Fight or Flight

lil-evil

On RTÉ One, Monday 27th July 2009 10.30pm


Filmmaker Peter McCarthy was randomly attacked on a night out in Galway, leaving him badly scarred and threatening the vision in his left eye. On his recovery Peter came across an article on Muay Thai boxing in a newspaper and decided to leave Ireland for Thailand and learn how to defend himself.
Fight or Flight documents Peter's journey over a year and a half in Thailand as he goes from novice in Muay Thai to fighting in semi-professional bouts in arenas full to capacity around Thailand. Through the course of his experiences in Muay Thai, Peter learns that behind his compulsion to fight lies fear and ultimately a deep-seated anger that has driven him to risk his body in the ring. Fight or Flight is a compelling first person account of Peter's journey as he tries to come to terms with the anger within him.

Furious-Dave

That should be interesting. Ill be on my way home from training though
It's a long way to go just to learn how to defend himself though.

LowOdour

Did it happen in Galway? Just seen the add for it. God, Galway is getting painted badly lately for the bad things that have happened here this year.

Not the city I used to know. Could go out, get langered and walk home up through bothermore, out the tuam road and down riverside without a person saying boo. Probably not the place to post this but still.

Should be a good program though

coxyfoley

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JS8Q1hYJME

Boston

That looks really good.

JohnMc1

Looks good.

martinh

do some work coxy

HammerHeadGym

I've seen it. Very good. Very honest. You'll see what I mean. Peter's a lovely chap too. He actually posts on here from time to time.

Khannie

I had been waiting for ages to see this and caved recently and shelled out for the DVD on their website. I enjoyed it. I wont say any more until after its been aired. Worth a watch anyway.

Clover

Looks very interesting , I'll make sure to mark and record it .

NilByMouth

A pub in ranelagh(russels)use to have a cine club and this movie was shown at it with the main lad taking Q&A after it.

Its a good movie,very enjoyable especially if your into muay thai

muckwarrior

Just watched it. Thought it was excellent. Very honest.

-Blanco-

Brilliant bit of film making, fair play to the guy. Didn't expect it to end how it did.

slicus ricus

Excellent film, quite a compelling watch if you're in any way interested in martial arts and I would imagine people with no interest in MA would prob enjoy this. You could really see the toll that the training conditions and periods of isolation took on him. He did become a fairly polished fighter by the end of the year and a half and you could really see how well conditioned he got himself.

Just out of interest, does anyone know what timeframe this was filmed?? As in from when to when? Also, would be quite interested to know whether he fought again or not.

Hephaestus

If any of ye missed it, it's available on the RTE website here

Killme00

I really enjoyed it, compelling stuff. As ghey as it sounds, I hope he finds his peace

NilByMouth

I think buddhism started tro rub off on him.

Couldnt help laugh towards the end(I think he was near breaking point mentally) when he was giving out about the effing dogs barking and the feckin chickens clucking and when he heard the gate screeking it set him off again about the dogs:)

Good movie something different anyway

edit:just wondering if he kept up the training or not and how old he was when the movie was made?

Khannie

slicus ricus wrote: »

He did become a fairly polished fighter by the end of the year and a half and you could really see how well conditioned he got himself.

While he looked fit enough towards the end, he was by no means a polished fighter. Both fights were sloppy as f*ck tbh. That's 100% natural for your first few trips into the ring though.

NilByMouth wrote: »

I think buddhism started tro rub off on him.

I think it's hard for it not to if you spend a bit if time over there. They're all so relaxed compared to westerners, especially outside the touristy areas. It's nice.

NilByMouth wrote: »

Couldnt help laugh towards the end(I think he was near breaking point mentally) when he was giving out about the effing dogs barking and the feckin chickens clucking and when he heard the gate screeking it set him off again about the dogs:)

Hehe. I liked this bit too. Spent a while up north in a small town and by jesus the f*cking chickens used to do my head in. 5am!!!!! I had ear plugs that I got on the plane but they got worn out in the end.

septern

its a good film alright.

2 things i didn't like about it though, but thats to do with things that happened in the documentary.

1- that the thai guys wanted to put a fella with absolutely no training in for a fight after only two weeks there.
The lad who replaced him for that fight was way better, but still got knocked out.

2- the promoter that put two lads who were clearly mentally handicapped in for a fight.

Paulgar

I live in Thailand, but my sister got a copy of the video last year. Apparently he was selling them door to door in South Dublin?? I liked it and think that he described his journey well. I thought his coverage of Wat Rampoeng was a bit disappointing though. I did a 26 day retreat there a few years ago and got a lot out of it.

He also doesn't seem to engage with the people of Thailand much in the video; it is pretty self-absorbed stuff.

ryoishin

It was a good enough watch for me to get my ass back to Bridgestone on Thursday.

pearsquasher

I watched this on the web the other night and really enjoyed it. I thought the trainer made a lot of sense re sport-versus-reality, not being angry in the ring, muay thai as a technical sport etc. The guy went through various mental states which was great to see in a show that essentially for me did not glorify fighting at all and was more about someone needing to reflect on their own attitudes, their fears and desires and all that male-psyche jazz. Overall a well balanced intelligent slice of one fella's handling of defending the self.

phoenix-MT

septern wrote: »

its a good film alright.
2- the promoter that put two lads who were clearly mentally handicapped in for a fight.

why cant mentally handicapped people fight?

I wasnt to impressed with it all tbh, prob expecting something different maybe. IMO he went for the wrong reasons..deep down maybe he was trying to get away from his problems rather than trying to find himself. That mixed with a lack of respect...started to get on my nerves watching it lol