“It’s just my way of giving back to the community. You can see as far as around here there’s nothing unless it’s drugs, alcohol, or any substance. That’s what I call fighting addiction.” – John Wolfe
WELEETKA – Muay Thai Master John Wolfe (Cherokee) and his group of fighters have been training hard for the past nine months, preparing for the StriKing: King of the Ring tournament. The all-Mvskoke group includes Shawn Barnett, John Harjo, Kristopher Herred, Alec Proctor, and Jeremiah Proctor. The fighters come from Southern Region communities on the Muscogee (Creek) Reservation, including Dustin and Weleetka.
Muay Thai is a martial art from Thailand and is practiced in countries across the globe. According to the International Federation of Muaythai Associations, it originated from battlefield techniques and evolved into a cultural expression. It is also known as the art of “fighting with many limbs.”
Modern Muay Thai sees fighters compete by using their fists, elbows, shins, and knees in a boxing ring. Depending on their skill level, fighters may wear gloves, headgear, shin guards, and elbow guards.
Wolfe is a retired professional Muay Thai fighter. His group of fighters ranges in age from 18 to 30. Wolfe explained that it is important to provide constructive activities for young adults in rural communities because they may not have opportunities that offer a sense of purpose, such as Muay Thai.
The idea of opening a Muay Thai gym came when Alex Proctor asked Wolfe to train him to fight. Wolfe offered training free of charge with ground rules: no alcohol, no drugs, and a higher power than yourself.
“God just told me, he said, ‘This is where I want to use you so you can teach these young warriors and save our people’,” Wolfe said.
Wolfe’s Den, or “The Basement,” as he calls it, is a no-frills gym that features the bare essentials for training. Located in the basement of a former church, it doesn’t have running air conditioning or heat. Wolfe said the results are worth it.
“What you put into it, in the gym, is what you’re going to see in the end. My gym offers them an opportunity to change,” Wolfe said.
Alec Proctor (Mvskoke) and his brother Jeremiah “Bear” Proctor (Mvskoke) are two of Wolfe’s fighters from Dustin, both are from Green Leaf grounds.
They have seen personal change since they started training at Wolfe’s Den. Alec Proctor said Wolfe’s Den feels like home because he can be himself. He explained that it has helped him get in shape, develop discipline, and gain a strong sense of self-worth.
“Your mentality is what will hold you back. But being here, you have nothing to hold you back. You have a right to be yourself and be your most potential with your higher self,” Alec Proctor said.
Jeremiah Proctor has undergone a huge change since he began training. When he started, he weighed 230 pounds; now he is down to 170 after six months. Jeremiah Proctor explained that he is not the same person he was when he first stepped into the gym.
“It’s a life changer for me,” Jeremiah Proctor said. “When I first got into this stuff, I was weighing at 230, and I would say it was really depressing at that point. I was eating a lot, and I didn’t really do nothing. When I got here, man, it was something else. My food schedule has changed. The time I was spending here was pretty good.”
The StriKing: King of the Ring tournament will take place on Saturday, Nov. 21, at the Southeast Expo Center in McAlester. The expo center is located at 4500 West US-270. Doors open at 5 p.m., the first bout starts at 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at strikingfc.com.
