"BABY FIGHTS"

Joe, Lucas and I decided to go to Pattaya to see the some fights. 2 kids from Fairtex camp were on the card so we wanted see them fight and give them some support. It’s also a great way to learn. So about 4pm we were ready. Potae (Joe’s trainer) got a cab to drive us there. We were 4 adults and 2 children (the fighters) in a small car. The road there was bumpy in the beginning and a cloud of dust laid ahead of us. We were 2 hours away from the venue. The children, 11 and 12 years old, have had already about 40-50 fights which made me feel like the “baby”. They were joking and singing in the car giving me the impression we were going to the Zoo for a fun time. We have arrived at the Fairtex camp in Pattaya where we stopped to stretch out our bodies and had a soda at a local bodega. I was sitting there watching the kids run around when I noticed a couple at the next table, a beautiful Thai girl in her 20’s with an old rich Caucasian man. My stomach turned…too soon…because shortly 2 more couples showed up of the same kind. Joe and Lucas saw the horror on my face and shortly after we left. I just couldn’t understand how those men can be so slimy and low to take advantage of those girls. We got back in the cab and went to the venue. I got off the car and heard the traditional Thai music playing and immediately smelt the liniment. I felt the adrenaline rush. The ticket was 1000 bah ($30) which I thought was pretty expensive for Thailand. But most Thai pay that because they can bet on the fighters and make good money. And they scream and get very excited making large gestures. No, I didn’t bet. It just didn’t seems right. The venue was empty, the fighters started to show up and lay a blanket on the concrete floor and settle. I was still nervous to see those little kids fight. They go for 5 rounds (2 min each) with no protective gear and full muay thai rules (including elbows and knees to the head). The first fight I watched closing my eyes every time the kids were hitting each other so I haven’t seen much of that bout. Next, one the boys from our camp was scheduled. He was sitting on the bench waiting his turn and looked like he was about to cry. Then he got in the ring and his entire demeanor changed. He was strong and controlled and imperturbable. And he was 11. The fight ended with victory for our camp. After the fight I congratulated him and gave him a hug. He got all shy and childish again. I bought him candy and soda and he was laughing and running around as an eleven year old boy should. There were several boys fights and a few adult fights. I noticed a very interesting and sportsmanlike thing. If by the fourth round one of the fighters was clearly winning then in the 5th round the fighters were just circling each other waiting for the bell. It is a sign of respect. I found that very impressive. It is important that the fighters don’t get too hurt during a bout. A bad cut or injury might keep them out of the fighting game for a while and that means no income. Towards the end of the night two little girls about 8 years old got in the ring to battle for the belt. And that fight was incredible to watch. Not only they were really good but they were taunting each other. They did put on a great show. They were so cute and so vicious! Finally the show ended around 11:30 pm with the victory of one of the kids from Fairtex. People bet a lot of money on him but he wasn’t doing that great. He did win the fight but he was sad and refused to eat or drink afterwards considering his performance poor. It was hard to see a child feeling that burden. We got back to the camp around 2:30am. We slept in the car the way back and I felt like I was the one fighting all those bouts. It was an intense experience.

RAMBO

Another training week ended. I worked mostly with Rambo but I ocasionally got other trainers to hold pads or help me with bag work. One of them is Tim, who has helped make my tehnique and movements more fluid. He asked me to take a picture with him that was published in a Thai magazine. But Rambo is my main trainer. He warmed up to me and I to him and now a bond is forming. I had several injuries for the past couple of days and Rambo helped me a lot and made my pain easier to endure during the training sessions. He is really fun and I tease him about being a Hollywood star. He really seems to enjoy the camera and given the opportunity he strikes what he thinks is one of the most magnificent and macho poses. During the last training session of the week I did some sparring without shinpads. After one of the kicks I felt this sharp pain in front of my leg but I kept going. When the round was over I looked down and saw on my shin a huge bulge the size of a new born baby head. I felt a bit panicked already having more injuries than ever. Rambo saw it and got worried. He immediately got some ice and massaged the swollen area while I was in nauseating pain. After 10 minutes the bulge was gone and my leg felt better even if a huge bruise appeared as evidence of a still painful injury. I have off tomorrow and I expect a full recovery by Monday.

NO IQ!

“No IQ” is what the Thai trainers tell the “farangs” when they make a mistake. The farangs are us, the foreigners. My intelligence is being judged by a weak punch or an off distance kick. “No IQ” means we are not thinking which leads us to make mistakes and mistakes in a fight can lead to a sorrowful end. Still, in the beginning I found it very demeaning but then I learned to ignore it. There are some things I just have to accept that I can’t change.

These days I learned more about the Thai trainers and the people working at the camp. I am also trying to learn some Thai and I walk around the camp in the evening with this book I got from the mall trying to find some kid willing to help me learn. So far I can barely count to 10 and say a few basic words. It is still a start.

Training is getting harder and the rounds are getting longer. They are 6 minutes each with 1 minute rest and that minute goes by very fast. The closer we get to the fights more rigorous the training program gets. When I think it can’t get any more intense it does. When I feel like I can’t push anymore I find more inside myself to give. I started to feel more comfortable at the camp. I guess human nature is able to adapt. I am still minority though and still have to wait around for a trainer to hold pads for me. Men are always the priority. In the few days left I am trying to stay focused and find more inner strength.

It's time to rest...

There are two months since I turned 32 and I find myself delighted… not because I would have gotten a new car or a promotion or anything related to any kids I should have had at this age… I am delighted to successfully end the eight consecutive days of strenuous training. Although my body is full of bruises and in a kind of pain I have never experienced before I have no injuries and I my love for the sport is still present. So, I decided it was time for a massage, not the regular massage you get at the spa but a traditional Thai massage. The price for one hour was 159 Bah (about $4.90). They were the best $4.90 I spent. The place was about 5 minutes cab ride from the camp. It was small and nicely lit. There were four beds lined up and the room was nicely decorated. A small very polite Thai lady welcomed me and offered me comfortable pajamas. She started stretching me like a bored kid is stretching chewing gum and she pressed on my poor overused muscles as if she wanted to mould them in different shapes. I couldn’t relax the first 10 minutes thinking to myself I didn’t need more pain. Slowly I gave in and closed my eyes listening to the sounds around me…there were sounds of waterfall and birds chirping and soothing music…She walked on my back as if she was on 5th avenue and it felt amazing. She poked me with her knees and her elbows, stretched my body in pretzel like positions and in a very miraculous way she reconstructed my body that I could again recognize as my own. After some delicious ginger tea I returned to the camp and snacked on sweet pineapple and coconut cookies. I have the rest of the day and tomorrow to rest.

A week to remember...

This week was one of my toughest challenges in life. I understand physical pain more that ever and I have been tested in my endurance and determination. I went through an emotional roller coaster and it was interesting to see how inventive I can get to motivate myself to get out of bed in the morning and train. My sleep is weird as if I am stuck in between two universes where I am not awake but not fully asleep. When I do get some sleep the dreams are so vivid and irrational as if everything that was pushed away in my subconscious mind struggles to set free. The morning run is the time when my doubts and certainties compete against each other. Then I get in the ring with Rambo and the mind gets silent focusing on hitting and punching. Rambo said to me I don’t have enough power but I have been punching so hard that the skin of my knuckles peeled off and the I have been kicking until bruises covered my shins giving them the color of ripped plums. But I guess there is more inside me and I need to let it out.

The Beautiful Boxer

I met the her….I met The Beautiful Boxer. Her name is Nong Toom. She introduced herself to me this way: ”I am Nong Toom, the beautiful boxer” . I knew about her because she really is a legend in Thailand and I have already seen the movie which I totally recommend (“The Beautiful Boxer’). She was born a boy and started thaiboxing at an early age to support her poor family and to save money for sex change surgery. She was one of the most renowned champions and the most controversial. Now she is fully a woman and I must admit she is beautiful. Everyone at the camp knows her and we get a kick out of the newcomers who are attracted to her and are completely shocked when they find out who she is. Well, we need to have some fun too. I had a short conversation with Nong Toom and being the only girl training at the camp it was easier to connect. She lives two doors away from my room. I am in H and she is in J. She is nice person and I have a lot of respect for her as a fighter but also for the courage she had, the courage to admit who she really is in a society and a world of male fighters who despised her choices. I hope to get to know her better and learn more about her and her life.

A six year old with a six pack

What amazed most so far is how young the fighters are. I was watching a few kids train and practicing clinch and although I knew theoretically they start at an early age seeing it so close gave me shivers. One if the trainers’ son who is about 6 years old not only has incredible technique and stamina, he also has a 6 pack. I am not exaggerating one bit. And I realized that growing up in Romania was not as bad as I thought; not to mention how privileged I feel to be living in New York. Thai fighters compete because they have no choice. The 6 year old fighter is the provider for his family and the training he goes through is grueling. The training I have been through so far seems grueling and I have some work to do to get at that level. The Thai trainers don’t care much about the foreigners (“farang”) because they don’t understand their motivation to fight. So, I am even more of a shock for them, being a woman and having a certain age and a certain look. And being the only woman training at the camp is really not an easy position to be in. I realize now how lucky I have been to be part of Team Ardon Sweet Science and have the guys there for me supporting me, respecting and accepting me as one of their own.

The trainer who seemed to care just a little bit more than the others was Rambo. He waved at me to get in the ring the other day and I was nervous but excited at the same time. Rambo is a short chubby guy who laughs happily every time he catches me with a punch or kick. For our first training session Rambo laughed a lot. He can’t remember my name. He calls me “miss” or “lady” and he is really tough on me but fun to train with. And so it seems that I found my trainer and luckily he has a name to remember. Today’s morning session was brutal. I woke up at 5:45am. After a 20min warm up on the treadmill, I was called by Rambo in the ring and went for 3 rounds (each 4 minutes). The rounds with Rambo seem longer than 4 minutes (also because he wasn’t always respecting the 1 minute of break I had either)…I felt like Sisyphus and I tried hard to accept my predicament. Those rounds were followed by rounds on the bag kneeing and kicking hundreds of times and than sit-ups. I finished the session with a 10min round of clinching with one of the young kids who was effortless in everything he was doing. A few hours later I was back in the ring with Rambo for more rounds. This time Rambo made me work harder and the more tired I was getting the more fun he seemed to be having.

Fairtex Camp, Bangplee - The Journey Begins...

After a very long but colorful flight I have arrived at Fairtex camp last night. The camp is really modest and the rooms are small and very simple. I got a shared room but I don’t have a roommate just yet.

It was quiet when me and Joe (my trainer and teammate) got here. All training sessions were over and because one of Fairtex fighters was fighting at Lumpini Stadium everyone was there to support him and also try to make some money from betting on the fighters (it’s legal here). I was tired but my heart was filled with excitement. Around 10pm I fell asleep really deeply but I woke up at 4:30am. I unsuccessfully tried to get at least another hour of sleep. I think it was more the excitement and the anticipation of the training session than the jetlag. Around 5:30am I heard someone kicking the bag and I knew it’s time to start my day. By the time I got ready the four rings were full with the trainers and students. Before I even got to hit the bag, one of the trainers heard I am a fighter and refused to believe it commenting with a big smile that I am too pretty. I knew that moment I will have a lot to prove to be taken seriously. But everyone was full of joy all the time. There was great energy and it was contagious. My first training partner who held pads for me was a kid about 12-13 years old maybe. But don’t be fooled by the age. He is incredible and I enjoyed every minute of those rounds. So, slowly the trainers started to pay attention and I was gaining credibility more and more.

The breakfast was served at 9am in a small room leading to the kitchen where I met other guys (from different parts of the world) already training at the camp. The meal consisted of rice, chicken and fried eggs and a noodle soup. It was a delicious meal and I was surprised not to miss my daily muffin and jug of coffee…That’s right. I had no coffee and I don’t miss it…yet… However I am fully prepared if those times of insane caffeinecravings will arrive.

This afternoon the second training session will take place. And I can’t wait. I hope to be able to try different trainers and eventually chose one… and also remember his name. I and the Thais do have something in common. I can’t remember their names more than they can remember mine. Actually they can’t even pronounce mine and it is quite entertaining hearing them struggle with it. I am sure they will eventually come up with a nickname for me.