In the Clinch Vol.7

“In the Clinch”
By Coach Woodward

Welcome to ‘In the Clinch’ Vol.7, an up close, behind the scenes look at the Elite Fighting Team (E.F.T.) of Team Intense Martial Arts (TIMA). With Master Catalasan’s permission and support we will bring you inside the inner workings of the E.F.T. As we begin our descent on final approach to the Junior Olympics in Orlando, Florida.

With the Junior Olympics just days away there’s much work to do and little time to do it. For those who’ve been following along thus far we thank you for your encouragement. If you have any math ability whatsoever you can see I ran out of days before I ran out of fighters. However, we will complete the blog for every fighter going to Orlando. In fact, most of the remaining interviews will be posted from Florida, mixed in with our daily updates.

We hope you enjoy this blog as we attempt to make you feel like part of our family. Without your support and encouragement none of this would be possible. Today we continue with our 7th of 12 interviews of the amazing kids who comprise the E.F.T. We encourage you to share this blog with family, friends, co-workers and anyone else who might benefit or partner with us in doing what we can to give these dedicated athletes the support they need to accomplish all they’ve set out to do.

Please sit back, relax and enjoy being ‘In the Clinch’ with Nathan ‘I keep farting to a minimum’ Suvannakul.

I recently had the privilege of sitting down with Nathan and getting to know him a little better. I walked away from this conversation with a side ache and sore smiling muscles. This kid had me in stitches. Funny doesn’t begin to describe him.

Nathan is 14 years old and he’s been with TIMA for 5 years. This is his first year on the E.F.T. Nathan is a green belt (6th gup) in Tae Kwon Do. He finished 2nd at this year’s State Championship in a fight few will forget. We’ll reference it throughout our story.

Nathan also trains in Muay Thai and Kali with TIMA. He said Kali is the most difficult because there’s a “whole bunch of steps and stuff to remember.” Nathan said TKD is his favorite of the 3 disciplines, “because it’s how I started.” I asked him his least favorite, “Can you say none?” Good answer Nathan.

Nathan’s favorite tournament was, “Where I fought Justin Bardales. This was actually my first tournament too.” It’s interesting to me that his favorite tournament was one where he lost to a friend. However, Nate is that kind of a guy and his many friends appreciate it. I asked him to name a few friends. He answered me like this, “Sarina, Ismael and can I say the entire elite team?” Yes Nathan. You can and did. Why does he feel close to them? “Because I’ve been training with them hard and have been through a lot with them.” Another great answer.

Nathan isn’t one to cause the team to have to do discipline often, but I asked him what punishments he dislikes the most anyway. ”There’s a whole bunch, but plank push-ups and the mountain climbers. I hate those.” You know who else hates mountain climbers? The poor soul right behind Nathan when he’s doing them.

For those who aren’t familiar with Nathan, you might’ve been asking yourself since the beginning of this blog, ‘Why did Coach say Nathan keeps farting to a minimum?’ Well, here’s a little back story to get you up to speed. Nathan’s teammates all know of his propensity for dispelling air on a frequent basis from his backside. How it all started however is a great story. “I keep farting to a minimum.” “When I fart I say I do cuz I’m proud of it.” How did Nathan get to this place of serenity in the midst of methane? “I farted in science class in 4th grade. Everyone was laughing. That’s how I got proud of it.” There you have it. Nathan Suvannakul, TIMA’s own chemical weapon.

Nathan’s most memorable moment with TIMA came at this past summer’s Boost camp. ”It opened me up to the team.” I asked Nathan who he thinks is the funniest person on the team. After thinking long and hard he mumbled, “Ish (Ismael Aguilar) because he’s kinda humorous and…” So you know, the “…” is my way of communicating that Nathan’s sentence just kind of drifted off into nothingness. I can’t explain it any better than that. It’s one of the charming things about him.

When you talk to Nathan the best part of the conversation comes when no one is talking and he just kind of mumbles random stuff. Try it sometime. I promise you a laugh. I found myself asking ridiculous questions just so I could hear him ramble on in his mumbling voice. I mean no disrespect, it’s endearing beyond description and Nathan is the most respectful of all the fighter’s I’ve interviewed. I got more ‘Yes Sir’s’ from Nathan than all the other’s combined. In fact, here’s one I particularly enjoyed.

I asked Nathan who the prettiest girl on the team was and for once he was able to answer a question without careful consideration. His response, “Marisa”. I asked him if he wanted me to publish that. His answer? You guessed it, “Yes Sir!”

Hoping to capitalize on Nathan’s temporary courage I asked him who his best friend on the team was. He fell for it. “Sarina is because she helps me with all my problems and she helped me read my eulogy and because she’s my wife.”

Nathan hasn’t suffered any gory injuries with TIMA yet, although members of the Elite team remember his frequent bouts with cramps (see his picture above taken in the midst of cramping). Primarily in his legs, which are 110% muscle. However, he hasn’t suffered from them in quite some time, knock on wood.

Apparently Nathan has never suffered an ‘F’ on his report card either. When asked if he had his response was immediate, “No. Never!”

Here are some fun facts about Nathan you may not have known:
Favorite Fighters: ”Of course Mr. Garcia, Ish and Justin” Because Justin fights like you? “Yes sir!”

Favorite Female Fighters: “Brooke and Sarina. She kicks hard.”

Favorite Food: ”Pad Thai” (noodles, bean sprouts, peanuts, lime and some kind of sauce, beef or shrimp) Asked what breed they use for beef Nathan said, “We don’t eat dog.” Then he laughed.

Favorite TV Show: Without hesitation he said “Sponge Bob” also “King of Queens” “My Name is Earl”, “Yes Dear”, “Fresh Prince of Bel Air” and “Family Matters”

Biggest Fear: “Heights Sir”

Favorite Movie Star: “Can it be a model sir?” “Kim Kardashian. Have you seen the Carl’s Jr. commercial?”

Taking a huge journalistic risk I asked Nathan to tell me something about himself people might not know. I’m sure to no one’s surprise he informed me that, “Pad Thai sometimes gives me gas.” He also shared this tidbit, “I didn’t learn to tie my shoes until 5th grade.”

Nathan is our lone representative from Thailand, though he was born in the United States. He admits to speaking some Thai, but he farts in English. By the way, Nathan’s other nickname is rabbit. This arose out of his confession that his movements resemble the pellets left behind by your typical hare.

Nathan identified, “Guro, my dad and my uncle” as the most influential people in his life. He said his favorite thing about TIMA is, “Everything”, though he specifically mentioned “the workout and the family”.

To understand the context of this next question it would help if you had been sitting in on the interview. Since you weren’t let me clue you in. Nathan is not in a hurry to answer questions. He ponders each one at length. I really should’ve considered that before asking him this next one. If Nathan had three wishes what would they be?

“That I could get a girlfriend, a nice one, my type.” Of course, I asked him what his type was. “Smart, well kinda smart, but knows what she’s doing and cares about the future and is pretty looking.” Ok, that clears things up.

Nathan literally took 5 minutes to give me his second wish and this is what he said. ”World peace, I’m a hippy.” Then he said,”Can you scratch that world peace out. I don’t want that.” You heard it here first; Nathan does not want world peace. His second second wish was for,”A clean environment. I don’t like dirt. I mean don’t like trash dirt.”

When we got to Nathan’s third wish I was wondering how long it would take to get an answer. Sarina Oropeza, who had suffered through the last two questions, was apparently sharing my same concern. She prompted Nathan with what most would consider a reasonable use of a wish. She suggested he ask for $1,000,000. Nathan said, “No cuz I’m Asian.” What? You’re Asian? What does that have to do with anything I wondered? I took a wild guess and asked him, “Because you’re Asian you know you’re going to be rich?” Nathan replied simply, “Yes Sir!”

I asked Nathan to describe his perfect wife. Finally he answered a question without thinking, “Sarina”. Sarina, still sitting nearby, chimed in sounding surprised, “Really?”

When Nathan grows up he wants to be either a “software designer”, “game designer”, “or a marine.”

Nathan’s most embarrassing moment came when he was 8 years old. “I used to like this ugly chick when I was in 3rd grade.” Ladies, please address all your hate mail to Nathan Suvannakul.

At this time I turned my attention to Nathan’s teammates, coaches and family to find out more about the chronically farting young man sitting before me.

Nicolette said, “Nathan is nice overall. He’s never made me mad.” As a fighter she said he’s, “scary, strong and scary.” Austin was impressed with Nathan’s “mustache” and the fact that he’s “Thai”. He also described him as “loud” both in and out of the ring. Sarina described Nathan as; “funny, gentle, kind and stinky. He farts a lot!”

Sara said,” He’s peculiar, funny and he’s sweet. He’s actually quite sweet.” Sara laughed as she recalled a time when, “He bowed to Sarina.” Brooke said, “He’s spaztastic, funny and surprisingly outgoing.” Mr. Garcia said Nathan is, “Eccentric”.

When it came to their opinion of Nathan the fighter his teammates were almost universal in describing him. Sarina said, “He’s super powerful.” Sarina also noted that, “if you don’t attack him he’ll beat his chest like King Kong.” Jake said, “He’s naturally Muay Thai fighterish. He’s very, very powerful.” He doesn’t even have to try.” Sara was even more forthcoming,”He’s really strong. I usually try to avoid fighting him. He’s really strong. His kicks are really hard. He’s pretty unpredictable.”

Coach Kaihewalu said his favorite Nathan moment came at this year’s State Championship. Nathan let out what Coach K described as a, “crazy scream. Like the hulk!” Those of us who were there will never forget it. As for what Nathan needs to do in Orlando Coach said,”He got a little bit too up (at States). He’s an intense fighter.” “He needs to control emotions and find serenity in the ring.” Lastly, “He needs to come in with confidence right off the get go.”

Guro described the Nathan in the ring as, “pure power, lightning fast kicks, dangerous and savage.” However, Nathan outside the ring is, “Spazzy (in a good way), caring and generous.” Guro’s favorite memory of Nathan came at ‘Boost Camp’ this year. “We went to the store to buy some food and stuff. Nate came along to help out and I noticed that he bought 2 Chapsticks. So naturally I asked him why he needed two. He said, ‘Well, Justin (Bardales) said his lips were chapped, so I just wanted to buy him one.’ I thought it was the nicest thing for him to do for his buddy. “

Such a sweet story, If I had even the tiniest sliver of humanity I would end our story right here. But, you and I both know better. I’m going to close this one out the way we started it…in the gutter. Here are some wonderful quotes from Nathan’s friends regarding his special talent.

Austin: “We were at a teen meeting and Nathan farted and then he said, ‘I farted’”.

Daphne: “During a teen meeting we had to say something about ourselves and he said he farts.”

Ok, I can’t end it this way. I’ve come to respect Nathan and I want to send him out on a better note. Sarina recounted this tale. “Me, Ryan Woodward, my brother James and Nathan were at Knott’s Berry Farm and I wanted to get in a photo booth. But Nathan wouldn’t do it so I promised him a kiss on the cheek. He immediately changed his mind and took the picture.” If you’re wondering, there was no kiss for Nathan. On a positive note he didn’t fart in the photo booth.

I hope you enjoyed being ‘In the clinch’ with Nathan Suvannakul. Please check back in very soon when we get ‘In the Clinch’ with Daphne Tober.

For the Team,
Coach Woodward