Kingstar Revisited
Going it alone really hasn't worked that well, because travelling around what amounts to the countryside surrounding the university can be as baffling as trying to fight a jellyfish with your feet. Having gone to visit the Kingstar training camp (the proving ground of gold-medalist and national hero Somlak Kuamsing) two weeks ago and spoken to a trainer named Chanasuk, I had been hesitant to go back because Chanasuk had taken flight to Bangkok(presumably to train fighters), which his wife(still in khon kaen) regrettably informed me when my friend called his number
A friend of mine whose father was acquainted with the owner of the camp tracked down the number of his tailor shop in the city. Unfortunately, his discussion of muay thai revolved around the 'third wheels' that have given him so much trouble (outside influences that try to draw away the boxers' allegiance in the gambling oriented sport) including pulling away great boxers like Somlak Kauamsing from his sphere of influence. Gambling is a big part of boxing everywhere, accompanied by the corruption that can tempt the individuals who fight for a living. Fortunately, the owner gave me his blessing to proceed with my research at the camp.
When I revisited the camp, a different trainer was there, with even greater credentials than Chanasuk, who was a national champion. This trainer, a little older and more worse for the wear, claimed to be great friends with Somlak Kuamsing, which I don't doubt. The trainer, whose name is Dhawee Umponmaha, was the first Thai to win a silver medal as an Olympic Boxer. He recounted his experience at he 1984 summer games in Los Angeles, as well as his journey to gold at the the Southeast Asian games. One of 10 children from a village near Pattaya, Dhawee became a professional at the age of 9 when he went to Chantaburi, after he and the rest of his brothers spent time as a novice monk following the death of his parents.
I am going back to the Kingstar camp this afternoon, and have plans to spend the weekend inBangkok, visiting a friend who is also a kickboxer and possibly making an appearance at Kingstar's Bangkok branch.
A friend of mine whose father was acquainted with the owner of the camp tracked down the number of his tailor shop in the city. Unfortunately, his discussion of muay thai revolved around the 'third wheels' that have given him so much trouble (outside influences that try to draw away the boxers' allegiance in the gambling oriented sport) including pulling away great boxers like Somlak Kauamsing from his sphere of influence. Gambling is a big part of boxing everywhere, accompanied by the corruption that can tempt the individuals who fight for a living. Fortunately, the owner gave me his blessing to proceed with my research at the camp.
When I revisited the camp, a different trainer was there, with even greater credentials than Chanasuk, who was a national champion. This trainer, a little older and more worse for the wear, claimed to be great friends with Somlak Kuamsing, which I don't doubt. The trainer, whose name is Dhawee Umponmaha, was the first Thai to win a silver medal as an Olympic Boxer. He recounted his experience at he 1984 summer games in Los Angeles, as well as his journey to gold at the the Southeast Asian games. One of 10 children from a village near Pattaya, Dhawee became a professional at the age of 9 when he went to Chantaburi, after he and the rest of his brothers spent time as a novice monk following the death of his parents.
I am going back to the Kingstar camp this afternoon, and have plans to spend the weekend inBangkok, visiting a friend who is also a kickboxer and possibly making an appearance at Kingstar's Bangkok branch.
posted by Max J. Karagnarok at 9:01 PM
1 Comments:
Have you been learning Kickboxery as well as studying its role in society?
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