YOUR Interview with Ivan Hippolyte (July 2002)

This was your interview with Ivan Hippolyte, these questions were emailed in by the readers of Muaythai Online.


Thanks to all of you that sent in your questions. Our next "your chance to interview" interview will be with Ramon Dekker.

Ivan Hippolyte is a true legend of muaythai from the popular Vos Gym in Amsterdam. Trained by Johan Vos he was widely regarded as a true undisputed world champion. Now he teaches at Vos Gym full time working with the likes of Veneetian and Hoost.

Hi Ivan, I live in NZ, a long way from Holland, but I've seen some of your fights on tape and I'm a huge fan of your technique (overall) and power (especially in the left hook and low kicks)!!
Can you please give us an example of a typical training day for you when you were back in your prime?
Ivan: At 8.00 I would go running for an hour. After that some fitness and padswork. In the evening techniques and sparring. In a rest period I would do this 3 times a week. Before a fight 5 times a week.

Also, now that you have become a trainer, what would be the 3 most important things you would give as advice to a young fighter?
Thanks, and all the best for all your future endeavours!!
Vince Betham
gym - VUW (www.vuwkickboxing.com)
Ivan: 1.Always think about your training but don’t forget your studies. 2. Don’t abuse your body. No alcohols or drugs. 3.Never underestimate your opponents.

Kia ora(greetings)-from new zealand. I admire you for your awesome fighting ability, in particular, your preparation for world title fights. I wanted to know what types of mental and physical preparation you did for world title fights and if ever, differed from non-title fights?
-thank you,
Jayson Awa,Gladiator gym, New Zealand.
Ivan: I never made a difference between title or non-title fights. My preparation was always the same. Take every fight seriously and the preparation will always be the same.

Questions to Ivan Hippolyte by Barry O'Sullivan, Barnet u.k, diablo muay thai age 15

1. Can you please tell us about your fight(s) with tony Moore? Tony Moore was a substitute. I was thankful that he decided to fight, therefore I had a fight. I won on knockout in round three (I believe).

2. what would you recommend to anyone having their first fight?
Make sure that your preparation was ok and enter the ring with the idea that you will give 100%. Better than that you cant do.

3. who was your hardest opponent?
Jomhod Kidiathisak and Rayan Simson.

4. what was your fave technique?
Right lowkicks and the elbows.

5. how do you see muay thai developing in the future? thank you very much, barry o'sullivan
It's getting more professional and therefore worldwide accepted.

hi ivan,
you haved fought mungkordet kiatprasarnchai a few times. the second time in thailand he haved knocked you out,when you was on the ground with a knee to your head. that's illegal !! what do you think after all these years about this knock Out!?
Dirk Stal
Dordrecht / holland
I have never train or fight,but i'm a great fighting fan,
Ivan: Yes that was my only KO in my career. During those times it was accepted in Thailand to hold your opponents leg and run a few meters backwards. At the moment he falls you may land a kick to the body or head.
A few months later it was prohibited. You couldn’t make this move anymore. The referee will now stop you from doing that. I think this is better.

Hi Mr.Hippolyte,My name is Joey Strongquill and I am a huge fan of yours.i train at pine falls thai boxing gym in canada as an active amatuer level fighter. I am planning a trip overseas in the near future to learn more about muay thai.where would recomend going to train? Would it be possible to come and train with you?
Ivan: Of course it is possible to train at Vos-Gym Amsterdam. For the address you can contact hippo@vos-gym.nl

Thanks for giving us the opportunity to ask questions - much appreciated! I train under Mike Tobin out of the Nongkee Payuth gym in Leeds. I have training related questions. What weight training would you recommend in conjunction with at least 3 muay thai training sessions a week? i.e. exercises, reps, weights, frequency. Any help or referral to a book would be welcomed. I am trying to find a balance between maintaining strength while not compromising my thai boxing sessions.

Ivan: It depended on your actual weight. I suggest doing the reps. 3x a week. Bring the attention on your upper body. By running and pad work you will train the legs frequently.

Also, regarding running, what types of runs are recommended? e.g. Normal steady pace 4/5 miles v 3 mile fartlek (fast/slow type run) v sprint training? What will help by boxing fitness the best?
Thanks in advance for taking time out to look at these questions,
Michael Fargin,
Nongkee Payuth (Leeds).
Ivan: All this running is good. You body will tell if it is too much and what is right for you.

When you fought Tai Kin in the K3 '95 final you kept an exceptionally high pace over the 5 rounds that it lasted even though you had already fought Champeuk and Atokawa that evening. What were you thinking/ feeling going into that final round (your 12th of the evening) and what was your corner saying to you? Cheers. Gareth Yeulet, Sabaai Machida gym, Tokyo
Ivan: My corner didn’t have too say anything. I know that is was the finale. I think the reason that I win the K-3 and not Tai Kin was that when we enter the 5th round Tai Kin must have say to himself that he had to give 100%. And I was thinking that time to give 200%. That makes a difference.

Dear Mr. Hippolyte, I am from Bosnia and train and live at the moment in the UK. I would like to know what was your training routine before fights, how many times a week did you train and how, pad work, sparring, what was the usual day of Mr. Hippolyte? Thank you in advance and I am looking forward to receive your answer.
Ivan: Hello Amir. I believe I answer your question in the beginning. Look on top by the question of Vince Betham. Hope to inform you enough.


One of the greatest problems to any one who wants to become a good Thai Boxer is a structured training program to develop all necessary skills ( power, focus, timing, speed etc ) from day one. How did you become a world champion in terms of a training program ? Regards Alasdair Cumberworth Kai Loa Camp - Tangerine gym
Ivan: See question by Vince Betham

Sawasdee Sempai Hippolyte,
My name is Terfel Odnal from Phoenix Arizona and I am a big fan of both you and Jerry Morris, however...as far as I can remember you never had a match-up against eachother which to me is a very strange happening; You fought Simpson but failed to battle Morris..how's that?
Ivan: When you reach a level like mine you cant chose your opponent. I fought almost every strong fighter in my waitcatogorie. The promoters will then go and find you a equal opponent. They never come op with the name Jerry Morris. So if it was on me I had known problem fighting him.

Hello Mr. Hyppolyte, do you think the Dutch Muay Thai style(more combos and more punchs) is better than the Muay Thai style from Thailand.
Thank you very much.
Bruno Lurette from Canada
Ivan: I will not say better. But we prove that it is the only way of beating the Thais. So I think that both are effective.

I'm 27 years old would like to get into Muaythai as a hobby or fitness regime would you suggest this for someone like me who hasn't been active for approx. a 10 year period; was athletic when in school yet feels a need for discipline and fitness. Is it to late to learn?
Thank You for your time,
Chris Ward
Ivan: No not at all. Go and buy yourself some boxing gloves and shin protectors. Have fun in muaythai!