Post by Tyler Scott on Apr 5, 2014 14:49:30 GMT -5
Midnight in the narrow streets of Bangkok.
10 Years Ago. Tyler Scott had just turned 22 Years of Age.
As many a young man before him, travelling the world to encounter culture and enhance his educate, Tyler had arrived in Thailand. Many come to find themselves. Tyler came to make himself better.
Even in the middle of the night, the temperature and humidity of the day remained. Scott had never felt heat like it. He was used to the temperate and drizzly climate of the British Isles, not sweltering tropics. He constantly wiped his brow of reappearing beads of sweat. He was uncomfortable but carried on - determined to find his desired destination.
The bustling noise of this twenty four hour city echoed down the tunnelling alleys. The high-rise offices had only recently began to shoot up like rockets from a sprawling and overpopulated urbanism. As fat-cats suddenly made new-millennium millions from increasing foreign investment in this land of opportunity, the common folk continue to slum it at ground level.
Smells that Tyler had never encountered in the western world filled his nostrils. From one direction drifted the perfume of fragrant herbs and spices – ginger, lemongrass, coriander and basil. From the other came the pungency of dried shrimp paste in blackened oil that had been sizzling since dawn.
Tyler carefully stepped over a make-shift shallow surface gutter; trickling with food waste and, presumably, various forms of human excretive. The natives summon mucus from their lungs and discard it in green lumps at Tyler’s feet - more obstacles for Tyler to successfully avoid. He had been dodging other people’s disgusting habits and disrespectful actions all his life. Why should Thailand be any different? He would have to earn his stripes like had done in any other challenge he was faced.
The close proximity of the street food stalls to the sewerage underfoot was enough to put Tyler off the curbside chicken satay and continue his marching walk.
Tyler Scott was in Thailand for one thing only – to learn the art of Muay Thai Kick Boxing.
-----------------------------------
Like the streets of Bangkok, Tyler Scott is a mass of puzzling contradictions.
Tyler Scott has an array of sweet skills which have, over the years, have attracted appreciation and praise. Yet he counters that with a crude inability to manage them effectively.
Tyler Scott has a history of culture. He respects the traditions of entire civilisations which have stood for thousands of years. Yet he dismisses individuals with ease.
Tyler’s strengths have grown like skyscrapers in the heart of downtown Bangkok. However, in the gaps between the high-rises, people still live in squalor. Tyler Scott’s weaknesses marble throughout his game. For every rich Thai investment banker is a disabled and homeless woman with a child in her arms. Every positive is immediately neighboured by a negative.
-----------------------------------
After navigating his way through the confusing maze of tiny streets, receiving abundant dodgy looks from the locals, Tyler finally comes across a small and inconspicuous doorway. He had found what he had been looking for – The Sasipraya Gym.
It was here where Tyler Scott met a man with a reputation that exceeded the city limits and spanned across the entire North of Thailand. Master Rai was known at the most influential Muay Thai trainer in Thailand. His gym was said to have consistently produced the most successful fighters in competitive kick boxing for decades. Tyler Scott wanted to be in such illustrious company.
Tyler strolled into the Rai’s gym with a western arrogance, which was soon to be broken. The first thing he saw was something very familiar to him – a square ring, bound by ropes, with two guys battling inside. Through the ropes, beyond the action, he saw a man who he had never met, but whom he immediately knew his identity as Master Rai.
Master Rai was a typically old and frail man, with shoulder length white hair and wispy moustache. He greeted Tyler, not with words, but a disapproving glance and a long pointed finger towards the locker room. A teenage boy, no older than 14 years of age, grabbed Tyler by the arm and escorts him through to the back. Master Rai watched Tyler Scott, looking him up and down, assessing him until he evades his view.
The teenager, without a word of English, orders Tyler Scott with an assortment of ordering gestures. The boy seized Scott by the wrists and inspected his hands before he pushed Scott towards to the showers. All students must be bathed and have clean, trimmed nails.
In the glare of the other fighters and, more worryingly the teenage boy, Tyler was not particularly comfortable in showering. Stripping down to his briefs, Tyler hands his clothes to the boy. The boy did not move and looks down to the briefs, indicating that it all needs to come off. Tyler tilted his head in surprise but the teenager just responded with a demanding grunt. Twisting himself into a position where he did present a full frontal or full moony to the boy, he shuffled his briefs off with minimal bending. He passed the sweaty pants over and the boy left, but the rest of the fighters did not. Tyler showered whilst trying to hide his plums from sight.
Removing the towel from around his waist, Scott pulled on a pair of long shorts, in the colours of the Union Jack, made from the finest Thai silk. He somewhat arrogantly had them made to order earlier in his visit. Scott cracked his knuckles before proceeding to wrap his wrists in elasticated binding and tape his fingers together for added support. The teenager ordered Tyler Scott to follow him back into the ring area.
Master Rai was sat in the same position as Tyler had last seen him. He was concentrating intensely on the contest in the ring. Tyler had to wait impatiently to the side. His foot tapping and fidgeting soon caught the eye of other fighters who became annoyed at his lack of restraint.
As the contest came to a conclusion, Master Rai got to his feet. The two competitors stand, clasp their hands together and bow. Master Rai returns the gesture and the fighters exit the ring.
Master Rai looks around and sees that the British newcomer was ready. He pointed at Tyler and directed him into the ring. Tyler was ecstatic to be thrown straight in and get the chance to show his credentials. The fighter chosen to face him was one of the most experienced in the gym – seemingly chosen to teach Tyler a lesson.
Tyler entered the ring and began his warm ups. In the opposite corner, his opponent began his pre-match rituals – praying to Buddha and giving thanks to other gods. Tyler watched on with befuddlement. Should he have joined in, even though it is not his custom? The truth was that, whilst it is etiquette to perform the ritual, Master Rai did not expect that of Tyler. This was the best way of teaching him the ways of Muay Thai.
The contest begun. The two men circled one another for a while. It soon became apparent that the Thai fighter was purely toying with Tyler. He waited for Scott to make a move and pounched.
Tyler takes a pounding. The Thai fighter rains kicks and punches down from constantly changing angles. Tyler Scott did not have a chance.
But. as the match continued, Tyler learned. He picked up on patterns in his opponent’s striking. He successfully blocked a couple. He then followed up by knocking the Thai competitor off balance and then hitting a perfectly executed roundhouse kick. The Thai fighter hit the canvas only for a second, but it was met with a slightly raised bushy eyebrow of Master Rai.
The match carried on. Tyler still took punch after punch, kick after kick. But on occasions, between the barrages, Scott was able to counter. Master Rai had seen glimmers of potential and called an end to the fight.
Tyler, with the air forced from his lungs and swelling appearing across his face, struggles to his feet.
The Thai fighter salutes his Master before all attention turns to Tyler. Tyler looks across to Master Rai, clasps his hands together and bows. The Master bows back. He had been accepted into the gym. Master Rai had accepted him under his tutelage.
As Tyler left the ring in pain, the old man nodded with the slightest head moment. The appreciation in his eye was more powerful. As Tyler slumped past with aching bones, the old man tapped him on the shoulder.
What Tyler did not know at that time, is that moment would happen just once more during his life. The same respectful gesture, appreciative eyes and pat on the back was only ever replicated by Rick Majors.
-----------------------------------
In present day Bangkok, the glorious temples still remain, only tucked away in the shadows of modern architecture. They, of course, still have a place in the world. The temples still have a mass following of loyal and faithful people. But there environment around them has changed, society has evolved.
There will always be a place in this world for Rick Majors.
But it’s an increasingly small part.
It only takes one sky-scraper to crush a temple.
I will destroy Rick Majors.
10 Years Ago. Tyler Scott had just turned 22 Years of Age.
As many a young man before him, travelling the world to encounter culture and enhance his educate, Tyler had arrived in Thailand. Many come to find themselves. Tyler came to make himself better.
Even in the middle of the night, the temperature and humidity of the day remained. Scott had never felt heat like it. He was used to the temperate and drizzly climate of the British Isles, not sweltering tropics. He constantly wiped his brow of reappearing beads of sweat. He was uncomfortable but carried on - determined to find his desired destination.
The bustling noise of this twenty four hour city echoed down the tunnelling alleys. The high-rise offices had only recently began to shoot up like rockets from a sprawling and overpopulated urbanism. As fat-cats suddenly made new-millennium millions from increasing foreign investment in this land of opportunity, the common folk continue to slum it at ground level.
Smells that Tyler had never encountered in the western world filled his nostrils. From one direction drifted the perfume of fragrant herbs and spices – ginger, lemongrass, coriander and basil. From the other came the pungency of dried shrimp paste in blackened oil that had been sizzling since dawn.
Tyler carefully stepped over a make-shift shallow surface gutter; trickling with food waste and, presumably, various forms of human excretive. The natives summon mucus from their lungs and discard it in green lumps at Tyler’s feet - more obstacles for Tyler to successfully avoid. He had been dodging other people’s disgusting habits and disrespectful actions all his life. Why should Thailand be any different? He would have to earn his stripes like had done in any other challenge he was faced.
The close proximity of the street food stalls to the sewerage underfoot was enough to put Tyler off the curbside chicken satay and continue his marching walk.
Tyler Scott was in Thailand for one thing only – to learn the art of Muay Thai Kick Boxing.
-----------------------------------
Like the streets of Bangkok, Tyler Scott is a mass of puzzling contradictions.
Tyler Scott has an array of sweet skills which have, over the years, have attracted appreciation and praise. Yet he counters that with a crude inability to manage them effectively.
Tyler Scott has a history of culture. He respects the traditions of entire civilisations which have stood for thousands of years. Yet he dismisses individuals with ease.
Tyler’s strengths have grown like skyscrapers in the heart of downtown Bangkok. However, in the gaps between the high-rises, people still live in squalor. Tyler Scott’s weaknesses marble throughout his game. For every rich Thai investment banker is a disabled and homeless woman with a child in her arms. Every positive is immediately neighboured by a negative.
-----------------------------------
After navigating his way through the confusing maze of tiny streets, receiving abundant dodgy looks from the locals, Tyler finally comes across a small and inconspicuous doorway. He had found what he had been looking for – The Sasipraya Gym.
It was here where Tyler Scott met a man with a reputation that exceeded the city limits and spanned across the entire North of Thailand. Master Rai was known at the most influential Muay Thai trainer in Thailand. His gym was said to have consistently produced the most successful fighters in competitive kick boxing for decades. Tyler Scott wanted to be in such illustrious company.
Tyler strolled into the Rai’s gym with a western arrogance, which was soon to be broken. The first thing he saw was something very familiar to him – a square ring, bound by ropes, with two guys battling inside. Through the ropes, beyond the action, he saw a man who he had never met, but whom he immediately knew his identity as Master Rai.
Master Rai was a typically old and frail man, with shoulder length white hair and wispy moustache. He greeted Tyler, not with words, but a disapproving glance and a long pointed finger towards the locker room. A teenage boy, no older than 14 years of age, grabbed Tyler by the arm and escorts him through to the back. Master Rai watched Tyler Scott, looking him up and down, assessing him until he evades his view.
The teenager, without a word of English, orders Tyler Scott with an assortment of ordering gestures. The boy seized Scott by the wrists and inspected his hands before he pushed Scott towards to the showers. All students must be bathed and have clean, trimmed nails.
In the glare of the other fighters and, more worryingly the teenage boy, Tyler was not particularly comfortable in showering. Stripping down to his briefs, Tyler hands his clothes to the boy. The boy did not move and looks down to the briefs, indicating that it all needs to come off. Tyler tilted his head in surprise but the teenager just responded with a demanding grunt. Twisting himself into a position where he did present a full frontal or full moony to the boy, he shuffled his briefs off with minimal bending. He passed the sweaty pants over and the boy left, but the rest of the fighters did not. Tyler showered whilst trying to hide his plums from sight.
Removing the towel from around his waist, Scott pulled on a pair of long shorts, in the colours of the Union Jack, made from the finest Thai silk. He somewhat arrogantly had them made to order earlier in his visit. Scott cracked his knuckles before proceeding to wrap his wrists in elasticated binding and tape his fingers together for added support. The teenager ordered Tyler Scott to follow him back into the ring area.
Master Rai was sat in the same position as Tyler had last seen him. He was concentrating intensely on the contest in the ring. Tyler had to wait impatiently to the side. His foot tapping and fidgeting soon caught the eye of other fighters who became annoyed at his lack of restraint.
As the contest came to a conclusion, Master Rai got to his feet. The two competitors stand, clasp their hands together and bow. Master Rai returns the gesture and the fighters exit the ring.
Master Rai looks around and sees that the British newcomer was ready. He pointed at Tyler and directed him into the ring. Tyler was ecstatic to be thrown straight in and get the chance to show his credentials. The fighter chosen to face him was one of the most experienced in the gym – seemingly chosen to teach Tyler a lesson.
Tyler entered the ring and began his warm ups. In the opposite corner, his opponent began his pre-match rituals – praying to Buddha and giving thanks to other gods. Tyler watched on with befuddlement. Should he have joined in, even though it is not his custom? The truth was that, whilst it is etiquette to perform the ritual, Master Rai did not expect that of Tyler. This was the best way of teaching him the ways of Muay Thai.
The contest begun. The two men circled one another for a while. It soon became apparent that the Thai fighter was purely toying with Tyler. He waited for Scott to make a move and pounched.
Tyler takes a pounding. The Thai fighter rains kicks and punches down from constantly changing angles. Tyler Scott did not have a chance.
But. as the match continued, Tyler learned. He picked up on patterns in his opponent’s striking. He successfully blocked a couple. He then followed up by knocking the Thai competitor off balance and then hitting a perfectly executed roundhouse kick. The Thai fighter hit the canvas only for a second, but it was met with a slightly raised bushy eyebrow of Master Rai.
The match carried on. Tyler still took punch after punch, kick after kick. But on occasions, between the barrages, Scott was able to counter. Master Rai had seen glimmers of potential and called an end to the fight.
Tyler, with the air forced from his lungs and swelling appearing across his face, struggles to his feet.
The Thai fighter salutes his Master before all attention turns to Tyler. Tyler looks across to Master Rai, clasps his hands together and bows. The Master bows back. He had been accepted into the gym. Master Rai had accepted him under his tutelage.
As Tyler left the ring in pain, the old man nodded with the slightest head moment. The appreciation in his eye was more powerful. As Tyler slumped past with aching bones, the old man tapped him on the shoulder.
What Tyler did not know at that time, is that moment would happen just once more during his life. The same respectful gesture, appreciative eyes and pat on the back was only ever replicated by Rick Majors.
-----------------------------------
In present day Bangkok, the glorious temples still remain, only tucked away in the shadows of modern architecture. They, of course, still have a place in the world. The temples still have a mass following of loyal and faithful people. But there environment around them has changed, society has evolved.
There will always be a place in this world for Rick Majors.
But it’s an increasingly small part.
It only takes one sky-scraper to crush a temple.
I will destroy Rick Majors.
