DAVID ISMALONE
INTERVIEW OF DAVID ISMALONE
BY SERGE TREFEU (2017)
Serge TREFEU: Hello David and thank you for granting me this interview, how long have you been interested in combat sports?
DAVID ISMALONE: I’ve been interested in fighting sports from an early age, I was watching the films of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan
You started boxing at what age?
I started boxing at the age of 14. I made my first fight in Thai boxing at 14
How you discovered the Thai boxing and what attracted you in this sport?
I discovered the Thai boxing in city of Strasbourg with André Panza (6 times world champion of Kickboxing, twice world champion of Savate Boxing, world champion of Full-contact karate) when he fought Krongsak (World championship of Kickboxing gained by Krongsak in 1993). I found the cool Thai boxing and I wanted to make it
When you began the Thai boxing, what is what there are champions who inspired you?
No, I was inspired rather by the sport in itself
In which year you were for the first time in Thailand?
I came in Thailand for the first time in 1997
You were in which camp to train you in Thailand?
I belonged at first to Koh Samui to Pi Sen in the Chaweng stadium. Then, I went on Bangkok to the camp Chochutirat
How took place the trainings within the Thai camps?
The trainings were really top!
You fought in France or directly in Thailand?
I made at first more than twenty fights in France for Panza, then in Thailand
You made how many fights in your career?
I made 68 fights
What were the known fighters you faced?
I met Payap Premchai (Champion of Thailand) in the stadium of Raja with a million baht dumpan in game. I beat him in points. I also faced Nokweed Davy (Raja Champion in three different categories) to Koh Samui with a 500 000-baht dumpan in game, I lost in points…
What was your hardest opponent?
Against Nokweed Davy, he was cunning, it was a very hard fight
Did you win any titles?
No I have never disputed for a title, I have never had the opportunity
You often fought in the stadium of Ratchadamnoen?
I always had of the chance in the stadium of Raja, I have never lost of fight in Raja, I felt good in this stadium!
DAVID ISMALONE AT THE RAJA STADIUM BEFORE A FIGHT
FIGHT IN RAJA STADIUM
DAVID ISMALONE AT RAJA AFTER A FIGHT
Today, you lived in Thailand, what is that you are married with a Thai, what is what you speak the Thai usually?
Yes I speak the Thai and I’m married with a Thai actress
Do you continue to train in Muay Thai for fitness?
Yes I train as much as possible for the shape and for the pleasure
You became now an actor and a stuntman in Thailand, how you had this opportunity to go into the world of the cinema, it’s thanks to your skills in Muay Thai?
Yes I began the cinema thanks to the Thai boxing. It was for the movie Ong Bak, he looked for somebody who could take himself real knocks…
Your first role was in the famous movie Ong Bak beside the star Tony Jaa, you can speak to us about your role in this movie?
My role was the fighter ” Mad Dog “, I play a fight scene against Tony Jaa
DAVID ISMALONE AND TONY JAA, IT WOULD BE BETTER DO NOT SEARCH THESE TWO PUNCHERS
JEAN-CLAUDE VANDAMME, TONY JAA, DAVID ISMALONE, THREE BIGWIGS OF THE ACTION CINEMA
Then, you have played in several important action movies, you can detail the roles you played in these movies which are among others, Beautiful Boxer, Vampires 3, The 5th Commandment, Fighting Fish, The Honor of the Dragon 2, Mystic Blade?
I played a little bit of everything. But always the role of the bad guy. I like being the bad boy in movies
You are now also a stuntman recognized by Asia, on what moment you began to work as stuntman?
I began the stunt in Jackie Chan’s movie, it was just before the movie Ong Bak. “The Medallion” was my stuntman’s first movie with Jackie Chan
REPEATING OF A SCENE OF STUNT WITH TONY JAA
What are the scenes of fights that you made or choreographed as stuntman?
I made many scenes of fights, the most known are the one in The Ong Bak, the last one is with David Belle in MMA. As choreographer I also made many scenes of stunts
DAVID ISMALONE ALIAS ” MAD DOG ” IN ONE OF THE CULT SCENES OF MOVIE ONG BAK
In the Max Sport Gym camp in Bangkok, there was a session for the stuntmen where I think you trained, are you still preparing in this camp for the stunts?
No, but I continue to train at Max Sport Gym in Thai boxing. But not for stunts
DAVID ISMALONE WITH HIS WIFE AT MAX SPORT GYM
It’s hard to work with Thai people in the world of action cinema?
No, but working with Thai people is “sabai sabai” (Cool, quiet). I have to push them to work faster…
You also tried the adventure in the realization with first the film “Aukmen” in 2009 in which plays the great champion Kaoklai Kaennorasing then “Bangkok Fighter” released in 2012?
Aukmen was my first film as a director, I learned a lot about cinema by making this film
What is what you follow the current events of the French and foreign champions of Muay Thai of today?
Not really, I just go to see the fights when buddies fight
You go assisted fights in the big stadiums of Bangkok?
I went in the event of Jean-Charles (Skarbowsky) to the stadium of Raja (Best Of Siam 10). It really pleased me to see Jean-Charles as promoter in Raja, he made a beautiful evening!
Have you known Jean-Charles Skarbowsky for a long time?
I met Jean-Charles in 2000 in Koh Samui, we were in the same camp, Pi Sen camp
DAVID ISMALONE IS A LONG-DAY FRIEND OF THE JEAN-CHARLES SKARBOWSKY CHAMPION. DAVID ISMALONE IN SKARBOWSKY GYM OF BANGKOK WITH SCARAFINO, RENÉ DESJARDIN, PIPA, JEAN-CHARLES SKARBOWSKY, ROB COX, CHAOWALIT JOCKYGYM, ANTOINE AND VICTOR PINTO
What is what you fought in the same events?
He made my corner during my fights, I made his corner also. But we have never fought in the same event…
FIGHTERS OF THE YEARS 2000. JEAN-CHARLES SKARBOWSKY, DINA PEDRO, CYRIL GOUAIDA, DAVID ISMALONE, FAISAL ZAKARIA
Do you have friends Muay Thai champions?
Yes I have many friends Muay Thai champions
DAVID ISMALONE WITH YODSEANKLAI FAIRTEX
DAVID ISMALONE WITH SAIYOK PUMPANMUANG
DAVID ISMALONE WITH SOMRAK KAMSING WHO PLAYED IN THE FILM BY DAVID ISMALONE «AUKMEN»
SAENCHAI, DAVID ISMALONE, BUAKAW
What are your projects for the year 2017?
In 2017, I have two films as a stunt coordinator and a film as a director…
Thank you for this interview and CHOOKDEE for your projects!
Thank you Serge
David Ismalone made most of his fights in Thailand, he fought several times in the stadium of Radja, was classified even very well in category + 75 kg in the early 2000s. French was entitled has an article on his fights in Thailand in the famous Thai magazine of boxing Muay Siam. He faced Thai great names such as Payap Premchai and Nokweed Davy (Died in 2016).
Payap was a champion of Thailand and big winner of a tournament important for the stadium of Rangsit by beating formidable Lakchart Sor Prasartporn by stop of the referee in finale (1987). Payap was one of the hardest opponents whom legendary Rob Kaman faced. Nokweed gained the belt of Raja in 122 lbs, 126 lbs and 130 lbs as well as world champion WMC’s belt in 147 lbs. He also fought in the tournament K1 heavyweight against in particular the star Jérôme Le Banner and the Australian champion Paul Slowinski.
David Ismalone lives now in Thailand where he became an actor and a stuntman recognized in the world of the cinema of action. He shot in big productions such as Ong Bak with Tony Jaa, Fast and Furious with Vin Diesel, Bangkok Reavenges with Djimon Hounsou, The Medallion with Jackie Chan and recently he took care of stunts of the movie Pattaya of Franck Gastambide and A Prayer Before Dawn of Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire. The wife of David Ismalone, Ying Julaluck Ismalone is also an actress known in Thailand which played in Brutal, Aukmen and Bangkok Fighter, she also realized the movie Fighting Fish!
DAVID ISMALONE AND YING JULALUCK ISMALONE
DAVID ISMALONE WITH JEAN-CLAUDE VANDAMME
SCENE OF SHOT IN PATTAYA FILM WITH GAD ELMALEH (ACTOR COMIC)
DAVID ISMALONE WITH VIN DIESEL
BUKAW, DAVID ISMALONE, TONY JAA
DAVID ISMALONE WITH THE FAMOUS THAI GROUP CARABAO
DAVID ISMALONE, DJIMON HOUNSOU, TONY JAA, JOHN CENATIEMPO, JASON STATHAM, OF SOLID IN ACTION FILM
DOLPH LUNDGREN, TONY JAA, DAVID ISMALONE
DAVID ISMALONE WITH JON FOO
THE CINEMATOGRAPHIC CV OF DAVID ISMALONE:
Actor :
2016 Brutal : Taste of Violence (TV Mini-Series)
The Ukrainian
2014 Mystic Blade
Cage
2013 The Dragon’s Honor 2
No. 24
2012 Fighting Fish
Jack
2008 The 5th Commandment
Henchman / Bodyguard
2006 The Treasure of Barbe-Noire (TV Mini-Series)
Cpt. Jean D’Ocier
2006 Gumball 3000 : Drivin’ Me Crazy (Video)
2005 Vampires 3 – The last eclipse of the sun
Boxer
2004 Beautiful Boxer
Foreigner in Patpong
2003 Ong-bak
Mad Dog
Director :
2014 Mystic Blade
2012 Fighting Fish (Action director)
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
2011 Bangkok Renaissance (First assistant director)
Writer :
2009 Aukmen (Video)
Producer :
2014 Mystic Blade (Producer)
Stunt :
2016 A Prayer Before Dawn (Stunt coordinator, Fight choreographer)
2016 Brutal Tast Of Violence (Stunt character)
2016 Bunty Hunters (Stunt character)
2016 Pattaya (Stunt coordinator)
2016 Mechanic Ressurection (Stunt actor)
2015 Fast et Furious 7 (Action coordinator)
2011 Bangkok Renaissance (Stunt coordinator)
2009 A great family (TV Series) (stunts – 1 episode)
2009 Otages (Stunt)
2008 The 5th Commandment (Stunt performer)
2006 The Treasure of Barbe-Noire (TV Mini-Series) (Stunt double – 3 episodes)
2006 Ultraviolet (Stunts)
2005 Vampires 3 – The last eclipse of the sun (Stunts)
2005 The Empire of the Tiger (TV Movie) (Stunts)
2005 The mysterious island (TV Movie) (Stunts)
2004 Alexandre (Stunts)
2004 The sons of the wind (Stunts)
2004 Beautiful Boxer (Stunts)
2003 One go for hell (Video) (Stunts)
2003 The medallion (Stunts)
2003 The Twins Effect (Stunts)
2003 Ong-bak (Stunts)