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MUAY THAI IS BRAT
MUAY THAI IS BRAT
16 November 2024—The day I tried Muay Thai for the first time. While I’ve always been active in physical activities and sports, particularly dancing—yes, dancing is a sport—boxing was an entirely new experience for me.
That day, I woke up feeling excited. I opened my closet and my all-green ‘brat’ outfit was waving at me. For context, 'brat' is an album by Charli XCX—a record that radiates boldness and attitude. It felt like the perfect choice for that day as I was about to step out of my comfort zone and try something completely new.
We rode the Gogo bike to the blue building, where we met Dr. Watcharapol Kensri, our Muay Thai teacher. The class began with Dr. Watcharapol teaching us how to properly wrap our wrists with bandages to protect them from the impact of boxing. I struggled to get it right at first, but after several attempts, I managed to wrap them in a way that was at least acceptable.
IMG_4502.MOVIMG_4507.MOVIMG_8973.MOVAfter we were all set, we headed outside to do the warm up. My favorite part of it was the jumping rope, which I kinda ate compared to the rest. The warm up alone was already tiring, and we had not even begun with the boxing proper. We headed back inside to learn more about the history of Muay Thai and how it is important in Thai culture. We also learned about Wai Kru, a traditional ritual performed by fighters to pay respect to their teachers and to show gratitude and humility. The movements were graceful yet purposeful, and it was fascinating to see how much meaning was embedded in every step and gesture. After we performed the ritual, Dr. Watcharapol taught us some basic movements in Muay Thai. After a while, an education student from KRU who has been professionally playing Muay Thai came in to help us and his name is Phoom. Some of the movements were hard to master, especially the neck grabbing part, but most of it was easy to follow.
Puksaan na! (Fight time!) It was finally time to face the ring. In the scorching heat of Thailand, we made our way to the track field, where the boxing ring was located, and put on our gloves. Fueled by the energy from the Lactasoy—a must-try milk in Thailand—that I had just chugged, I stepped into the ring with confidence and pride. I must not let the Philippines down! Before entering, I took off my shoes and jumped over the top rope of the ring, as it’s the proper way for boys to enter. Girls, on the other hand, are allowed to enter through the ropes. Thankfully, I still got my jumping skill from playing Chinese Garter in my childhood days.
video_535045218761179397-qOKqIewO.MP4IMG_9050.MOVFirst things first, I had to perform Wai Kru. Dr. Watcharapol guided me through the entire process. I did my best to execute it properly, as it is a sacred ritual in Muay Thai. Once I was all set, it was time to have my first fight—with Phoom. I knew that Phoom was gonna underplay the fight because how on Earth would I win from an expert? Regardless, I fought Phoom with all my might for the Philippines. The one-minute fight felt like an eternity of gasping for air. It was exhausting, like I was Sisyphus pushing a heavy ball through the fight, but hey, one must imagine Sisyphus happy, right? And that’s exactly what I did. After the fight, though I lost (no surprise there), I felt amazing. Apologies for the Philippines though, I was not born for it.
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After the delegates had their turns, Dr. Watcharapol called me back to the ring to fight one of our buddies—Newwie. I accepted the challenge, as I had enjoyed the first fight, but I quickly began to regret my decision when I realized it was a 3-minute round instead of just one. Newwie is about as tall as I am, but he is a sweet guy. I knew I could beat him up. Newwie threw some strong punches, but I was unfazed. I punched back, aiming for this head. Luckily, my dad had me watch Manny Pacquiao when I was a kid, so I had a few uppercut moves up my sleeve 55555. Just before I was about to meet our creator in heaven, the time finally ran out, and it was time to announce the winner. After the judges' deliberation, it was a unanimous decision to declare me the winner. I was on cloud nine—I felt like Pia Wurtzbach winning Miss Universe. Finally, I brought some pride to the Philippines!
After the fun and rewarding Muay Thai class, we decided to grab a quick lunch at the Green Building before heading back to our dorm to prepare for the afternoon's agenda.
An Unforgettable Banquet by the River Kwai
An Unforgettable Banquet by the River Kwai
Everyone was dressed to the nines for the banquet, courtesy of Director Peter and Deputy Director Geng of DSKRU. They, along with P’Moon, picked us up from our dorm, and as we drove, I couldn’t help but be awed by the breathtaking view of Kanchanaburi, made even more stunning by the golden hues of the setting sun. We had no idea where we were headed, but P’Moon assured us it would be something special. After about a 20-minute ride, we finally arrived at KAAN Restaurant.
IMG_4660.movI was astounded by the stunning façade—it felt as if we had been transported to LA. The restaurant's minimalist design, warm-toned paint, beautiful garden, and cobblestone pathways made it truly picturesque. Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, we stepped inside and were greeted by the majestic River Kwai. The restaurant exuded a chic yet cozy ambiance, with every corner looking instagrammable.
The directors generously let us choose our preferred dishes and desserts, but let me tell you—it was one of the hardest decisions of my life! Everything on the menu was aroi (อร่อย)! After much deliberation, I finally settled on a steak and ice cream topped with assorted peanuts. While waiting for our dinner, we took the opportunity to explore the restaurant and snap some pictures while the golden hour was still in full glow. We had so much fun posing and channeling our inner Bella Hadid.
Our dinner arrived, and it was one of the most elegant banquets I’ve ever experienced. Director Peter and Deputy Director Geng were incredibly generous and kind to welcome us with such a thoughtful gesture. They even included Lisbeth, Audiva, and Zy, who were teaching at another school.
As the gleaming glow of the setting sun faded into the cool night, the moon shone brightly above—beautiful and radiant, just like P’Moon. The food was absolutely delicious, and everyone relished the warmth of good company. We were truly grateful for the hospitality extended to us by the DSKRU board. It was a night we will cherish forever.
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