Genki Desu Ka? Starstruck in Singapore

Here's an unexpected happening in Singapore. Last weekend some friends and I exit a late movie and could only find one bar still open. In that bar was a rowdy Japanese crowd, celebrating. One of the group turned around to apologise for the noise, explaining that it was a birthday event. And I kind of recognised him, thinking he was a Muay Thai instructor I'd had. Then realising that my Muay Thai instructor wasn't Japanese... In fact the guy was Sudo Genki (Genki Sudo to Westerners) - an absolute legend of the MMA and fighting world, and quite a bit more besides!

Sudo san has been a massive hero of mine, and of countless fight friends for years. His combat style (not to mention ring entrance style) is extremely entertaining but underpinned by beautifully skillful technique. He's famous for moves such as the spinning back fist and flying triangle  - and has inspired many a young thing (me included!) to try the same.

In 2006, after multiple wins at K-1, Pancrase, Hero's and UFC - and while still young - he retired to focus on performance / dance. He founded the group World Order - a performance band of seven Japanese 'business men' in suits, doing intricate robot dance moves in global and deliberately ironic places. They seem to make comments on modern (Japanese) society. He has also written several books.

Anyway, I got talking to him and he came over to our table for a chat and photos. He speaks good English and was genuinely interested in how such a multicultural bunch of us (a mid-Western American, an Austrian, a Japanese-speaking Uruguayan, and a Japanese-speaking Brit) met in Singapore. Apparently he fought at UFC in London's Royal Albert Hall (they had UFC at the Royal Albert Hall?!*) and now calls himself a lover not a fighter. The rowdy bunch were World Order and their tour group, who were celebrating three birthdays and the end of a one-off gig in Singapore. He was just a regular, intelligent, friendly chap, actually. But this evening has to go down as one of my most surprising experiences in Singapore!

Anyway, here are a couple of videos of Sudo san, in case you are not familiar with his work: 

Sudo san in Singapore

:)

* The Royal Albert Hall is a 'posh', old venue in London. With a capacity of about 5000. It is the place you would go to see ballet,  classical music, The Proms - UFC was a surprise!  

The title of this post relates to the standard, polite Japanese greeting 'O genki desu ka' which means literally 'Are you healthy?'. In fact Sudo san's name is the same genki (元気)