Kasubi Boxing Club I first became aware of Kitunzi Swamadu and Kasubi Boxing Club via Facebook. It was a GoFundMe campaign that appeared in my feed. Boxing in Kampala, Uganda? I knew little about it, but I was intrigued. After reading organizer Mark Jordan’s description of the gym, its boxers, and the community of orphans Kitunzi and his brother Kabonge Salim care for, I was further intrigued. I researched deeper and learned more about Kasubi Boxing Club: the art of the young fighters, the passion of the coaches and the beauty of its community. I immediately contributed to the campaign. Since then, I’ve learned more about Kasubi Boxing Club and its associated KS Children … [Read more...]
Fighter: The Chris Leben Story Full Documentary
After being diagnosed with a severe heart condition and forced into early retirement, UFC fighter Chris "The Crippler" Leben returned to the ring to battle Phil Baroni in the World Bare Knuckle Fighting Federation's first championship match on November 9. Fighting in the light heavyweight division, Leben defeated Baroni by first-round TKO. Leben's reputation as both a brawler and a Dionysian-level partier started on the inaugural season of The Ultimate Fighter reality show, and was maintained during his ten year career in the UFC. Fighter: The Chris Leben Story follows Leben as he makes his return to the ring to fight Baroni after a two year hiatus from fighting. In this three part … [Read more...]
The Dark Side of Fighting: An Interview with K1 Champion Pascal Schroth on Quinghao Meng, WLK Fight Promotions and Breaking His Neck in the Ring
On October 20th, 2018, Muay Thai champion Pascal Schroth, stepped into a ring in China to defend his K1 title under what he believed to be regular kickboxing rules. For the 25 year old champion, this bout was just another day at the office. His opponent, Quinghao Meng from Taicang China, was just another body in front of Pascal's ascent to superstardom. As a matter of fact, Schroth's confidence was pretty high because he had already beaten Meng the year before. So on that Saturday night, despite the language barrier, the confusion, and the shady promoters, Schroth walked inside the ring but would have to carried out. Schroth vs. Meng: Timeline of Events October 2017 at … [Read more...]
Voices of Nusantara: Madurese Martial Arts with Mas Mochamad Amien
In my continuing quest for advice on how to become a better pencak silat instructor, I asked my mentor and friend Mas Mochamad Amien of Chakra V Silat Combat System for some advice. I also inquired about the history of different types of weaponry used by the Madurese martial arts. Specifically, I asked him about several weapons that I thought were characteristic of Madurese systems including the cutting spear known as a monteng (spine) or calok (lancor) for the characteristic shape of its heavy cutting blade (the very tip looks like human tailbone, which is called “monteng”). I have translated his answers from Indonesian with my interpolations presented in parenthesis (to help explain the … [Read more...]
A Tale of Two Koreas – A North Korean Kid in a South Korean Gym
Summer is in full force when I step into the gym sometime in mid-June. Scanning the perspiring faces around me as I get ready for the evening’s training session, my eyes stop on a new kid. Unlike the others, who are dressed comfortably in sleeveless cotton tops and Muay Thai trunks, the new boy is clad in a long-sleeved sweater and too-thick pants. “That’s Han*,” Okbae whispers, coming up beside me. “Be gentle with him for now. He’s kind of ... fragile.” Throughout the training session that evening, I notice that Han keeps his head down most of the time, averts his gaze whenever he is spoken to, and makes little attempt to venture out of his little corner, where he seems comfortable … [Read more...]
From Domestic Violence Survivor to Muay Thai Fighter: The Story of Casey Lynn
It’s become a regular occurrence for Casey Lynn to have to argue with the doorman at the fights. No one believes she’s a fighter. A fighter’s girlfriend maybe, but an actual fighter? Never. It usually takes a while, especially if her picture isn’t on the program, but eventually she gets in. Lynn is not your stereotypical Muay Thai fighter. She smiles a lot. She definitely doesn't dress the part, and usually shows up to fight in her cowboy boots and daisy dukes. Her two daughters, ages seven and twelve, are always by her side, whether at the gym or cheering her on at ringside. The girls have had to sacrifice a lot for their mom, who has been living the life of Muay Thai for the past five … [Read more...]
Voices of the Archipelago: Kang Rafijen of Maenpo Peupeuhan Adung Rais
On my trip to Indonesia in 2014, I had the pleasure of sojourning in the city of Bandung located in western Java. Bandung is one of Indonesia’s largest cities with over 8 million inhabitants and only one small airport (although a new one is currently being constructed), so most people that I know drive from the capital of Jakarta. Bandung is famous for the quality of its silat practitioners. I had previously visited Bandung for a workshop with Bambang Suwanda (Harimau Silat) in 2011, but that was only for an afternoon at a nice hotel. This time, I was going to have the pleasure of an extended stay where I could experience the city. My impression of … [Read more...]
A Different Kind of Fight
"I hope to help women in the future that get stuck in these relationships - it can happen to anyone of us no matter how strong you think you are." -Nicola Kaye I spoke to my friend, Nicola Kaye, 53.5kg ISKA female British and European title holder about the Muay life and her unexpected experience of domestic abuse. Before I met Nicola, I saw her in action. It was a Friday night “big fight” at Bangla Stadium in Patong, Phuket and Nicola was fighting one of my close friends. They both clambered into the ring, rolling under the ropes and into action. Round 1 started and I was immediately captivated by Nicola’s confidence and her fast and heavy punches. Being partial to … [Read more...]
Silat Guru Demank Ahmed El-Benjary on Silat and Kuntau in Borneo
"The culture of the people of Borneo is very hard, and this makes the character of fighting styles from Borneo similarly hard and unforgiving." -Demank Ahmed El-Benjary I first met Demank Ahmed El-Benjary at the Pencak Malioboro Festival in 2013. This event which brings over 5,000 silat players every year to the city of Jogjakarta, Indonesia also brought this teacher of silat and kuntau from the island of Borneo (Kalimantan). His method of striking is called Pukulan Patikaman, and is characteristic of martial arts from Borneo. It combine lightning fast striking combinations with devastating joint breaks and manipulations. He and his students train in the traditional way … [Read more...]
An Interview with Indonesian Silat Guru Mas Noeryanto Dhipuro
"...a Guru must teach the way of fighting and making peace with one’s self..." -Mas Noeryanto Dhipuro I first met Mas Noeryanto Dhipuro in 2013 during our biannual training camp which began in the hills and forests of Bali . We were staying at the home of our friend Pak Made, who runs a traveling gamelan (traditional Indonesian music style featuring drums and other percussion instruments reminiscent of xylophones) orchestra based out of the University of Colorado at Boulder. At that time we had already done several silat demonstrations using his music as our accompaniment. Pak Made’s place has its own enclosure for playing gamelan as well as some hard-packed … [Read more...]
Minimalism, Muay Thai, Culture and Identity – My Interview on the All Things Risk Podcast
Interviews tend to be quite a bit of fun for me; this is particularly true when they take a life of their own and organically expand to a full discussion of any given topic or topics. Such was the case when I was interviewed by risk manager and martial artist Ben Cattaneo on the All Things Risk podcast this past month. In this interview I open up a bit more about my experiences, get a bit gritty and discuss some of that which is still considered taboo in the Muay Thai online space. I also touch upon: My feelings on training Muay Thai in the west vs Thailand; My experiences training at Muay Thai gyms that didn't promote … [Read more...]
Interview With Z1 Female Muay Thai Champion Miriam Sabot
Italy’s Miriam Sabot (Miriam Muay Farang) is the current Z1 56kg Female Champion. In one of the most anticipated fights at the 8th edition of the Z1 Royal Cup, she defeated defending champion Germany’s Dilara Yildiz for the belt on December 4 2015 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. You have definitely earned yourself a great number of fans after the Z1 fight. Tell us something about yourself. I am 34 years old. I have had 32 fights in total, including my first 4 amateur fights. I have competed in both Muay Thai and K1 fights before. My record for fights with full Muay Thai rules is 9 wins (4 KOs) and 8 losses. For fights with K1 rules, my record stands … [Read more...]
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