Child Muay Thai Boxers

One Friday night in January I was in Hua Hin,sending an imaginary punch his way, which he
Thailand with nothing to do so I decided to go andwould deflect with his hands, much to the delight
watch the "Friday Night Muay Thai contest" heldof the crowd. This continued until she reached his
at Grand Sport Hua Hin on Petchkasem Road. Icorner, with him knocking away her imaginary
had received a flyer earlier in the streetpunches each time. Then she would head back
promoting the event and decided that it might betowards her ring, two or three slow steps at a
worth checking out.Apparently there are twotime, looking back over her shoulder with each
Muay Thai venues in Hua Hin and this wasn't thestep, give him an appraising look, shake her head
"real" one, but if I wanted to go that night I didn'tand take some more steps. Finally she looked
have much of a choice. It wasn't a stadium assatisfied that he was weakened enough and she
such, more like a gym that had a ring in theconcluded her dance. I don't think I can sufficiently
middle and some chairs set up on two sides. Iexplain how exciting this was.Finally the match
believe they have Muay Thai lessons there everygets underway, and just like a mouse's heart
day. There wasn't a live band there either so thebeats a hundred times faster than the much
music didn't get faster as the matcheslarger dog, their movements seemed to be a lot
progressed, we had to make do with a tapedfaster than the previous boxers' movements. I
loop.The admission price was 500 baht, a littlewas as excited if not more so than the rest of
expensive I was informed by a local bar owner,the crowd. Her arms were longer than his so she
but I wasn't complaining. Also any tuk tuk or taxiwas getting in a few more punches than he was.
in Hua Hin will take you to the venue for free,Whenever she hit him I'd let out a roaring cheer,
just show them the flyer. That amazed me.Thehowever when he kicked her I would cringe and
first fight started at 9pm, if I remember correctlyhave to stifle a cry of , "Hey she's a girl! leave her
it was a couple of 12 year old or so boys.alone!!" I think I might have been a little too into it.
Interesting enough and I was amazed by theirThe rounds were only two minutes each as
already ripped physiques, especially their stomachopposed to the 3 minute rounds of the older
muscles. There were a number of other fightsfighters, but by the 4th round the girl's face was
including a 16 year old girl versus a 19 year old girlshowing clear signs that she was getting tired. My
that was stopped after the second roundheart broke. After a while though I started to
because the older girl sustained an injury. After ahave terrible misgivings about the whole
while a section on one side of the ring that didn'tadventure. Thoughts like "What are you
have any seats set up by it started to fill up withwatching?!" and "You are paying people who make
Thai patrons. A number of them had broughttwo little kids fight!" ran through my mind. I was
blankets and were sitting there watching thefeeling very conflicted by the whole situation. I
matches. I remember wondering at the time ifwas able to put those thoughts to the back of
they too had paid 500 baht to get in. Somehow Imy mind though when they announced that the
doubted it.Anyway, to get to the point of thiswinner was the girl. The whole place erupted and I
story, one of the main events that was beingam not afraid to say that I almost had a tear in
touted all night by the announcer was a matchmy eye. I was so happy for her.But then I
between a nine year old boy and a nine year oldstarted to feel a little sorry for the boy, who not
girl. This long awaited match finally got underwayonly had to live with being beaten by a girl, but he
at 11pm. As they were entering the ring it washad lost 7000 baht (if that story was to be
announced that the boy was so confident that hebelieved.) After the fight both of the kids went
would win that he had bet 7000 baht on himself.around the audience and posed for photos and
This was announced several times over theaccepted money from the crowd. I gave her 100
loudspeaker. I pondered where a nine year oldbaht and him 20. Now all he needed was another
boy would get 7000 baht as I sat there looking6980 baht. When I posed for my photo with her
up at the "No Gambling" sign posted to the wall (inI put my arm around her shoulder and I could feel
English only) above the bar. The fighters cameher arm on the other side. It was rock solid.
out to much excitement by the crowd, includingThere was one more match after that,
myself and they were gorgeous, especially theapparently a champion of the south versus a
little girl.I may be mistaken but I believe thechampion of the north, but I soon lost interest
ceremonial dance that the boxers do before theand went back to the hotel after the kids had
match is called the Wai Klu. In each of thegone.In the songtaew on the way back I started
matches that night one of the boxers did theto think about the whole night and had a number
dance while the other stayed in his or her corner.of questions. I wonder if they were really fighting
For this match the girl was the one to performor if they were like a brother and sister and have
the dance. Only this time she did something that Ithat same fight for the tourists every week? I
had not seen any of the other boxers do duringwonder if they go to school like other kids. I
their ceremonial dances. I'll do my best here towould imagine it takes a lot of training to get to
describe it but I doubt that I can do it justice.that kind of level, plus the announcer had
Starting in her corner she would face hermentioned that typical Muay Thai boxers train for
opponent who was standing in his corner on the12 hours a day. I wonder if they get to keep the
other side of the ring. She would take one or twomoney that they are given by the tourists or if
steps forward while twisting her body backunscrupulous event organizers pocket it. Or do
towards her corner, then she would stomp hertheir parents collect it?
foot towards her opponent at the same time as