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Hello, It's good to see you
It's been a while since we had a chance to talk
I wanted to ask you about early life, how old were you when you started fighting?
my first time... was around 13 years old
I was living in the country side "Issarn" region
N: Did you have any relatives that were fighters? What got you interested in Muay Thai?
Bunkerd: No, just me... but when I started fighting my other siblings started fighting
When I was kid, 30-40 years ago in the country we didn't have any TV's so...
I would listen to the fights on the radio
and I wanted to fight, but in the rainy season I couldn't
I didn't belong to a camp, I had to work in the rice fields
N: so who first taught you Muay Thai? B: In the beginning nobody, I just made it up as
I went along... we were 13 years old
after finishing in the fields we would go bath then go spar with each other
we didn't have gloves either, we wrapped our hands in (sarong cloth)
N: Did anyone get knocked out? B: no we would just kick each other
it was the country... N: when you were 13 you had an opportunity to go to a camp?
B: No, my parents wouldn't let me go, they needed me to work the fields
We were farmers and my family needed the help
my mom and dad didn't want me to go anywhere
so... what year did you eventually get to go to the camps?
I was about 19 years old... N: 19! wow that's really quite old
definitely... 19 in our sport is pretty old
N: so let me get this straight... 13 you were self taught and you finally made it to the camps when you were 19?
Wow...
what camp were you at? B: Initially at a camp called Sakwitiya
it was near the giant swing, near the market, it's no longer there
i was there for a month, I had fought about 30 times before I ever went to the camps
In that month i trained and helped them in the market
for the first week I washed dishes
I was the dishwasher
by the 2nd or 3rd week...
I was promoted to the chilli crushing stand!
back then there was no machine, you had to use a mortar and pestel.... man my hands would sting like hell
I would wash my hands... but the during training your hands would burn!
how long were you at the market?...oh about a month
So yeah the head of the camp would make lots of money selling food at the market
then from there were did you go?
The head trainer of Sakwithiya "Jongsatien Gym"
hollywood, he boxed and lived in Japan
he had a friend who was at Fairtex
he was confindent i had enough fights and introduced me to them
I had fought about 30 times before I received any formal training
he asked if I had any interest in going to fairtex...
I went and checked it out
How old were you when you went to look at fairtex? B: I was nearly 20
how long were you at fairtex?
I was there for my whole career... and your trainer was monlit?
no, initially it was...
mong, (indiscernible)
You earned a Rajadomnern belt right?
Yes, 110, N: How old were you?
I was about 22 or 23... N: when did you get your second belt?
I was about 25... yeah I was already pretty old
after that where did you go? Chandler Arizona?
yeah, when I was done in Thailand
I was at Fairtex in Phoenix Arizona
that was long time ago... I was at fairtex in Thailand and here (US)
for nearly 23 years... How long have you been at fight at fitness?
about 7 years....
I really miss you, it's been so long. B: I miss you too
Do you have anything you want to say to your friends?
I miss you, I want to go back and visit Thailand but I don't have a lot of time...
I've been busy with work, family, life etc
I want everyone to know that I miss them, and hope to see them
Thank you!