Hong Man Choi

May 1, 2007

Hong Man Choi was the Korean Sumo Wrestling Champion (Yokozuna) who is taking K-1 by storm. At 218 cm tall and 160kg he is showing that he can move for a big man. After entering K-1 Hong Man Choi went with 6 straight victories and has building up steam ever since his leap into K-1. Hong Man Choi went up against Hawaiian local, Mike Malone who was undefeated and showed Hawaii that he is something serious. Mike quickly found out why Hong Man Choi is not as slow as he would seem. Hong Man Choi went on to beat Mike and walked away with a smooth victory. Hawaiimode was able to get a special one-on-one interview with Hong Man Choi and see just what the fighter is thinking when he's in the ring as well as outside of the ring.

─ THERE ARE A LOT OF KOREAN FANS IN HAWAII?
YES THERE IS AND THEY CAME OUT TO SEE ME AND IT FELT GOOD.

─ THE OTHER NIGHT U FOUHGT WITH A K-1 FIGHTER NAMED MIKE MALONE? HE IS 12-0 WERE U NEVROUS AT ALL?
NO I WASN'T.

─ SO WHAT DO U THINK OF BEFORE A FIGHT?
I THINK OF NOTHING BEFORE I GET INTO THE RING. ONCE IM IN THERE I FOCUS ON JUST MY TASK,WHICH IS TO WIN.

─ SO WITH U BEING SO MUCH BIGGER THEN THE OTHER FIGHTERS DO U FEEL LIKE ITS AND ADVANTAGE OR DISADVANTAGE?
WELL THERES THE GOOD AND ASLO THE BAD BUT ALL IN ALL ITS HALF AND HALF.

─ OVERALL U FOUGHT GREAT AND THREW SOME HIGH KICKS AND KNEES.WERE U TRYING TO KNOCK HIM OUT AND IS THAT SOMETHING U PRACTICE?
YES I DO, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME TO ALWAYS GET BETTER WITH EACH FIGHT AND IMPRESS THE FANS.ITS HARD ON ME BUT I LIKE TO SEE THE FANS ENJOY THEMSELVES.

─ DO U HAVE ANY FUN WHILE FIGHTING?
YES, BUT ITS ALSO VERY DRAINING ON ME BUT I LIKE TO DO IT.

─ SO ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO I SAW U FIGHT AT THE ALOHA STADIUM WITH AKEBONO IS THE LAST TIME U WERE HERE? SO IT'S YOUR SECOND TIME HERE?
YES.

─ NICE SO WHEN YOU'RE IN HAWAII WHATS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO GO?
I LOVE WAIKIKI IT HAS A NICE FEEL TO IT.THE BEUATIFUL BEACH DOESN'T HURT EITHER.

─ SO IM ASSUMINIG THAT THERES NOT MUCH BEACHES IN KOREA?
LOL NOT REALLY

─ SO DO U HAVE ANY FAVORITE SHOPS IN HAWAII?
I DO I LIKE THEM ALL.I WENT ALAMOANA, TOO.

─ DO THEY ACTUALLY HAVE YOUR SIZE?
YEAH SURPRSINGLY THEY DO.

─ SO NEXT TIME YOU'RE HERE WHAT PLANS DO U HAVE IN STORE?
I WOULD LOVE TO GO TO THE BEACH MORE AND GET A TAN.

─ DO U LIKE TO SWIM?
IM A FISH OUT OF WATER LOL.

Hong Man Choi writing sign for hawaiimode

─ SO U HAVE A LOT OF FANS IN HAWAII DO HAVE ANY LAST WORDS FOR THEM?
YES, THAT I LOVE HAWAII AND THE FIRST TIME I WAS HERE I DIDN'T KNOW MUCH. BUT AFTER COMING BACK HERE AND GETTING TO KNOW THE PEOPLE AND CULTURE IVE GROWN VERY FOND OF HAWAII. I WOULD LIKE TO COMEBACK MANY MORE TIMES AND CONNECT WITH THE PEOPLE MORE.

─ I JUST HAVE A SMALL FAVOR TO ASK IF U COULD SAY HI IM HONG MAN CHOI PLEASE CHECK OUT HAWAIIMODE.COM ALOHA.
UHHH THAT'S TOO LONG FOR ME LOL.

Hong man Choi was extremely shy during our short interview. The way he was holding the pen and singing the "Reader's Present" was so cute. I like him even him more now. He cares about his fans. We look forward to see him shine in the ring again with warm smile.

　::: profile :::