March 2011 In Photos

Bangkok City

City Skyline

Bangkok city is truly alive at night. From up top the city is lit with bright lights while the streets echo with the sounds of traffic and street vendors.

Soccer Time

Soccer time or dance time?

calves

calves again

calves once more

I’ve noticed something. Thai’s have Humungous calves. No homo

Nakano

Winner winner chicken dinner

Jap guys are strange. But Nakano is just insane. His first fight for Sitmonchai at Praram 2 in some backstreets with a ring set up on a basketball court. He knocks out his Thai opponent in the first round with a strong left hook right on the chin. His reward? 200 baht and a lot of beer.

Matt Lucus – Team America Fuck Yeah

Saving Capatilism, one fight at a time

Matt get’s taped and wrapped up before his fight. Matt wins by knockout in the 2nd round. He’s fighting again on the 4th of May. Once again he fights for his country and capitalism.

With the American empire dying and the shift in the economy its time for those of us who still carry a torch for the world’s most spectacular economy to come back to its feet to do their part!

In an attempt to revive the behomth Muay Thai champion and stalwart defender of all things free (like freedom fries) is fighting at MBK mall in Bangkok Thailand. Not only will Matt Lucas, our hero protagonist,l be a beacon of light for the nation but will also provide a wonderful opportunity for hundreds of tourists to gawk at the exoticism of Thailand and that strange sport, Muay Thai (not to be confused with the popular fruity drinky Mai Tai).

Come join other people engaging in capitalist consumption on May 4th at MBK. Fights start at 6pm, Matt is slated to be the 4th fight so will probably engage in pugilism around 7:30pm. After the party Matt will go on a spending spree with his earnings at MBK. Come join the festivities, watch boring things happen, rejoice in the meaningless of our lives where everybody has their price!

“Tourism, human circulation considered as consumption is fundamentally nothing more than the leisure of going to see what has become banal.”

Apisak Not Happy

Abs

Apisak fights a very experienced and tall French guy at Channel 7 Stadium. He loses on points. Even his robust abdominal muscles couldn’t help him win.

Bad Time To Sleep

Only in Thailand

Sites like this is what keeps Thailand exciting. I dont know how this guy doesn’t just slip off the edge of the pick up as is zips through the streets. He must have some experience under his belt. Something you’ll never see back home.

Kongsaks Meteoric Rise

Kongsak's devastating left kick

Kongsak has fast become one of my favourite fighters. I’ve gone to Lumpinee to watch him fight Pornsenah Sitmonchai and recently Pakon. Over the past two years he has rocketed his way to the top of the Muay Thai scene. From a nobody to the “Fighter Of The Year”. He has gone out and beaten the best of the best in his weight class. This man is a powerhouse of mean and most of that power comes from his left kick which has left many of his opponents leaving the ring with a limp dangling piece of meat where their arm used to be. Kongsak will fight Sam-A on the 10th of May. A tough cut for him.

Meeting Muay Thai Celebs

Dieselnoi and I

Anuwat Kaewsamrit and I

Paula Tocha and I

Kongsak and I

On any given night there’s a good chance you’ll find the muay thai elite and a few celebs. The night Kongsak fought Pakon was the first time i’ve taken the camera out, given it to someone else and acted like a little fanboy with my muay thai man crushes. Most of you should know Deiselnoi, Anuwat and of course Kongsak. That night i also met Paulo Tacho. He’s the muay thai guy in the movie Kickboxer (Bloodsport). Other night’s i’ve met Sam-A and Nong O. You’ll always catch Somluck there. The great thing about Lumpinee and Rajadamnern is, if you buy a ringside ticket, you have complete access to the backstage area where all the fighters prepare. After their fights there’s a designated area to take photos with them. That photo i took with Kongsak consisted of me waiting a good 15 mins as he took pictures with a horde of fans.

Neversay Cutz

The lady

The girlfriend and i gets some crazy cuts at Neversay Cutz on Sukhumvit rd near soi 51. Pay them a visit. Compared to Australia, they are cheap as chips and do an excellent job.

Nakano at Lumpinee

Nakano at Lumpinee

Nakano fights 2-3 weeks after his knock out win in Praram 2. His next fight is in the Mecca of Muay Thai, Lumpinee Stadium. He fights a man from Iran who used to be a boxer. It’s goes the distance. 5 rounds of close competition. Nakano loses. We all question his fight. I ask him where his clinch work and high kicks were. Others question his lack of activity in the ring. I don’t think he cares. Nakano just realizes that he doesn’t have to fight or train hard for the rest of his trip. He has one thing on his mind. Party Time.

Get Your Drink On

drunk dance

Always with the knife

I sleep where i fall

Trying to wake Apisit after Nakano punched him

The three brothers and I, jumping into the dirtiest of dirty rivers at 3am in the morning. I wore undies that started the night off as white, then transitioned to transparent and ended up unuseable with black stains and holes in them.

Apisit, Nakano and I. 6am in the morning. Sitting on a public road. Still drinking after having our night time swim

I’ve met every single person who has come through Sitmonchai gym since it started to allow foreigners in. I’d have to say that all of those people would agree that they have seen me with a beer in my hand more times than they have seen me wearing my Muay Thai shorts. Just like everyone else, the Thai fighters like to have a big drink after a big fight to let loose a bit. March was host to a certain night of drinking. A night i remember little about. I just know we ended up swimming in a river where i’ve seen people throw their dead dogs in. The strange part was, in the morning we were still drinking on a public road. Not on the side, but actually on the road. We took up half of the road and people passed us on their daily commute to work. No one even gave us a second glance, nor did they care. They just continued around us. Only in Thailand i say.

MBK

Mega Mall

The most politically incorrect shirt i've seen

Made a few trips to MBK. This place has everything you need including the newest line of Little Miss Shirts.

Inspiration Everywhere

Rain Drops

Rubble

Bangkok city is a photographers paradise. I haven’t taken the opportunity to go out and concentrate on taking shots. But everywhere you look there’s amazing colours , stories and opportunities to create some breathtaking photos. I love the way Bangkok will transition from Temples, to slums, to mega malls  and to building rubble and graffiti so seamlessly.

Photos for Clayton

I do a photo session for Clayton during his time at Sitmonchai. Will see you next time your in town Clay.

Born in Australia, training in martial arts since the age of 9. My first trip to Thailand was back in 2007. Since then i have made numerous visits back to the "land of smiles" to feed my addiction of Muay Thai. During the month of November in 2010 i had to decide between working a 9 to 5 job back home for the rest of my life, or sell all my worldly possessions and move to Thailand to live and train for the next few years. Thankfully i chose the latter. I now spend my time training Muay Thai, meeting new and interesting circles of people, sipping coconuts under palm trees on the beach and measuring the cost of everything on how much Pad Thai i could buy with that money.

Mike (Admin)

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