'The Hero', 'Computer ', the first Contender-Yodsanklai Fairtex, was in town on Saturday to hold a Muay Thai seminar at the Baan Nak Muay gym and as soon as a fellow friend of mine whom I got to know through our mutual interest in Muay Thai, Victoria, and I received news about it about three weeks ago, we got so excited we said yes to the gym almost immediately. To us, it was 'fork out eighty dollars to train with the one and only Yod-meister for four hours, or regret forever.'
We were anticipating Saturday like crazy and we were nervous yet thrilled to meet him in person again. When we finally arrived at the gym, he was playing FIFA with his trainer so we went over to say hi and he replied with a surprised face and a hand stuck out that it was nice to see us again. We were early so we hung around for a bit.
The workshop started promptly on time, there was a group of about twenty people and we skipped and stretched to warm up. Felt stupid skipping 'cos I haven't done it in a long time, plus Yod was standing next to me. He taught us the Muay Thai stance and basic movements next, followed by shadow boxing on our own. We proceeded to work on the punching bags, and being from a gym that only uses Thai pads during training, I didn't feel like I was good with my legs on the bags. Afterwards, we went in pairs to train with the gym trainers in the ring, kicking and punching pads.
Then came the real highlight: getting into the ring to train with Yodsanklai! We took individual turns to go in and I was one of the lasts and was bloody nervous! But when it came to my turn, Yod started to joke about being a ring announcer and called out that I was in the red corner and Vic was in the blue corner or something and I couldn't help but laugh like mad. And when I did, he told me to be serious and punch with all my might but he just kept smiling at me with that cute face! I mean, how could I be serious, so I just told him "You always make me laugh!!!" and everyone around giggled too. Haha. The pad work was good fun, Yod was really encouraging even though he was beat and sweaty from holding pads for everyone, just felt that it wasn't enough!!!!!!
He then instructed us to work on our kicks and knees on the bags and I feel my knees are a lot better now! Here comes the part I was again, nervous about, we had to go up one by one to kick thirty times on the bag while Yod held it and my left kicks suck. Some dudes who were there can really kick.
When we were done, it was time to warm down and training was over just like that! VIC AND I SIMPLY WANTED MORE!!!! We didn't want to go so we stayed and talked to Yodsanklai after the neverending photo-taking requests and got our gear signed. Talked to him about Naruepon, when we first met him last year, and asked if we sucked today! We got a "good" reply from him so I suppose that's quite enough for me, coming from Yodsanklai. Chatted with him for a bit more before he went to take a shower, he's just so friendly and doesn't put on any airs...and yes, Vic and I admittingly agree that the most fitting word to describe him is 'CUTE', though obviously he IS deadly. Aaaahh very cute dude.
After Yod got changed, all of us left the gym for Margaret Drive to have dinner at a supposedly famous and best chicken rice stall in town. I still find it amusing that no one recognises him though Vic said that some people were staring at him. Dinner was pretty good and fun, pity I wasn't feeling too hungry. Yod told us he'll be waiting for us to go to Fairtex Pattaya as soon as our parents allow us to on our own 'cos he'll be there forever! We've been discussing about how kickass the idea would be to travel there to train since way back but at this point it still seems quite impossible for me.
Well the day had to be over and we had to say our goodbyes so we reluctantly parted ways. Yodsanklai and us were doing the cheesy turn around and wave thing, and we did it till we lost sight of each other. Haha. Just like last year.
It was an brilliant experience I will remember forever and until we meet again,

Laa korn!