An excerpt from ‘The Renaissance Man Project’
On Friday, one of my last nights in Thailand, we go to the local gym to watch Nong defend Thailand’s Southeast Flyweight Muay Thai title. The crowd is rowdy. Hard-faced men with dark glistening skin around the ring wave money and make bets. There is the smell of sweat and fried noodles in the air, deep drumming, and the nasal whine of the Pi Kaek, a clarinet-like instrument ubiquitous at Muay Thai fights.
A series of fights are scheduled before Nong, beginning with young kids about twelve years of age, followed by female fighters, and proceeded by bigger and more advanced fighters.
I’m with a big group of fighters from Tiger Muay Thai who have come to watch Nong, one of the most popular trainers at camp. Behind the row of chairs where I’m sitting, I can see Chokchai rubbing him down with an oil lubricant. As Chokchai massages his calves and thighs, Nong’s lean, hard muscles nearly sparkle under the gymnasium lights.
Then the announcer introduces the fighters in Thai, and Nong and his opponent, a younger but equally fit-looking man, emerge from their corners of the gym, duck under the ropes, and simultaneously perform the Wai Kru.
Before the fight begins, Nong appears relaxed and confident. His eyes are soft, like the way Lars says ours should be in meditation, and he wears the slightest hint of a smile. It was only a few days ago he told me he’s fought over 500 fights. I still don’t know if this is an exaggeration, but if the number is anywhere near that, I’m sure his nerves are at ease.
The first round begins slowly. The fighters seem to be feeling each other out, and Nong does more blocking than anything else. Then, suddenly, as though it was written, Nong ducks his left shoulder and in a quick fluid lunge forward explodes with an uppercut that lifts his opponent into the air and sends him down to the canvas with a hard thud.
The crowd explodes in a roar. Everyone knows the fighter is not getting up. It is the first knockout of the night, and Nong circles the ring with his fist raised to the ceiling and a smile as big as Thailand stretched across his face.
Chokchai runs into the ring, wraps his arms around Nong’s waist, and lifts him into the air. Nong looks over to the group of fighters from Tiger, his students, a hodgepodge of foreigners from around the world, and pumps his fist. We go wild — shouting, high-fiving, hugging.
In a flash, I realized how much is at stake in the ring; how much can be won or lost with a single blow. All the training, sweating, and suffering condensed, like a diamond, into a moment called “Victory.”
The other fighter is slow to rise and must be walked to the back of the gym for medical attention. He passes us with dazed eyes.
Chokchai raises Nong above the crowd and the gymnasium erupts in a fury of excitement. Tomorrow, Nong will be another Muay Thai trainer in a land filled with Muay Thai trainers. But at this moment, he is the happiest man in Thailand.
Thank you for reading. This is an excerpt from my first book “The Renaissance Man Project: A Search for Meaning Through Martial Arts, Poetry, Music, Dance, Philosophy & Art.” It launches on January 15, 2025. If you’d like to support my writing, you can purchase a copy here.