My Fateful Encounter with Muay Thai – Part 2
I arrived with eager anticipation on Sunday, December 29 at the Tao Dan Sports Center for the start of the club matches. A table displayed the trophies and prize belts awaiting the participants, along with luminaries from the martial arts world, including Le Dinh Chuong, the noted Vietnamese kick-boxing champion, who served as chief judge. […]
An Opera Lover’s Introduction to
Cải Lương
“How would you like to see a performance of cải lương — traditional Vietnamese folk opera?” my local friend asked. “Great opportunity for photos, and I think we can go backstage.” Knowing my love of opera and photography, my response was an immediate “yes.” Having grown up and lived in New York City, I attended […]
My Fateful Encounter with Muay Thai – Part 1
I first encountered Muay Thai on a photo assignment in Bangkok a number of years ago, and this graceful, devastatingly lethal martial art has piqued my curiosity ever since. After returning to the United States, I began following the sport via late-night cable TV matches broadcast from Southeast Asia. As part of my deeper exploration […]