Kevin von Duuglas-Ittu

Hahaha. That is what I was thinking as well. If so, good luck!

A bit from the Science Fiction: Odysseus Well, then. Achilles goes with me to greet The Scythian heroine where she sits mounted In martial panoply before her maids, Plumes flowing from her helmet, skirt tucked high, Her palfrey tossing gold and purple tassels, Hooves stamping on the muddy ground beneath. For one long moment, with a pensive gaze She stares into our ranks, void of expression, As if we stood before her carved in stone; This bare flat palm has more expressive features Than were displayed upon that woman's face: Until her glance meets that of Peleus' son: A deepening flush spreads down unto her neck, Blood sets her face aglow as if the world Surrounding her were leaping into flames. Then, with a sudden jolt, she swings herself Casting a somber scowl upon Achilles Down from her horse, and, stepping toward us, leaves The reins with an attendant, and inquires What brings us to her in such pageantry. We Argives, I reply, are highly pleased To come upon an enemy of Troy; Long has a hatred for the sons of Priam Consumed our hearts, I say; great benefit Would be our Joint reward if we were friends; And other suchlike bounties of the moment. But then I notice in the flow of talking: She doesn't hear a word. Instead, she turns And with a look of utter wonderment, Suddenly like a girl, a sixteen-year-old On her way back from the Olympic Games, Addresses a companion by her side: Oh Prothoë, I do not think my mother, Otrerë, ever laid eyes on such a man! The friend, embarrassed at these words, stays silent, Achilles smiles at me, and I at him, While she herself stands gazing, as if drunk With admiration, at that glittering figure: Until her friend reminds her timidly That she still owes an answer to my words. Whether from rage or shame, another blush Staining her harness crimson to the waist, She turns to me, confusion, wildness, pride Commingling in her face, and speaks: I am Penthesilea, Queen of the Amazons, And you shall have my arrows for reply! It is a martial love story, with the ideal male form (Achilles). The above is the first outline of the impossibility of alliance, which proposes a fundamental, but perhaps still productive antinomy between the sexes.

To Limn The Soul The infinitesimal countless compiling graphemes of the fighter's art, that defy the written limits of language: von Kleist's letter to his half-sister after a performance of the play

In some narrative frame it could be argued that German playwright and novelist Heinrich von Kleist is who made Sylvie a fighter, or in the sense of how Einstein theorizes about gravity, provided the enormously dense mass that distorted the fabric of space and time (the bowling ball on the blanket analogy), to make all things swing and sway "downhill" until it's a careening masterpiece of unparalleled fighting, alone in the sport. If you haven't read it, it's incredible. It's basically Sci-Fi written in the dawn of the19th century, a Science Fiction on Gender. You can find it in German here (Penthesilea, free download), and in English in a beautiful hardcover here (Penthesilea, Amazon). It really is High Art meets Marvel superhero. Nothing like it. It would be a pretty long and convoluted story to lay out the personal history between the play and Sylvie, and myself, diving down into German Literature (Sylvie studied German, and studied in Berlin), but it's enough to say that I do believe that the play positioned ourselves. It lay the course for this mad, incredibly romantic adventure. Silver Surfer, Wolverine. These fantasy images definitely set the course for the affective potentials of a human, but Penthesilea does incredibly more than that. It outlines a problematic between gender relations, and it does so as an accelerant. above, a Maurice Sendak illustration from the hardcover translation - ascending a chasm descending from space - Silver Surfer I'm really creating this post as a place holder for a potential conversation about the figure of Penthesilea, and how she relates to the frame of the contemporary female fighter ambition. There is so much to discuss here it is my hope that piecemeal elements of the puzzle can be jigsawed together. If you are interested in the subject I highly recommend you read the play - it's not easy to get in English, if anyone with a superior Google finger can find a PDF English translation link, that would be awesome. This was a really formitive play that as I look back on it now maybe 10 years after it's initial influence or so, it seems more true, or compass setting than ever. above, the Death of Achilles in the play It's hard to overstate the reach of this kind of examination. The myth of the Amazons - a parallel culture where women rule instead of men, bonded by a warrior code - has populated western consciousness for over 2000 years. Presently figures of martial power like Wonder Woman, drawn directly from that storytelling, symbolize real female power changes in the culture: growing voice, increased economic autonomies, self-determinations. Female fighters in the present day act out, in some sense, in the context of these images and storylines, and Penthesilea presents perhaps the acme of this kind of contestation, as female power to self-direct, take pride, self-own, wrestles against the idealized masculine form which symbolizes all of these things. The play traces the outline of the injunction which supposedly keeps the feminine from occupying the position of the masculine.

Is the backwards fighting fighter Thai?

Are working on it, but understand not all fighters lead positive, stable lives after their fighting days. I don't know the exact situation, but I get the feeling it isn't awesome. As a note, in his fighting days his nickname was "Chivas".

The General demonstrating an elbow to the kidney, or such:

A little out of order in terms of date, but Tim's documentary footage from Day 5, shot July 4th. You can see Day 6's footage here earlier in this thread. It's not easy to film everything and upload it all, a huge thank you to Tim for carrying out the invaluable process of archiving this. Day 5:

Tim's Vlog #3 - July 7th, 2019 - on the community class

His privates are 1,000 baht an hour, and he is a really cool instructor. What he really wants to do is just move with you, get relaxation going. We are going to try and film another session with him this week and put it up in the Library.

9 Fighters of the Year With the addition of Namsaknoi to the Library we now have an incredible 9 Fighters of the Year documented in the Muay Thai Library. reaching all the way back to 1972 (RIP Sirimongkol who was precious to capture), covering over 25 years of elite greatness. It's one thing to look at a list (below), but such another thing to actually look at their muay, and the men themselves, their personalities, their rhythm and movement. It's kind of incredible that this has been assembled, and we definitely have plans to look document as many of these yodmuay as we can. This is over 12 hours of archival footage. Thank you patrons for making this all possible. It is literally preserving the legacy. There are 4 Muay Khao fighters (Dieselnoi, Langsuan, Chamuakphet, Samson - he considers himself a Muay Khao fighter) which is awesome because this was a rather undocumented, under celebrated style of Muay Thai until only a few years ago. It's recent appreciation has in some part come through Sylvie's revival and archiving of it. You could add Naksaknoi, who was a pressuring fighter who would finish opponents off in the clinch, that would make 5 Muay Khao fighters. You have two Muay Maat punchers in Samson and Kongtoranee. Kaensak was also adept with his hands, and Samart and Sirimongkol as well. And maybe 4 Muay Femeu fighters in Namsaknoi (he fought both ways), Samart, Sirimongkol and Kaensak. A very nice cross section of absolutely elite fighting styles. Naksaknoi (1996): #65 Namsaknoi Yudthagarngamtorn - Sharking The Angles (67 min) watch it here Samson (1991): #41 Samson Isaan - The Art of Dern Fighting (64 min) watch it here Kaensak (1989, 1990): #24 Kaensak Sor. Ploenjit - Explosive Defense (55 min) watch it here Samart (1981, 1983, 1988): #34 Samart Payakaroon - Balance, Balance, Balance! (81 min) watch it here Langsuan (1987): #45 Langsuan Panyutapum - Monster Muay Khao Training (66 min) watch it here Chamuakphet (1985): #49 Chamuakpet Hapalang - Devastating Knee in Combination (66 min) watch it here Kongtoranee (1978, 1984): #37 Kongtoranee Payakaroon - Power In The Hands (89 min) watch it here Dieselnoi (1982): #48 Dieselnoi Chor. Thanasukarn - Jam Session (80 min) watch it here AND #30 Dieselnoi Chor Thanasukarn 2 - Muay Khao Craft (42 min) watch it here AND #3 Dieselnoi Chor Thanasukarn - The King of Knees (54 min) - watch it here Sirimongkol (1972): #54 The Late Sirimongkol and Lertrit Master General Tunwakom (81 min) watch it here A list of the older Fighters of the Year winners: 1999 – Saenchai Sor Kingstar (Highlight Video Here) 1998 – Kaolan Kaowichit (Highlight Video Here) 1997 – Anantasak Panyuthapoom 1996 – Namsaknoi Yuthkarnkamthon (Highlight Video Here) 1995 – Kaoponglek Luksuratham (Highlight Video Here) 1994 – Orono Por Muangubon (Highlight Video Here) 1993 – Wangchannoi Sor Palangchai (Highlight Video Here) 1992 – Jaroensap Kiatbanchong 1991 – Saenmuangnoi Lukjaophomehesak (Samson Isarn) (Highlight Video Here) 1990 – Kaensak Sor Ploenchit (Highlight Video Here) 1989 – Kaensak Sor Ploenchit 1988 – Samart Payakaroon (Highlight Video Here) 1987 – Langsuan Panyuthapoom 1986 – Panomthuanlek 5 Palang 1985 – Chamuekpetch 5 Palang 1984 – Kongthoranee Payakarun 1983 – Samart Payakarun 1982 – Dieselnoi C. Thanasukarn (Highlight Video Here) 1981 – Samart Payakarun 1980 – Nongkhai S. Prapassorn 1979 – Phadetsuek Pitsarnurachan 1978 – Kongthoranee Payakarun 1977 – Vicharnoi Porntawee (Old Footage Here) 1976 – Porsai Sittbunlert 1975 – Pud Pad Noi Vorawud (Highlight Video Here) 1974 – Puth Lawlek 1973 – Sansak Muangsurin (Classic Fight Here) 1972 – Sirimongkol Luksiripat 1971 – Seechang Sakornpitak (Classic Fight Here) 1970 – Fasai Taweechai taken from this website source, which is posting from a book

This is one of the great challenges of combat sport arts, especially in western teaching. Everything becomes broken into modular moves, that can be taught in short time increments, or to large groups of people (in assisted practice). And then the modular moves or strikes are thought to be combined in various orders. It's a very fragmented knowledge and relationship. Very fight steeped cultures like the Muay Thai of Thailand (in real kaimuay that raise Thais) or some boxing traditions avoid this problem through developmental play and experimentation, but it is very cool that you are discovering this as a deep piece between your Kung Fu and Muay Lertrit.

It would be really interesting if after you get some time in with the General's style if you came and spent an hour with Yodkunpon here in Pattaya, and see if the connection you intuit would become a real one. Almost nobody fought like him (he has been looked down upon in some ways for it), but it would be very cool if they informed each other. If somehow Yodkhunpon's very fight-specific style helped helped create some of the connective tissue between the General's Muay Lertrit and sport Muay Thai. Something that does not really exist at this point.

The General throwing his Muay Khorat punch, with the arm rotated closed, striking with the back of the knuckles:

The General and Timothy

The General

What part of the country are you? Phuket? One of the islands? Just to understand where this is happening.

Bangkok does not have a lot of female fights. People are drawn to there because it's the capital, but it is definitely NOT the capital for female fighting. Given your frustrations I would say avoid Bangkok. Chiang Mai has lots and lots and lots of fight cards with women on them. Bangkok almost none.

Day 7:

Tim's Videography continued Day 6:

I can't take this as a point of credit because it just came out of my love for her, but I would definitely say, and Sylvie would 100% agree, she would never, ever have done this on her own. Sylvie is a full on introvert, and it was only through me convincing her that her values, what she cares about committed her to overcoming her introversion, and sharing it all, that it came to be. She started sharing on YouTube because Master K seemed like someone who the whole world should see. It was her value for him that led to sharing, even if she was embarrassed by her mistakes and imperfections - even though people were saying "who do you think you are putting up videos". We are a kind of team, complementing each other, it's true. There were also completely random elements, like for instance living in the countryside at the time, far, far away from gyms. Having no teammates, no gym guidance. Finding Master K. So many unique things. But...Sylvie also has paintakenly carved out a space, cut a path, a space that didn't exist before her. Really no different than the path Dekkers cut in his own unique way, which led to 1,000s of "Dekkers" coming to fight in Thailand. In that space other female fighters can explore their own freedoms, their own version of storytelling. At bottom that is what it is. I think as a female fighter though you have to tell your own story. You have to write your own history. You can't wait for others to do it for you. Female fighters should be vlogging. Sharing their reality. Letting fans see their training. Involve others in the process. Move away from the official gatekeepers (who will always be there anyways).

Where did you fight? Would love to know just to round out my understanding of where off-channel fights are happening.

That's crazy (by our experience). Just go to Chiang Mai. Find a gym that fights a lot. There are female fight cards in the city every night of the week.

This is a sidenote, but maybe an important one. We realized from the beginning that women need to write their own history. They have to be their own historians. I've tried to urge female fighters to stop waiting for their gyms, or promotions, or "the media" to tell their story. It won't be told. You have to create your own record as a female fighter. Female fighters will simply be swallowed by the tide. It's painful to see so many female fighters still beholden to the "official" keepers of history, especially in this age of self-publication. I've written an article (maybe 8 months ago) which I haven't yet published, where are argue that Sylvie is greater than Dekkers, or at least will be, in the sense of comparing the Dekkers-OneSongChai (largely video archive), fighter+publisher complex, vs the Sylvie+self-publisher complex. In the long run the fighter cannot be separated from the web of their history, their record. Women really should be working harder to tell their own stories. I get it, women are told to take their place all the time. When in gyms they often feel special when acknowledged as legitimate, and feel a debt. This often results in some very strong-minded women toeing the line of the gym/promoter assemblage. I remember the very first time Sylvie made her first "athlete" page on Facebook. It was quite a while ago. It felt incredibly uncomfortable to do so. People in the local Muay Thai community back then were like: Who the fuck does she think she is? A Facebook Fighter Page? Putting up all your training videos? Who do you think you are? Putting up all your fight footage? Who the hell are you? But there is no doubt. Women need to archive and be historians of themselves, especially as fighters. And part of that is to be a historian or journalist of others, one's own scene, or those you admire. Hey, just my opinion, but it's been our path, and we've urged other female fighters to do the same -- but so very few do. There just is a tide that flows the other way. But, returning to the main topic, there is some sense in which it seems like Samart's star shot so much higher after he retired. But, and one has to be perfectly honest here, Samart in his fighting displayed a quality which is probably the highest quality a fighter can have in Thailand, which is to appear "above" the fight. As if the fight isn't even affecting him, or that he only has to tap into 10% of his energy to deal with it. This is completely, and I do mean completely an act. But this kind of performance requires incredible skill, and to pull off that illusion is extremely difficult. I think that because he portrayed this particular quality at such a high level, combined with his movie star, singer, playboy persona, it just makes him irresistible to Thais. It's like talking about how James Bond is as a fighter. He doesn't even wrinkle his suit. You get this in other sports. The effortless boxer (Ali), effortless football player (don't know soccer), basketball player (Bird, Dr. J, Magic). golfer, baseball player. football player (Jim Brown, Bo Jackson), etc, etc.

This is very, very difficult to do. Really almost impossible among the promoters and stadia we know, because it is not encouraged. Things may have changed since we first became familiar with the situation, I know several people have tried based on what Sylvie has described for herself, I haven't heard of one regularly successful person. A primary reason for this difficulty is that promoters count on the dependability of gyms and their liaisons. Gyms let them know how skilled a fighter is so there can be a good match (something they assess as you train with them), and then maybe even more importantly, gyms filter out undependable people. The promoter needs people to show up on cards. And lastly, and most importantly, these are very enduring relationships between gyms and promoters. The people involved have known each other for a decade or two usually. These are foundational bonds. In Thailand it's very unusual to go outside of these kinds of channels. The only reason why Sylvie was able to break out of this was a kind of perfect storm situation. She had already established herself as incredibly dependable as a fighter in Chiang Mai. I think she had already fought maybe 70 fights in the city. So when we moved to Pattaya, far from Chiang Mai, the trust issue was already there. Everyone knew her skill level, and everyone knew she was extremely dependable. On top of that Sylvie's Thai got really good, which greased the communication wheels. There may have been people who have found their way around the usual channels, but in Thailand you really need to have someone speaking for you, vouching for you. Sylvie's kind of a unicorn in this because she has created her own very solid reputation, something she could never have done without the help of her gym in Chiang Mai for the first several years.