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Thank You Tiger Muay Thai!!!

March 5th, 2013 | Posted by Jacob Barak Klensin in Uncategorized - (0 Comments)

Part of a new portrait series. Drawing me in closer and closer to the trainers.

And just like that, my time at Tiger Muay Thai has come to a close.  I haven’t posted much on this site, but  that is only because there has been an abundance of material being created and posted elsewhere. Namely on Muaythaiphoto.com and throughout Tiger’s various outlets.  Before touching on any of the work created, I just want to say that Tiger Muay Thai gave me the opportunity of a lifetime and allowed me to essentially live out a major dream of mine.

And from another portrait series of sorts.

For the past three months, my job was to shoot fighters and to train alongside of them, while living in Thailand.  It took me a bit to even wrap my head around this, and my primary concern throughout the trip was making sure I took full advantage of it.  I can’t thank the people at Tiger enough for providing me with this opportunity.

Looking back I am shocked at how my work has changed and evolved not only in the past year, but even since being here.  Having time to focus on my work like never before, time to think, examine, and create has had a clear visual effect on my work, and given birth to entirely new projects within it.

I am proud of the work, and am thinking hard about ways to release, display and share it.  As part of that process I am now doing a video blog series in conjunction with Fury Magazine revealing some of my creative process.  I am in Buriram back at Camp Lookchaomaesaithong for the week, before heading home.  As time frees up I will begin posting on here once again, but will soon be reorganizing, and redesigning all of Figure of Fighting’s web presence as part of the new relationship with 2.One.Fly Productions.  So check back frequently to see whats new.  And once again, thank you to Tiger Muay Thai for allowing me to, very simply, do what I do.

Muay Thai at the speed of light

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New Directions, Tools, and Ideas; Same Figure of Fighting

July 27th, 2012 | Posted by Jacob Barak Klensin in Uncategorized - (0 Comments)

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So some may notice a distinct lack of activity on this site ever since the show at Coban’s in New York.  It’s not that I haven’t been busy, or that I’ve been pulled away from this project in any way.  In fact, only the opposite is true.

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After New York I took some time to make sure I was caught up on all the regular work that keeps me busy, but that I had neglected a bit in preparation for the show.  This mainly involves my work with Daddis Fight Camps here in Philly, and our collaborative site http://daddismmaonline.com.  I’ve also though used the motivation from the success of the show to move forward in big ways, make big plans, and take on new and exciting projects, still within Figure of Fighting.  This doesn’t only involve a number of potential art exhibits in other cities, or my quickly approaching return to Thailand, but new artistic approaches and avenues to exploring the world of competitive fighting.

 

 

 

This body of work started out as a personal artistic project, and I work very hard to keep it as that.  So for me, finding something that works and sticking with it just isn’t good enough.  I want to always find new and exciting ways to expose more people to more elements of the world that has completely taken me over.  The tests for one of those approaches are presented here.  They are animated 3D Gifs created out of images shot on film, using a Nishika N8000 from the mid-eighties.  They are my test shots, taken initially at a Take On Productions fight show in New York.  They need a lot of work.  I don’t normally share my test work this early on, but its a part of the process, and I’m excited about them.

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When I started this project I didn’t even own a digital camera, and its exciting for me to go back to incorporating more analog photography in a way that also utilizes more modern digital tools.  I’m incredibly proud of and happy with the work that I’ve done thus far, and plan to continue it in a similar fashion, but want to expand to include media and tools that combine documentary techniques that are everything from antiquated to cutting edge.  Here is the smallest taste, there is a lot more to come.

 

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Photos From Take On 16 Are Here

May 27th, 2012 | Posted by Jacob Barak Klensin in Uncategorized - (0 Comments)

After a bit of delay, the photos from Take On 16 are finally up.  Take On Productions represents one of the top Muay Thai promotions in the country, and deservedly so, putting on a fantastic show and constantly pushing Muay Thai in the northeast forward.  The images here focus heavily on the two fighters, there as part of the new Team Coban, NYC, although fighters from all teams represented throughout the night of course appear here.  As many people know at this point, I met Coban training under him here in Philadelphia, and recently spent time at his camp in Thailand.  Coban is undoubtedly a living legend in the sport and I couldn’t be prouder to be able to work closely with him and his new team.  On June 23rd, I will be holding an exhibit of my work from Thailand at his New York Camp, as the first ever art exhibit to be held in a Muay Thai camp, surrounding the viewers by the art, both on and off the walls.  More about the show can be seen here:

Press Release

Facebook Invite

Big thanks go out to Eddie Cuello and all of the Take On staff for their help and accommodation, as well as all fighters and teams for allowing me to shoot throughout the night.  And for the full gallery of images from Take on 16, click here.

 

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Take On 16

May 17th, 2012 | Posted by Jacob Barak Klensin in Uncategorized - (0 Comments)

Tomorrow night, Take On Productions, the same promotion that hosted the first ever Muay Thai fights at the Garden, where the images here are from, will be putting on yet another highly anticipated Muay Thai event up in New York.  Although the Daddis Fight Camps team member who was supposed to be competing is now injured and unfortunately out of his fight, I will still be attending, as I work towards including more Muay Thai in my body of work.  I will however, have the pleasure to follow and stick close to Coban as he coaches some of his new fighters making their debut fighting out of his new Manhattan camp.  Take On does a phenomenal job and is a huge asset to Muay Thai on the east coast, and in the country in general.  Looking forward to tomorrow night and will be posting photos soon.

 

 

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Lookchaomaesaithong: The Photography of Eight Limbs

May 16th, 2012 | Posted by Jacob Barak Klensin in Uncategorized - (0 Comments)

Press release for upcoming show at Coban’s New York Muay Thai Camp, for immediate release:

Lookchaomaesaithong: The Photography of Eight Limbs
June, 23rd, 2012
335 W. 35th st. 5th Floor, New York

 As Muay Thai grows in international popularity, and gains a heightened level of recognition and respect, it is important to understand and highlight its roots, origins and traditions.  Over the previous three years, documentary photographer, Jacob Barak Klensin, has been working to capture the world of combat sports in a uniquely intimate way.  His work has shown elements and topics that are often times misunderstood, and even directly contradicted in popular perception of professional fighting.  It focuses not on the sport, but on the people behind it, on not only the physical, but more importantly the emotional dedication and sacrifice seen daily.  It shies away from the action, the excitement and the glory seen on television and in magazines, but rather displays the day to day process of dedicating oneself to the life of a fighter.

Recently, Jacob travelled to Thailand, in hopes of beginning a new process in his body of work, exploring the roots of disciplines that make up modern fight sports.  While there, Jacob spent time at a small number of camps, not only photographing, but fully immersing himself in the experience of living and training alongside young Thai, and foreign fighters.  One of those camps was Lookchaomaesaithong, in Buriram, an area known for producing the large majority of traditional Thai Boxing champions.  One of the many champions produced by the small camp, Coban Lookshaomaesaithong (having taken the name of his camp out of respect and loyalty), has recently gone on to open his own Muay Thai camp in Manhattan, in hopes of creating a new international bridge for fighters between Thailand and the U.S.  On June 23rd, this New York gym will be the first Muay Thai camp to host an art show, entitled “Lookchaomaesaithong: The Photography of Eight Limbs,” displaying images of traditional Thai fighting.  The images will show young fighters as they take the early stages of the very same journey, in the same space, and with many of the same people, that led Coban to become a five-time world champion.

“The Photography of Eight Limbs” a revolutionary, one night only event, will not only uniquely connect the two camps, but create an environment where the audience will be entirely surrounded, not only by photos, but by the art of Muay Thai, and stories and lives of those who have dedicated their lives practicing it.  For those within the fight community, it will take place in a setting entirely familiar to them, while inviting them into a new facility, set up by one of the sport’s greatest.  For those who may not be trained fighters in any capacity, the art on the wall will be hung in the environment that has made the entire project possible, allowing the show to be more than what is simply framed and hanging.  It is our hope to create an event that will appeal and speak to an extraordinarily wide audience, showing “the art of eight limbs” in a new, exciting, and creative way.  Please join us for “The Photography of Eight Limbs,” as New York’s most authentic Muay Thai camp hosts this innovative display of one of the world’s most beautiful forms of combat.

 

Figureoffighting.com
Jacobklensin@gmail.com
410.507.5387

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Matthew “Sobek” Semper

May 2nd, 2012 | Posted by Jacob Barak Klensin in Uncategorized - (0 Comments)

One of the most dedicated and disciplined of the foreign fighters that I encountered while at Tiger Muay Thai.  I had the opportunity to see Matt fight while there, and although the fight ended outside of his favor, mainly due to an existing injury, it was clear to me what Matt was capable of, and what Muay Thai means to him.  In addition to a few photos of him, not seen in the gallery of Phuket fight nights, there is a highlight video recently posted by him.  In the few months since I was there it sounds like Matt has been having a fair amount of success, and hopefully I’ll be able to link back with him next year and get the opportunity to see him in action more. 

 

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100, 100, 100

May 1st, 2012 | Posted by Jacob Barak Klensin in Uncategorized - (0 Comments)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Muay Thai, especially traditional Mauy Thai, involves a lot of repetition.  It isn’t all hard and glorious fights that make highlight reels.  Frequently, fighters spend more time throwing kick after kick, or knee after knee to a bag, than they do doing any type of work with a trainer, partner or competitor.  It can be a frustrating and tedious way to train, but like Bruce Lee once said, “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.”

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New Material Daily

April 30th, 2012 | Posted by Jacob Barak Klensin in Uncategorized - (0 Comments)

So in preparation for the upcoming show in New York, (see the previous post for more info), and because its something I’d like to be doing anyway, I will be working to restart regular posts on the front page of this site.  I will be posting images mainly from Thailand that haven’t been seen yet and that aren’t included in the galleries here.  I will also start including updates covering what else I’ve been up to since being back, the events and gyms that I shoot, as well as just reflecting on some of my more memorable moments while working on this project.  Seen here are a few images from a fight night that I went to with the team from Lookchaomaesaithong in Buriram.  Keep an eye on the site for more, and for details on the upcoming exhibitions as they come up.

Jay walks in with his trainer's hand on his shoulder

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Lookchaomaesaithong: Photographic work, showing Muay Thai at home

April 23rd, 2012 | Posted by Jacob Barak Klensin in Uncategorized - (0 Comments)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As many people know, much of the recent trip to Thailand was spent at Camp Lookchaomaesaithong, largely due to it being the home camp of legendary fighter and now trainer, Coban.  Coban has now opened his own camp in New York, and in an exciting opportunity to bridge gaps, and make connections, selections of the work produced in Buriram, will be shown in Coban’s new camp on June 23rd.  The work will be shown in the camp itself, creating an all encompassing experience, embodying the documentary nature of this project.  There are a lot of details to still be ironed out as we develop this event into everything it can possibly be.  Stay posted here, as well as on Facebook (event page) for more info as it comes up.  And expect regular daily posts on this site to begin again very shortly.  There is a lot of work from Thailand, and that’s been done since being home, that still has yet to be seen.  But keep an eye out, cause this is gonna be a busy summer for The Figure of Fighting.

 

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Work from Thailand is Finally Here

March 19th, 2012 | Posted by Jacob Barak Klensin in Uncategorized - (0 Comments)

So I’ve written, talked about, and done videos all about my trip to Thailand, and the work that I was there trying to produce, and now its time to show that work.  There’s a lot of it, not all of it is here, but I think I’ve included more than a healthy dose.  Although the bulk of the work is now visible here, I don’t plan on simply stopping and moving forward.  I plan to do a lot more with this particular body of work.  I hope to organize exhibitions of the work in a few different cities, starting with Philly and New York, and releasing and sharing the work in any other way that I’m able to.  Creating the work is only the first part to me, making it visible to as many people as possible is next though.  With that said, the link below, or the drop down menu above will allow you to see images from the entire trip.  I hope they live up to the exciting expectations that I encouraged people to have in regards to what I would be producing while away.  Thank you again to everyone who helped make this work possible and who have continued to support me.  I hope you all enjoy it.

Photos from Thailand

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