Combat at the Capitale not only turned out to be a classy affair, in an area, which was formerly, and famously skid row in NYC, but it was also a truly cultural, international, educational and artful affair. Besides the super exciting kickboxing and Muay Thai amateur and professional bouts, the music and ritualistic dances of the pro Muay Thai bouts, blew away any downtown avant-garde modern dance piece. It was a night of fighting, art, music, food, alcohol, excitement, and of course beautiful people. This monumental and luxurious setting was very much like a vision my man Shu once wrote about. This was a high intensity high-class live house rock n roll rumble.

When You Need A Hand

I had been looking forward to this event for about a month, since it is rare to see full contact sports in the supposedly liberal state of New York, (MMA is illegal in NY) but not martial arts. For some odd reason, wrestling and Jiu-jitsu are legal as well as kickboxing or boxing, but not a combination of them all. But I received a stoic phone call from my main man Shu, notifying me that things had gone awry with our press passes, and the show was sold out. I was truly disappointed, and thought, "Damn it! There goes my low budget documentary footage," so in a desperate final act I decided to eventually reach out to someone.

Since our contact man, through no fault of his own, had failed to get us our press passes, I had to make a desperate call to a young fighter I've been filming in the local MMA circuit named Luke Cummo, who would be participating in a Muay Thai bout on this particular humid June evening. Once I finally tracked down his phone number searching through months of old e-mails, I dialed the digits and he picked up with that distinct low monotone of his voice. "Hello!" "Luke?" I hesitated. "Yeah." "Hey, It's Fernando, I'm really glad I got a hold of you, they screwed up our press credentials for tonight, so I won't be able to get in. Do you think maybe I could pass the camera on to one of your friends, or get into the weigh-ins?" "I could talk to Ray, he's one of the organizers." (As in Ray Longo from the Longo Serra Competition Team) I sensed that perhaps there was hope after all. "Look I'll give you my friend Shu's cell phone number and you can call me when you get to the place, and we'll hook up and see what happens…" I need you to exert your power and influence Luke, I thought in the back of my mind. "Alright," he replied, "so I'll call you before six which is weigh-ins." "Thanx a lot Luke," I countered, and then I had to scramble and call the big boss Shu.

Ramblin n Gamblin

So we made a plan, and the gamble was starting to pay off, but meanwhile I had to haul ass all over New York City. Starting in wee Brooklyn, first I picked up some mini DV tapes from a little local joint, which charged half the price than the brand new neighboring Radio Shack, and then I hooked up with Shu at a posh hotel lounge in midtown Manhattan, which he and Minori had to photograph for some Japanese magazine. He needed to hand me off the film camera, and his cell phone.

What a contrast from my hyper ethnic working class neighborhood. Outside it was hot, sticky and full of the bourgeoisie and loudly dressed tourists. Meanwhile, Shu had to give me a crash lesson on how to use his cell phone. Since I don't normally like subjecting my Mojo to radioactive waves, I'm not so hip with this technology, which has replaced the pacifier for some. After a fast talk and tight for time, I shot back down from near Central Park on the F train to the East Village where I share a rehearsal space for music, getting rid of my excess baggage and jacket, and I waited for the call.

Running With the Devil

It came, as the cell phone danced on the piano, Luke had arrived and I told him I would be there soon. I went off on a fifteen-minute dash through one of those awful sticky N.Y.C. pre-summer days, reeking of the masses excesses and left-overs. As you walk down the beautiful Bowery past the legendary CB GB's, then heading south past Houston Street, there are still many remnants of the "old days" such as hole in the wall hotels scattered in this still seedy humid breeze. As you pass all the restaurant supply shops, which feed the city's thriving (for the owners only) undocumented kitchens where only Spanish is usually spoken (around here it's Mandarin or Cantonese) you realize that despite the grunge, certain sheen suddenly reflects in the near distance. If you've never experienced Chinatown when it gets hot, it smells like death itself. Suddenly, imposing through the heat and smell, it is present, it is prevalent, this massive marble structure, as two large stone lions guard the entrance from either side of the Chinese neon scenery.

Passing the Bouncers Guard

First, you have to ask the nice guys dressed in black if you can pass the velvet rope, especially if you are sweating, as I was from the jog. After all, this is a classy joint. I explain to the bald dude that I am press, and I'm here for the fighting event, the big guy suspiciously obliges me, and I head for the big doors. Everything about this structure reminded me of George Orwell's film version of The Trial, this building dwarfed me, and it felt like I was headed for a verdict.

The Entrance

When you walk up the steps of the Capitale, with it's lion statues and bouncers, you realize that capitalism is alive and working, at least for some people. I was here at a party about a year ago, when it first opened, and boy was it sheik and decadent. What used to be a money vault has now become a Party Train for those with the money from the vault. I approached a table to the left, and inquired if perhaps I could, "get into the weigh-ins since I had to meet one of the fighters." This nice gentleman in a suit gave me a little double speak and kind of ushered me in reverse saying something or the other as I back pedaled. But the final verdict was from Luke's Muay Thai coach, Mr. Ray Longo, who had overheard my efforts to pass the front table's guard. He came to the rescue when I called Luke back on his friend's cell phone. Ray, if I may be so bold to call him by his first name, is a true gentleman and very down to earth. He hooked me up with a pass, and even sacrificed a $75.00 ticket so that our photographer Minori Yoshida could come and take slide photographs of the event. What a cool coach, I thought.

As you enter this beautifully rehabilitated gleaming marble structure, what is most impressive are the very high stellar ceilings and the coolness and sheen of the floors and walls. A long walk around bar is located right upfront, replete with every type of booze you can imagine. As the bartender stocks the shelves of this, the biggest of almost a dozen bars, the sexy young employees are grappling with their own fashion sense, cutting the sleeves off of their tight embossed t-shirts and sporting a little extra attitude for those extra tips. The male crew gladly gave them their observations and opinions as they modeled before the huge flat screen, which held a view of the ring in the spacious stone central dome. They also had a nice plentiful spread of diverse foods for the hungry feasting fans. This was truly sizing up to be a Bacchanalian feast.

The Man

So anyways, Ray showed me the ropes and we arranged for Minori to pick up her ticket at the front table. While crossing the balcony upstairs on the way to the dressing rooms, we ran into Louis Neglia. Ray introduced us, I shook the champs hand, as they talked about one of the fighters being a couple pounds over. Louis Neglia is not only an organizer of this particular show and the MMA event Ring Of Combat, but he is a World Champion Kick Boxer. It is written in his face, this man's been around, a powerful looking weathered veteran who I would never mess with.

Red

In the dressing rooms there were two very distinct auras. The red corner's room was bustling with energy, there was a camera crew following the Kru Phil Nurse Muay Thai fighters, who were largely responsible for the beautiful displays of performance art in the ceremonies before their bouts. While shooting with my little camera, I thought about how a smaller jiu jitsu fighter can submit a giant, production any day of the week. Low Budget, like that famous Kinks tour, that is my motto. Also in this red room were also the many TSK representatives, and their pose, as well as the balance that determined the outcome of the weigh-ins.
As I innocently rolled some film, I was almost taken down by the head Dr., who reminded me of the new HIPA laws which our paranoid empire had instituted: this means you can't film the medical examination of a fighter. "Personally, I could care less," she said, "but it's the new law." As I shut off the camera, I remembered the familiar initials, since I usually, dreadfully so, work with lawyers. This law was passed after 9/11/2001 and stands for Health Information Privacy Act, I think. Ah, there are always the politics!

Blue

On the other hand the blue corner's room was darkly lit with a very different aura. Each room is a different themed bar in this rehabbed former marble bank, tonight the bar area only had ice and water for the participants. When I first walked in a fighter who was a couple pounds over weight was skillfully jumping rope fully robed, as other fighters were eating or lying around lounging or meditating on the ample art deco furniture. Zebra stools, tiger pillows, ready warriors and their corner men decorated this room where each window looked out into Chinatown. And as we all know, "Jake, forget it. It's Chinatown."

The House

Meanwhile, downstairs the domed arena began to fill with bodies in conversation and anticipation of the fights. The wait staff, most of which are actually dancers, shook it and moved around serving spirits to the spirited crowd, which began filling the house. The show was sold out, but only a limited amount of tickets were sold so as not to over pack the place. There was plenty of room for everyone to have a great view, and from the balcony we had a great overview. Fans were excited, friends were nervous, fighters' adrenaline flowed and everyone cheered up when MC Peter Neglia introduced the show and the hot sexy Miss Hawaiian Tropic, Denise Rader, who modeled the ring cards, trophies, and various white themed outfits. When she broke out the bathing suit, every fighter in the house wanted to be a lover instead.

The Struggle

Perhaps the most interesting story to relate in any intense sports competition is the sense of tension and nervousness, which lingers behind the scenes in the backstage area. If it were musicians, the nervousness would be not to miss a note, a dancer doesn't want to miss a step or phrase, but a kick boxer doesn't want to miss an opportunity or give up an opportunity for the finish, and of course you must put on a good show. It is also important to be sufficiently warmed up once the battle arrives, your head must be clear and focused, and the butterflies in the belly must be tamed. I was fortunate enough to be granted a yellow wristband for cornering, so I could flow freely between the different areas, thus witnessing the anxiety, success, or whatever feeling the fight brought with it.

Flying Solo

Some fighters are accompanied by at least a couple corner men and teammates, while other teams bring along a huge pose or extended family to support them. But there is always the lone soldiers such as Jay Palmer from Jersey, a veteran who trains on his own and took a pro Muay Thai bout on two weeks notice. Unfortunately for this stoic warrior, Derek Riddick from the Kru Phil Nurse stable was too well prepared for this third to last match up of the night. This fight followed a gorgeous ritual by Riddick, displaying his aura, strength, grace and flexibility. He walked the perimeters of the ring, feeling every millimeter of the top ropes with an extended arm. The music, which accompanies the entrance of the Muay Thai fighters and the fight itself, has a dissonant Dyonissian element, which gives the fights a touch of something more. After all, the dance and the fight are inextricable from each other, something culturally steeped, and the participation of live musicians (not tonight) and an enthusiastic audience is a communal exchange. In the end, Palmer was not prepared to endure the hardships this supreme athlete gracefully delivered including a severe clinch, powerful knees, and strikes which finished him at about the one-minute mark in this professional Muay Thai 172 lbs fight.

The Long Drive

Another solo warrior came all the way from North Carolina for the Main Event. He brought along his trainer and corner man, and made it into the city only hours before his bout. Now here is a spirited man, having had a marathon drive, to fight with only two weeks notice as well. Reminds me of playing in a lousy band and doing the low budget tour, your fingers shaped like the steering wheel, let alone the rest of the body. His crew was very cool, replete with that southern laid-back demeanor, they too killed time in the blue corners dressing room reading and relaxing in the shade. But when it came down to business, they were there to prep him for a fight.

As I was sitting on a long couch on one side of the room, a slimmed down Matt Serra walked in. We spoke about his upcoming fight against Ivan Menjivar "The Pride Of El Salvador" in the upcoming UFC as Ray Longo relaxed and perused some magazines at the end of the long couch. "It's time for a power shake." Matt uttered. "Although what I really want is a pizza pie." He said it like a real Italian American, and boy did he mean it. "You look a lot slimmer than the last time I saw you." I remembered how much it sucks to cut weight, and if you don’t do it correctly, it cuts your energy level as well. "Yeah, next week, Vegas." "How do you feel about this one, you were supposed to fight Ivan about half a year ago, weren't you?" "I feel good, I'm going to win by submission." (Although he didn't win by submission, he won a unanimous decision completely dominating Menjivar.)

Rules n Nerves

After Lou Neglia went over all the rules for the various fights, he answered any doubts or questions expressed by the fighters. After waiting around a couple hours, the three Longo Serra fighters and the blue corner in general started to prepare, some stretching, sparring, talking, sleeping or thinking. One of the staff came around making announcements and making sure the wrapping jobs were done properly and by the rules. Everything in this event was by the rules, in order to avoid any problems. As Luke laid out strips of tape and gauze on the table, his coaches began to give him advice and encouragement, assisting in the proceedings. As his knuckles were taped up, his headgear was on the bench next to him, and that ever-essential bottle of water.

Strangers In The Night

The most quiet yet interesting solo soul in the blue corner, had to be the young Japanese fighter who brought his buddy to carry the ice bucket, and his trainer Mike Smith, a boxing corner man from Brooklyn, USA. It would be interesting to find out how these two men from different corners of the universe wound up hooking up. I know that Tiger Kizuki started out in Kyokushin Karate, but here he was with a boxing trainer in NYC, doing an amateur Muay Thai bout. The difference between the amateur and professional bouts is that the amateurs wear chin guards and head gear, and the number of rounds are less and shorter, for the latter. The room suddenly filled with a strong mentholated odor, Mike Smith was instructing Tiger's friend about cornering, as he also prepped Tiger with tiger balm all over his torso and legs. The nerves and the butterflies were present, as the first fighter from the blue corner marched out, behind him the room suddenly broke out into applause. "Let's start out with a win for the blue corner!" Someone yelled. You could then hear the entrance music and the crowd outside, breaking into applause as the first fighters are introduced in the opening Kickboxing amateur bout. Obviously the rules were different in these particular bouts from Muay Thai rules. In Muay Thai, there is no knock down rule, it is unlimited knock downs, but it is stopped at the referees discretion.The blue corner did start out winning, as Ronnie Cook got a decision over Nick Malta. This was a 169 lbs bout of three two-minute rounds.

Anticipation

As the applause broke out in the main hall, Tiger was told that he was on deck and to be ready. The red corner had just taken the second decision tonight, as the moment for this man came closer. This was also a two minute three rounder, but with Muay Thai rules, at a hundred and fifty nine pounds. His buddy carried the towel and the bucket of ice, as his corner man talked to him and warmed him up. After the slow march across the balcony, which over looked the arena, a circular walk down the spiral stairs, and the applause and introductions, a ferocious battle ensued between two young tigers. Corey Miller, a golden gloves champion from TSK, came out on a mission to remove Kizuki's head, and almost succeeded. But the lighter spirited warrior responded after getting pushed back to the rope with a series of strikes of his own. The crowd was vibrant, and the first round was pure high-energy power striking with Tiger coming back but Miller slightly ahead. In the second round, Tiger turned things around and turned Millers chin, as both battled hard with diverse arsenals. Miller seemed to have the harder punch, but experienced the canvass as well, from Kizuki's punches. Going into the third, it was all up for grabs, with both giving it their all for the roaring crowd, in what would wind up being a split decision in favor of Miller.

Coming Down

When Tiger returned to the locker room he was very quiet, although everyone in this room knew he should have at least gotten a draw. A series of coaches and other fighters congratulated him in a great fight. "You've got nothing to be ashamed of!" One coach told him. I had to agree, as I too congratulated him in a great fight. "He's fighting again tomorrow at the Strike Zone in Brooklyn." Mike Smith told me. "Besides he's a one hundred and forty nine pounder, I'm just trying to get him as much ring experience as possible." The wounded samurai sat staring ahead quietly. The only words he uttered were, "I'm sorry Mike." "Don't worry about it kid, it's over. You did great and now you gotta get ready for tomorrow."

Show Goes On

Meanwhile another Japanese fighter named Nobu, Hirooka that is, had just lost a close split decision to TSK's Neil Gonzalez in a kickboxing bout. I was sitting next to Luke rolling a little film as his teammate Joe Diable from the Serra Longo Competition Team got ready to put on a rambunctious show. As his team followed, the music pierced the dome and the slightly tipsy crowd cheered. He fought a spirited high-energy battle against an also tough James Kyriakou from Titan Kickboxing. After a back and forth rally and nice high kicks, Diable’s ability to finish aggressively earned him the respect of the judges. This was the beginning of a perfect night for Longo Serra Competition Team.

One Loss

So far, each time I've seen Tiger Schulman fighters in MMA competitions, they performed perfectly, tonight would be a little different. TSK's sole defeat came when Lou Bellino, of the perfectly performing Kru Phil Nurse trio, defeated Erik Mitchell. With the cameras on him, this amateur Muay Thai fighter performed and came through victorious for the climax of his documentary. He then got the trophy from the perfectly shaped woman. He had barely squeezed by the Tiger man, winning a very close decision. As he squeezed back through the balcony, all the little clones that made up the camera crew followed, lights, camera, sound, and of course, there was no shortage of action, although by far, his more experienced team mates would be more worthy of the cameras attention.

Seven Rounder

The U.S. Championship Pro Kickboxng bout, which ensued, was very high paced and technical, and it did indeed take the show up another notch. If I could freeze time, I would give you some play by play, but these 122 pounders move faster than words. Although this fight did go the full seven grueling rounds, USKBA Champion Devon Cormack's skills and energy level could not keep up with WKA US Champion Bobby Campbell's efficiency and striking game, which earned him a unanimous nod from the judges. Despite the judges' cards, from what I witnessed, it was a tight back and forth battle in which Campbell’s spirit prevailed.

Camera Action!

As adrenaline filled the blue room, my film subject Luke's fight finally came up. After warming up vigorously, stretching, punching the gloves, working combinations and practicing high kicks and clinches my subject entered the ring with his usual silent demeanor, in his home made black sleeveless gi with the blue pentagon on the back, although there was no mask for tonight's entry. I had only seen him in the MMA ring previously. This was a well-matched three round amateur Muay Thai bout at 174lbs. The slightly thicker Nick Hatzotoulos was no pushover, and these two went at it hard. I was looking through a view finder, so it's difficult to describe the action. In the end though, the lankier Cummo was victorious unanimously, having out struck his opponent, sending him to the floor, and very effectively utilizing the clinch. Backstage, Ray Longo gave Luke more follow up advice and pointed out that he could have "finished" the fight. "You're a mixed martial artist Luke. You have to be able to sense when the other guy's in danger, and then go for the knock out. You had him in trouble a couple times." Although victorious, Cummo seemed disappointed for not finishing. Eventually a quiet grin took over the serious stare as he put on his taped up glasses, and team mates as well as other fighters congratulated him.

Intermission

As the crowd steeped itself in cocktails and hoers devours, there was no rest for these coaches. I thought about how stressful a job it must be, and the overwhelming concern for your fighter's safety. Luke's victory would then be followed by another Muay Thai bout, and then his teammate James Onnikian would confront Lou Neglia's man John Kenny in a pro kickboxing fight. This was a very close and exciting bout and both fighters gave it everything they had. As Ray Longo and Lou Neglia gave advice throughout the five rounds, in the end Onnikian, with tremendous spirit, was able to stay slightly ahead, outmaneuvering his taller and lankier opponent. Thruought the course of the fight, both fighters delivered dangerous high kicks and displayed the experience to survive such danger. The shorter Onnikian would reply with a flurry of strikes each time Kenny delivered the mail up high. This was one of the best fights of the night, and Kenny lacked neither skill nor heart.

Winding Down

This was then followed by Riddick defeating Palmer very abruptly, and then Mike Stine from TSK got a chance to be victorious unanimously in his Muay Thai debut at 205 lbs. This was the first time I saw Stine go a full match, after witnessing his quick MMA victories thus far, in Ring Of Combat. The only time he was in trouble was when his shorter opponent pulled him down in the clinch during the first round, but he avoided it in the second and third rounds.

The Grande Finale came down to the man from North Carolina against Joe Sampieri, another Kru Phil Nurse man. As each man did the celebratory ritual dance, and the dissonant reed and stringed music droned, I felt as if I was in a scene from Apocalypse Now. This was for the Eastern American Muay Thai Championship at 155 lbs. Unfortunately for Koonce, (Kelvin Purdy's Gym) his rapid attack failed against a very well armed and experienced Sampieri, who pushed him back towards the corner he came from, and finished it in a little over a minute with a KO strike.

In a night filled with different types of stand up styles, rules, and replete with KO's, the Muay Thai music and the cheering fans created a cacophonous concert within the Capitale's dome. This would be a night to remember, although I never did taste the food or drink even one beer. Time flies when you have to keep track of so many fights. I had forgotten to hit the bank machine and I walked in the door with two bucks in my pocket. Besides I was too busy filming my documentary, of this unknown fighter.

"How do you feel Luke?" "I should have knocked him out." He replied non-chalantly, while eating some home made pumpkin turnovers with organic peanut butter on top. "You wanna try one Joe?" His teammate replied, "What the hell is that?" As Matt Serra drank another power shake in celebration of his fighters victory, Cummo said with a grin, "I figure before we go to Vegas next week, I might as well maintain a good diet till then. I've been looking at all the buffets on the internet, I can't wait."