Combat

PICT0002, originally uploaded by The Stranger.

Back on Kosan road in Bankok just got some new ink done to commemorate the fight. It says SAM SMOKE TIGER in thai.

The arena was like someone's back yard in the middle of the jungle. I had a pretty good posse of supporters. Among them the Champion of the Island my trainer Pu who fights every week and always wins. He fought after me, victory by knockout in the third round. Knee to the kidneys.

After they massaged me with fire oil and wrapped my hands I put on the gloves and they told me to shadow box in the dirt.

Then I entered the ring and performed the complicated dance ritual designed to banish evil spirits from the ring. A strange music is playing in the background kind of like a weird asian trumpet swooning over a droning feedback electric guitar.

My oponant Pansak was probably 15 pounds lighter and 6 inches shorter and about 35. Long time veteran. He was really ugly looking with a mole on his face with long six inch hairs growing out of it. Like a rat-monkey. That's the style here. If you have a mole on your face its auspicious and you let the hair there grow.

So then we start to fight. I had abstained from alchohol and smoke for 4 days. This day I had comsumed some spice and had eaten little. I was sort of in a trance. Not nervous at all.

Punches kicks exchanged. He starts targeting my lead knee. Soon I realized that truly I had no experience in receiving blows and even less knowledge of how to block them and it seemed like he was kicking me and punching me straight with ease. I just sort of let him do it. Meanwhile I was also landing some hard rights and kicks to the body.

First few rounds pass and Im feeling the pain and discombobulation. One fist he lands to the jaw makes me feel what it would be like to be knocked out. But still I keep absorbing them.

I land a good solid kick to the crotch.

3rd 4rth rounds I'm hurting especially on the left knee where he just keeps wacking me and wacking me.

I get frustrated and just grab him and body slam him.

Then I deliver a knee to the crotch.

I'm wearing pink shorts laced with silver and green with FIVE STARS on the front.

The whole time Im fricking laughing and smiling like a madman. And we love each other, always knocking gloves in salute and he understands that Im sorry for instinctually targeting his groin.

I body slam him again in the fourth round.

Meanwhile my posse is yelling out thingslike

"every blow makes you stronger"
"finish him"
"Dance your power animal"

Fifth and final round Im really really hurting but am starting to understand how to land really solid rights. Also a few good knees when we're up close grappling. It's all a dance.

Round ends the ref calls it a draw.

Too fricking good to be true.

Now Im here and sort of hobbling along down this crazy travellers strip in bancokc of internet cafes and tatoo parlers and elephants and beggers and pad thai vendors.

Fighting is addictive. Although my supporters did nothing but praise me and making me feel on top of the world, my coach scolded me severely. I could have fought a lot better.
I will fight again.

Wednesday is India. Im thinking of heading north into the desert and mountains.