Vancouver. For him, it’s a way to give back to the sport that has given him so much. “I consider myself fortunate. I’ve never felt like I was working. I lived my passion, and even now, on the other side, I still receive recognition.”
He continues to cherish his roots and intends to return to his archipelago soon, where it all began. “It’s been several years since I visited. Saint-Pierre holds many memories for me, and I miss it.”
Denis Kang: A 15-Year Journey Through MMA Greatness
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A Pioneer in Mixed Martial Arts
Denis Kang is not just a name in the world of MMA; he is a pioneer, especially among French fighters. With a career that began in Pride in 2005 and transitioned to the UFC in 2009, Kang laid the groundwork for future athletes in this brutal yet captivating sport. At 46 years old, Kang reflects on his journey with an admirable humility: “I’m just a little guy from Saint-Pierre who, through hard work and determination, managed to achieve his dreams. It shows that anything is possible.”
Early Life and Initial Passion for Sports
Born in the small archipelago of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, Denis Kang was raised in a multicultural family, with a mother from Saint-Pierre and a Korean father who originally came for fishing. Here, he obtained his first sports licenses in various sports including judo under the guidance of Guy Lelorieux, nurturing a passion for physical activity. He also ventured into swimming with Yannick Arrossamena. Reflecting on his childhood, Denis mentioned: “Actually, I was first and foremost a sports fanatic. But always with a penchant for martial arts. I was crazy about Bruce Lee movies, fighting video games like Street Fighter.”
Guy Lelorieux, an emblematic figure of the local club Butokuden Dijon, recalls Denis as a diligent and strong-willed student, often eager to face challenges in combat.
Discovery of MMA
At ten years old, Denis’s family moved to Canada, marking a significant turning point in his life. It was during this time that he discovered mixed martial arts through a video cassette. Denis found himself captivated: “I just liked sports for fun. I had a hard time pushing myself. Then I discovered MMA, and it was a revelation.”
Developing Skills and Finding Opportunities
Initially, Kang turned to hapkido, which allowed him to blend various fighting techniques. During this time, he met Marcus Soares, a pivotal figure who introduced him to ju-jitsu. Looking back, Denis shows immense gratitude towards those who helped him along his path:
“I met Marcus Soares when he moved to Vancouver. And we followed each other, and he’s been with me my whole career.”
The Challenges of an Evolving Career
Despite his zeal, finding fights was challenging in the burgeoning landscape of MMA. Denis highlights this struggle of the early days: “There weren’t many fights back then… Luckily, there was a big community on the internet and on forums. That’s how I managed to make connections, find fights, and go train elsewhere.”
Transition to Professional Fighting
As Denis’s skills grew, so did his ambition. Realizing the constraints of his training environment, he made the decision to train full-time and moved to Florida to join the American Top Team.
“It became serious when I decided to dedicate my life to it and train every day. But I had to take a step forward…”
Fighting in Pride and UFC
Denis’s big break came when he fought in Pride, one of the most prestigious organizations in MMA history. He recalls the allure of this fighting league fondly: “People who watched Pride know what I’m talking about. The level of fighting was very high, and the stage was rich with fighters from all over the world.”
Memorable Matches and Triumphs
One of his notable victories includes a spectacular win against Andrey Semenov in July 2005, where he overcame a hand injury to secure victory.
“I actually broke my hand. So I used all my technique on the ground to win. It’s a memory I’m really proud of today because it was very strong.”
Training with Legends and Continued Growth
After Pride faced difficulties leading to its decline, Denis returned to Canada and began training with Georges St-Pierre, a legendary figure in MMA. This experience was pivotal for him:
“I learned what it was like to train with him. Before, I thought I trained well. But that was wrong.”
Life After Professional Fighting
Now retired, Denis is committed to maintaining his fitness and nurturing the next generation of fighters at his combat academy in Vancouver. He believes in giving back much like he received:
“I consider myself very lucky. I never felt like I was going to work. I lived from my passion, and today, even being on the other side of the fence, I have the same recognition.”
Future Aspirations and Returning to Roots
Despite his success and new life, Denis hasn’t forgotten his roots and plans to revisit Saint-Pierre soon.
“It’s been a few years since I’ve been back. Saint-Pierre is about memories; I’d like to come back, I miss it.”
