Jimmy "Ninja" Chaikong
Jimmy “Ninja” Chaikong was born in Thailand, in the province Nakhon Ratchasima, where his family has trained and studied Muay Thai since the great battles; his Great (6x) grandfather was a royal guard for the 1st Rama the 5th, Chaikong or Chaikang (Strong-Heart). Jimmy was brought to the U.S. as a child where he grew up in West Texas and learned how to be a Cowboy, Gymnast and All-Around Texan. In 1991, he won American Gladiators as seen on TV, went undefeated from 1992-1996 in No Holds Barred fighting, and fought for a world title against Ali Elias Unified Shoot Wrestling Federation. Jimmy learned to play the guitar while attending the University of Oklahoma and eventually was signed by Ron Alexenburg, President of CBS and Epic Records. Jimmy started fighting again 2008 after a ten year layoff from the sport and has never been happier. He taught at his own school in his hometown of Abilene Texas: Jimmy Ninja Fight Club/ Chaikong Jiu Jitsu. He considered his greatest accomplishments to be Peace and Happiness and all of the Wisdom he gained in his short time.
​
​​​​
​​
Those working with the Pandeism Anthology Project were blessed not only to publish his writing in their second volume, Pandeism: An Anthology of the Creative Mind, but to have had long, searching conversations with him. He was funny, wild, self-deprecating, endlessly curious, and vulnerable in ways that most “fighters” never dare to be. His essay entertained and enlightened enough that it was placed as the "final" word of the volume.
​
Jimmy died tragically in a boating accident on August 24, 2025, at Eagle Mountain Lake, Texas, at the age of 52. His memory lives on.
​
​
​