Milk.Blitz.Street.Bomb.

Where Martial Arts and Travel Meet

  • Start Here
    • About
    • Contributors
    • Contact
  • The Martial Life
    • Boxing
    • Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
    • Karate
    • MMA
    • Muay Thai
    • Silat
  • The Nomadic Life
    • Destinations
      • Asia
        • Indonesia
        • Laos
        • The Philippines
        • Russia
        • Thailand
      • The Americas
        • Canada
        • Cuba
        • Mexico
        • The U.S.
    • Memoir
    • Galleries
    • Photo Series
    • Random
  • Resources
  • Press
  • Shop
  • Thailand Help
You are here: Home / Archives for Frances Watthanaya

The Soft Spoken Words of a Transgender Fighter

September 30, 2014 By Frances Watthanaya Leave a Comment

    We were stopped at a red light in Phi Mai waiting to turn right when a motorcycle pulled up next to us and knocked on our window. I recognized the two guys from Rot-Duan’s last fight in Khorat; they were in the corner. They pointed right and we followed them outside of the city, driving along the river and through the rice fields until we arrived at a small village. From there it was a series of zig zags through the partially cemented roads until we arrived at a modest house that we were told was the gym Rot-Duan trains at.     About three months prior I had ventured out to Phi Mai to see Rot-Duan. After arriving, we contacted their then manager … [Read more...]

The Side Bet

September 10, 2014 By Frances Watthanaya 3 Comments

child-muay-thai-fighter

    Awhile back I took MBSB correspondent Lindsey Newhall  to some fights in Mahasarakham province. We left in the gym’s pick up truck after dinner and arrived to see there would be 25 fights that night. In the end, we didn’t arrive home until the monks had begun their morning chants around 5AM.   A few of the matches were made earlier that day when a group of fighters showed up at the venue asking to be put on the card. Some were added to the line up under agreement that they would fight for free and could produce a side bet. One of those fighters was Giatbundit’s own Ong Lee.     The whole card was poorly organized so the line up kept … [Read more...]

The Pep Talk – Fight In Order To Live (Sôo pêua chee-wít สู้เพื่อชีวิต)

July 30, 2014 By Frances Watthanaya Leave a Comment

Jaemsak-Sak-Buriram-Channel-7-win

    "Don’t train hard because I tell you. Train hard for the benefit of yourself. You must do it for yourself, not because of me, because of you. If you do it for me you wont be successful.” -Mr. Dit, owner and head trainer at Giatbundit Gym, Buriram   The southwest monsoons had arrived in Issan. Humidity reaches an almost unbearable peak before the downfall begins as cool winds and dark clouds roll in. It is a time when morale seems a bit lower at the gym - less fights and less running. Lately however, things seemed to be a bit heavier. As with most gyms, we go through our ups and downs and right now was definitely a down.   I had to go out to … [Read more...]

How The Coup Affected Us— A Little Muay Thai Gym In Buriram, Thailand

June 24, 2014 By Frances Watthanaya 2 Comments

  I had been watching Senrak cut weight for 4 days now. It was painful. He didn’t have that much weight to cut it was more so the way in which he was doing it; run, sweat suit, repeat. The weather at this particular time was also quite vehement; not such much the heat but the humidity that left you feeling sticky tired all day long.  After training he would then replenish his body with steamed fish, som tam, and Big Boy syrup— the red stuff. At this time Martial Law had already been declared in Thailand.   Today was Thursday the 22nd; Senrak and Mr. Dit were to head off to Bangkok on Friday to make it in time for the Saturday morning weigh in a 6AM. Then it happened when … [Read more...]

A Typical Day in Issan

June 10, 2014 By Frances Watthanaya 9 Comments

Senrak-Gaelpimganchang-vs-Rotduan-Sit-Seeanbreeak-fight

  I woke up this morning very excited; one because I didn’t have to go to work, and two because Mr. Dit was taking me to interview Rotduan Sit. Seeanbreeak who is a professional Muay Thai fighter that identifies as a ladyboy. I first saw them fight in March of this year, Rotduan Sit. Seeanbreeak was scheduled to fight one of our fighters Taepbundit but Taepbundit had to pull out simply because he was fighting too often and was replaced by our golden boy Senrak who is currently fighting in the Thai Insurance Tournament at Lumpini. Immediately the ring announcer began to take jabs at Rotduan but their corner, simply put, told him to shut up. I was very impressed by this because the … [Read more...]

From The Farms Of Isaan To The Stadiums Of Bangkok: The Cycle of Muay Thai Fighters In Thailand

April 15, 2014 By Frances Watthanaya 5 Comments

muay thai fight saiyok

  “We build them, you break them.  Then they come home…”   Meet CIA.     Notable opponents: 
Saiyok Sit. Samprayak, Gungwan Lek Petchindee, Duanbley Sit. O Ubon   Where he has fought: 
Lumpini, Rajadamnern, Assawindam [Channel 9], Channel 7, Japan   Biggest purse: 2,000 USD   He showed up at our gym about a month ago; Mr. Dit had arranged for him to fight Channel 9 fighter Saiyok in the main event of his promotion.  With just a little over a week of training, he finished the fight victoriously in a third round TKO of the veteran.  From there he was scheduled to fight two more times, a total of three fights in one … [Read more...]

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2

Recent Comments

  • Liam Sitmonchai on The Power of Pushing Your Limits: How Martial Arts Can Help You Achieve More
  • Petrified Wood – All This on The Petrified Wood Forest, Tak, Thailand
  • beget dedicated server on Racism in Thailand – a Day in the Life of a White Woman in Buriram
  • The Artwork of Not Complaining – My Blog on The Art of Not Complaining – Your Key to Mental Toughness

MBSB Merch

muay thai

Travel Thailand

How to Declutter and Make Money to Travel

Tips for Women Traveling to Thailand

Vegan? Vegetarian? Here’s How to Do It in Thailand

How to Avoid MSG in Thailand

Tips to Help You Book a Hotel, Guesthouse or Resort in Thailand

Muay Thai in Thailand

Things to Consider Before Training Muay Thai in Thailand

What Muay Thai Training Can You Really Handle?

Training in Thailand: Deciding How Long to Go

Determining Your Budget

6 Ways to Make Money to Train Muay Thai in Thailand

19 Ways to Save Money to Train in Thailand

Guidelines for Training in Thailand’s Muay Thai Gyms

Subscribe

MBSB delivered straight to your inbox.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
| Contact | Resources |
Copyright © 2023 Milk.Blitz.Street.Bomb., All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Affiliate Disclaimer |