Matee Jedeepitak

"I started learning the 'Muay' or art of fighting at the age of 9. My father was my teacher. I had my first fight about 2-3 months later. I was about 20 kilograms, or approximately 40 pounds, and I fought in a stadium in my hometown of Rachaburi. I won by knockout in the third round. I still remember my first opponent’s name, Suchart Look-klong-tor. My reward for that fight was 400 hundred Bahts, the equivalent of $5.00.

I came from the province of Rachaburi. It is well-known for the clay that is essential for making big earth jars, which we use to keep rain water for. It has become customary for the jar makers to engrave picture of a dragon on the side of the jars. I started learning the 'Muay' or art of fighting at the age of 9. My father was my teacher. I had my first fight about 2-3 months later. I was about 20 kilograms, or approximately 40 pounds, and I fought in a stadium in my hometown of Rachaburi. I won by knockout in the third round. I still remember my first opponent’s name, Suchart Look-klong-tor. My reward for that fight was 400 hundred Bahts, the equivalent of $5.00.

This first victory encouraged me to keep on fighting. I had about 60-70 fights after that, in different provinces, but never in Bangkok. I was finally good enough to fight in Bangkok, and in Lumpinee stadium, one of the two most prestigious stadiums in Thailand. I remember my first exposure in Bangkok. I never experienced such a huge crowd before. I was too nervous and it caused me that fight, I just could not concentrate on the fight. I had to gather more experience and regain my prestige by fighting in the small provincial stadiums again. It took me a year before I went back to Bangkok.

This second fight in Bangkok, I fought with Sakmongkol Sitchoochoke, later to become one of the great fighters of his time. I was less nervous and was able to win. I had fought at the Lumpinee ever since.

I fought with many top-level fighters during my time, such as Pruhas-lek, Langsuan, Wangjan-noi, To-to, Chai-noi, Panpetch, Dedduang, Dorkmaipa, Tookatathong, Sherrie, Wanwiset, Oley, Numkabuan, Boonkerd (now residing and teaching in San Francisco), Rainbow, Charoensab, Kreuhas, and many more. I was the front-page picture and feature story in many fight magazines. One journalist nicknamed me 'Dragon Leg' in one of his story about me. From then on, I was known as the 'Dragon Leg'.

On July 29, 1994, I fought against Tuardkiat Sittheppitak, one of the champion caliber fighters, for the Featherweight, or 126 pounds, title. I won by technical knockout in the forth round. I became the first champion from Jadeepitak camp. On October 26, 1995, I had a chance to fight for my second belt, the World Muay Thai Council Featherweight title, with Prabsuk Sitsantat. He was, at that time, also a Featherweight champion, but of the Rachadumnuen Stadium. I won that fight by decision. This made the second championship belt for my camp.

I continued to fight. I was a big celebrity, with 2 championship belts. My purse was as high as 200,000 bahts ($5,000.00). I fought to defend my title, as well as non-title fights. In 1999, I met an American named Steven Health, who had seen me fight at the Lumpinee Stadium. He said he liked my style of fighting and wanted to train at the camp where I was training. He trained at my camp for about one week then he went back to America. For the next two years or so, he would travel back and forth between Thailand and America. He invited me to come and teach at his gym in America and I accepted his invitation. It took about one year for my visa to be processed, which was also near the end of my fight years in Thailand.

Steven came to Thailand again in 2001 and told me that my visa had already been approved. I had one more fight scheduled. It was August 11th 2001. I dislocated my shoulder in the third round and sustained a cut. This would be my last fight, and it was my birthday as well. I did not want to go out a loser. I relocated my shoulder, and fought on until I won that fight. It was one of the most memorable fights that had people talking about; fight magazines and newspapers ran the story for a long time.

One week after that fight, I told my father, my manager and camp owner, about my decision to go to America for about five to six months. My father gave permission, because he wanted me to rest and to have enough time for my shoulder to heal.

I made my preparation in September. I went to the airport getting ready to travel, but all the flights to America were suddenly canceled because of the terrorist attack. I took my luggage back home at Rachaburi and waited for about one week before I was able to fly to America.

I started teaching at my friend’s gym in Indianapolis. A little more than a month later, my friend procured a fight for me in California. I was to fight Danny Steele in December of 2001. The promoter called me up one day and asked me about the nickname I used in Thailand. I told him I was called 'Dragon Leg'. So, that is how Matee 'Dragon Leg' Jedeepitak has reincarnated in America. I won that fight.

I called my father and told him that I was getting to like America and would like to stay the full length of my visa. My father did not have any objection. I stayed in Indianapolis for about a year and a half. I was thinking of moving to California, but one of my students, Mike, who lived in Detroit, contracted me to teach at a Jujitsu gym belonging to his friend, Havry Berman, for one week. Later on, they persuaded me to remain in Detroit.

Not long after I moved to Detroit, I began to know more people - Thai students and some Thai families who settled down here in Detroit, as well as Harvy’s family who have made me feel warm and welcome. I like America even more now, so I called my father in Thailand again. I told him that I wanted to stay here a little longer.

At the present time, I am teaching at Warrior Way, 3100 Old Farm Rd., Ste. 1, Walled Lake, MI 48390. Tel: (248) 960-4884, Cell: (248) 525-7777.

I am the only one with the name 'Dragon Leg' both in Thailand and in America."