IT'S A MANZ WORLD

THE KICKBOXERS - Note: Most of my Manz World stories are fictionalized accounts of how the painting shown here came to be. However, some of the stories are rooted in truth.

Nude camps and resorts are known for having a variety of activities. In the past, one of the most popular was volleyball. But in more recent years, bocce ball, pétanque and pickleball have gained popularity, especially with some of the older members. And of course there are tennis or paddleball courts available at some of the larger places.

Even though the local camp I was a member that offered some of these activities, there was an interest by some of the younger members for a more hands-on sport: kickboxing. That was because our camp had a member who was a trainer known locally for his teaching of the sport. He ran a popular gym in a nearby city that drew students from as far away as Philadelphia and Baltimore.

The trainer’s name was Andy, who, in his earlier years, had been a champion in the ring. Since his late teens, he had been a strong contender, winning or nearly winning many of the bouts he entered. His success grew as he got older, continuing into his early thirties until an automobile accident ended his career. It was in that accident that Andy sustained a head injury, one that caused him to have vertigo at times, especially if he was hit in the head.

At first, Andy thought he could continue in the sport despite his doctor’s warning of possible repercussions due to the damage his brain had sustained. He was warned that any further fighting could cause an aneurysm or stroke, even death.

Being a self-admitted ‘hardhead,’ Andy told me that he continued because of his love of the sport but eventually found that, what he called his “gift,” was no longer there. After a rather severe kick in the face from an opponent, Andy was knocked out. Even after recovery, he remained dizzy for hours. Because of that incident, he reluctantly declined any further bout offers and resigned himself to his teaching. Since he had already started his kickboxing academy and had become a bit of a legend in the sport, he was able to grow his business, bringing in students from all over the East Coast.

I met Andy when I first became a member of the camp. I was introduced to him through a mutual friend. While not an athletic person myself—certainly not one to engage in any sport requiring being hit or punched—I felt I didn’t have much in common with Andy. However, as I got to know him, I found out Andy was interested in one of my interests: kilt-wearing.

Andy’s last name was McKenzie, a typical Scottish family or clan name. In hearing that name, I asked him about his family history. He said his father’s parents were from Scotland. I then shared my Scottish ancestry with him. Upon hearing that, he became very interested, giving me further insight into his family heritage.

As we got closer in our friendship, Andy asked me if I ever attended the annual Celtic Classic held each September in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. It is the largest gathering of people celebrating their Celtic ancestry in the country. It draws thousands of people from all over North America.

After I told him I had never been but would like to at some point, he got excited and said, “Then why not go with me?”

It was early one morning in late September that Andy stopped by my apartment and picked me up. On the almost two-hour ride up to Bethlehem, Andy and I were able to talk more about our lives. I shared some of my background, including my being an artist as well as my work in healthcare. The attention then turned toward Andy. I was especially interested in his background in the martial arts, which, he revealed, started when he was in middle school. His first classes were in judo. After he attained his black belt, he then took Aikido and Taekwondo classes. All of that led to him taking lessons in kickboxing, which used many of the techniques that he had learned in his previous martial arts training.

Andy said, “After my kickboxing teacher saw my ability, he not only encouraged me to enter some competitions but sponsored me in my first few bouts.”

He then smiled as he said, “I wasn’t good enough to win any of those early bouts. I pretty much got my butt stomped in the first couple. But the experience and further training gave me both additional skills and the motivation to continue.”

Andy went on to tell me that after a while he began winning some of the competitions. Eventually, he was good enough and had the needed credentials to enter some top-dollar events. He said, “There’s nothing more thrilling than going home a champion. Even better is going home as a champion with ten thousand dollars in your pocket.”

He then told me about his accident and how it affected him. “That accident cost me my future in kickboxing. One of the saddest days in my life was when I had to announce my retirement from competing. I was only thirty-two at the time and wondered what I would do for the rest of my life. Fortunately, I had my academy, one that I had started only a few years prior. And that’s where I’ve been putting my attention for the last number of years. While I miss competing, I love to teach others, especially the young kids. The bonus is that I’ve got several students—two young guys and one girl—who are now competing and winning.”

My questioning then turned toward how Andy got into nudity. His reply: “It was one of my students who got me interested. Joe was actually a friend, and, even though he was older than most of my students, he was fascinated by kickboxing. He had watched me in the ring a number of times and eventually asked if he could train with me.”

“It was one evening after having a workout session with me that Joe and I were in the locker room toweling off after a shower. When he turned away from me, I noticed that he had a really red butt. His back was a bit red, but his butt was as red as a fire truck. In fact, it looked like it was on fire. I kidded him about it, saying I could only imagine how he got his rear end that red. Joe laughed, and without any embarrassment, said he had been to a nude camp that weekend and stayed out in the sun too long.”

Andy then told me that he questioned Joe further about the camp and what happened there. “Joe picked up on my curiosity. After a bit more talk, he invited me to go with him the next time he went out there. I went. And I liked it. So, the rest is history.” He laughed as he said, “I have no trouble showing my naked body to others.”

Even though Andy was now in his mid-forties, he was still in great shape. So, my assumption was, showing his body should not have been a challenge at all.

We spent a great day at the Classic, hearing a number of Highland bands, including several bagpipe corps as well as viewing some of the Highland games. Of course, many of the visitors were wearing their kilts, as were Andy and I. After a long day at the Classic, we headed back home.

It was on the way back that Andy told me that several of the young people at the nudist camp had approached him with a request to teach them kickboxing.

“After getting permission from the camp administration, I scheduled a few beginners’ classes. I restricted the age of the students, allowing no one less than eighteen years of age to sign up. I had six students in the first class. They ranged in age from nineteen to twenty-four.”

"At first I wasn’t sure about teaching kickboxing in the nude. But, knowing that some of the other nude camps or resorts had naked contestants in the ring, I decided it best to teach that way from the start. That’s because, should they enter a naked bout and not know how to fight that way, it could harm them. Or cause them to be eliminated due to illegal kicks.”

Andy then recited the basic rules of kickboxing. “Kicks are allowed anywhere above the waist and to the inside and outside of the legs. Foot sweeps are legal, but you can’t strike above the ankle, certainly not at or on the knee. You can hit the face but cannot strike the back or top of the head. Elbow strikes are not allowed. And there cannot be any punches or kicks to the groin.”

“So, given the rules, I felt there was no problem in teaching those students naked. And that has paid off. After the initial lessons at the camp, several of those students signed up for addtional lessons at my academy, where two of them, both young men, have entered several bouts, both clothed and naked. And they’ve done well. One of them, Jerry Watson, actually won a bout a few weeks ago.”

It was several weeks later that I attended one of Andy’s camp classes. There were two young men in the ring practicing some of the techniques they had learned. Honestly, it was a striking scene, watching these two young men battle it out. Both were well-muscled and had extraordinary flexibility, especially the one who could raise his legs higher than I could ever hope to do myself. Both young men allowed me to sketch them as they fought. What I have posted here is one of several paintings I made from those sketches. In fact, I gave this one to Andy to hang in the practice room at the camp. I’ve entitled it ‘The Kickboxers.’