TIMO LEHTO

Timo Lehto

Body and Soul

The pulsating Thai beat can already be heard in the courtyard, and it only gets louder as I walk up the stairs to the gym and open the door. The rather small space with low ceiling is surprisingly filled not with strong men in their prime only, but with people of different ages, including several women. It is noisy both from the music and from the shouts when the people exercising kick the heavy bags or punch the pads the coaches have on. The activity is very dynamic and energetic, and no wonder, Muay Thai, the traditional Thai boxing is intense, even hard, fierce, and brutal - one of the toughest martial arts.

Despite of the rough physical force which is apparent in the training, I don’t feel it possessing any hostility or violence. The focus is on dedication and discipline, and I also soon learn that respect, commitment, courage, and a strong mindset are the real key factors in Muay Thai. It is not merely the body which needs to be trained, the heart and mind are equally important. Respect – discipline – patience are the guidelines written on the gym’s wall.

I have had the privilege to follow my friend’s training and his preparation for fights, and the following images contribute to express the spirit of a Muay Thai fighter. The sweat on the skin does not come from the physical exercise alone - the mind must be strong too.

In the magazine “Body and Soul” is paired with Candia Peterson’s “Flowers”. Richard N Tucker writes:

Between the starkness of white flowers and the sweat on shining boxers’ bodies there are resonances of light and form, amplified by the apparent delicacy of the flower against the resilience of trained muscles and minds.