| One Friday night in January I was in Hua Hin, | | | | imaginary punch his way, which he would |
| Thailand with nothing to do so I decided to | | | | deflect with his hands, much to the delight |
| go and watch the "Friday Night Muay Thai | | | | of the crowd. This continued until she |
| contest" held at Grand Sport Hua Hin on | | | | reached his corner, with him knocking away |
| Petchkasem Road. I had received a flyer | | | | her imaginary punches each time. Then she |
| earlier in the street promoting the event and | | | | would head back towards her ring, two or |
| decided that it might be worth checking | | | | three slow steps at a time, looking back over |
| out.Apparently there are two Muay Thai venues | | | | her shoulder with each step, give him an |
| in Hua Hin and this wasn't the "real" one, | | | | appraising look, shake her head and take some |
| but if I wanted to go that night I didn't | | | | more steps. Finally she looked satisfied that |
| have much of a choice. It wasn't a stadium as | | | | he was weakened enough and she concluded her |
| such, more like a gym that had a ring in the | | | | dance. I don't think I can sufficiently |
| middle and some chairs set up on two sides. I | | | | explain how exciting this was.Finally the |
| believe they have Muay Thai lessons there | | | | match gets underway, and just like a mouse's |
| every day. There wasn't a live band there | | | | heart beats a hundred times faster than the |
| either so the music didn't get faster as the | | | | much larger dog, their movements seemed to be |
| matches progressed, we had to make do with a | | | | a lot faster than the previous boxers' |
| taped loop.The admission price was 500 baht, | | | | movements. I was as excited if not more so |
| a little expensive I was informed by a local | | | | than the rest of the crowd. Her arms were |
| bar owner, but I wasn't complaining. Also any | | | | longer than his so she was getting in a few |
| tuk tuk or taxi in Hua Hin will take you to | | | | more punches than he was. Whenever she hit |
| the venue for free, just show them the flyer. | | | | him I'd let out a roaring cheer, however when |
| That amazed me.The first fight started at | | | | he kicked her I would cringe and have to |
| 9pm, if I remember correctly it was a couple | | | | stifle a cry of , "Hey she's a girl! leave |
| of 12 year old or so boys. Interesting enough | | | | her alone!!" I think I might have been a |
| and I was amazed by their already ripped | | | | little too into it. The rounds were only two |
| physiques, especially their stomach muscles. | | | | minutes each as opposed to the 3 minute |
| There were a number of other fights including | | | | rounds of the older fighters, but by the 4th |
| a 16 year old girl versus a 19 year old girl | | | | round the girl's face was showing clear signs |
| that was stopped after the second round | | | | that she was getting tired. My heart broke. |
| because the older girl sustained an injury. | | | | After a while though I started to have |
| After a while a section on one side of the | | | | terrible misgivings about the whole |
| ring that didn't have any seats set up by it | | | | adventure. Thoughts like "What are you |
| started to fill up with Thai patrons. A | | | | watching?!" and "You are paying people who |
| number of them had brought blankets and were | | | | make two little kids fight!" ran through my |
| sitting there watching the matches. I | | | | mind. I was feeling very conflicted by the |
| remember wondering at the time if they too | | | | whole situation. I was able to put those |
| had paid 500 baht to get in. Somehow I | | | | thoughts to the back of my mind though when |
| doubted it.Anyway, to get to the point of | | | | they announced that the winner was the girl. |
| this story, one of the main events that was | | | | The whole place erupted and I am not afraid |
| being touted all night by the announcer was a | | | | to say that I almost had a tear in my eye. I |
| match between a nine year old boy and a nine | | | | was so happy for her.But then I started to |
| year old girl. This long awaited match | | | | feel a little sorry for the boy, who not only |
| finally got underway at 11pm. As they were | | | | had to live with being beaten by a girl, but |
| entering the ring it was announced that the | | | | he had lost 7000 baht (if that story was to |
| boy was so confident that he would win that | | | | be believed.) After the fight both of the |
| he had bet 7000 baht on himself. This was | | | | kids went around the audience and posed for |
| announced several times over the loudspeaker. | | | | photos and accepted money from the crowd. I |
| I pondered where a nine year old boy would | | | | gave her 100 baht and him 20. Now all he |
| get 7000 baht as I sat there looking up at | | | | needed was another 6980 baht. When I posed |
| the "No Gambling" sign posted to the wall (in | | | | for my photo with her I put my arm around her |
| English only) above the bar. The fighters | | | | shoulder and I could feel her arm on the |
| came out to much excitement by the crowd, | | | | other side. It was rock solid. There was one |
| including myself and they were gorgeous, | | | | more match after that, apparently a champion |
| especially the little girl.I may be mistaken | | | | of the south versus a champion of the north, |
| but I believe the ceremonial dance that the | | | | but I soon lost interest and went back to the |
| boxers do before the match is called the Wai | | | | hotel after the kids had gone.In the songtaew |
| Klu. In each of the matches that night one of | | | | on the way back I started to think about the |
| the boxers did the dance while the other | | | | whole night and had a number of questions. I |
| stayed in his or her corner. For this match | | | | wonder if they were really fighting or if |
| the girl was the one to perform the dance. | | | | they were like a brother and sister and have |
| Only this time she did something that I had | | | | that same fight for the tourists every week? |
| not seen any of the other boxers do during | | | | I wonder if they go to school like other |
| their ceremonial dances. I'll do my best here | | | | kids. I would imagine it takes a lot of |
| to describe it but I doubt that I can do it | | | | training to get to that kind of level, plus |
| justice. Starting in her corner she would | | | | the announcer had mentioned that typical Muay |
| face her opponent who was standing in his | | | | Thai boxers train for 12 hours a day. I |
| corner on the other side of the ring. She | | | | wonder if they get to keep the money that |
| would take one or two steps forward while | | | | they are given by the tourists or if |
| twisting her body back towards her corner, | | | | unscrupulous event organizers pocket it. Or |
| then she would stomp her foot towards her | | | | do their parents collect it? |
| opponent at the same time as sending an | | | | |