Update from Thailand. Training and Nutrition. Degeneracy Free Zone and a Capitalist Success Story

Since it was a rather long time since I posted a blog-style post on this valiant page I thought it was high time to elaborate on a few things. First and foremost an update on training and nutrition is in order. After all, once upon a time this page and its predecessor (Narcissus.se – well, it is the same page but with another name) mainly focused on those issues.
Whilst I have been down here I have mainly trained Thaiboxing and Western Boxing (although I have also done a few BJJ-sessions), mostly because I have focused on my ground-game (BJJ) over the last 1,5 years, so the stand-up game needed some attention. Although training in the heat definitely brings the cardiovascular challenge to new heights it is indeed quite epic to train in such humid climes. After all, it is part of the experience, and when I go back to Sweden I will relish the coolness whilst training.
In regard to the diet it is quite simple indeed to keep it clean (clean in the sense that it has a good macro-nutrient profile and contains lots of micro-nutrients). Moreover, I have not drunk any coffee since I arrived. The reason for this is twofold, first and foremost it is good to get off the caffeine for a short period every once in a while (a good video on this topic can be found here). Secondly it is hot enough as it is without the caffeine increasing the body temperature further. And lastly, there is the economic aspect, drinking a few cups of coffee each day (in cafes) quickly adds up, this is especially noticeable since the food is very cheap whereas the coffee is not as cheap.
Furthermore, in regard to the Degeneracy Free Zone I am happy to say that I have hardly seen any degeneracy at all. There is only one bar at the main-street of where I am, the rest is gyms and food places. On the more popular tourist locations there are more decadence and inglorious sights to behold though. One could say that there is a healthy segregation between those who find joy in training and those who find joy in decadence. A concept that works just fine for me!

Below is a clip of training and a picture of a protein smoothie stand. For more pictures and videos you can follow my Instagram account @thegloriouslion.

Moreover, I would like to elaborate briefly on free market Capitalism using Tiger Muay Thai as a good example of how the growth of one business can lead to the growth of other business (even competing ones). First and foremost I must make my position on Capitalism clear. Capitalism and free market principles are good as long as they are subject to the rules and regulations of the state. This might sound a bit paradoxal; a free market system under regulations from the state. My thoughts are the following; free market principles and competition between business and the encouragement of entrepreneurship (i.e. not making it hard to start up a company), are all good things. However, only when they follow the guidelines that has been set up by the state and has been decided to be in favour of a healthy nation, whereas businesses that pray on human vice and weakness or endangers the environment must be regulated.

Tiger Muay Thai was the first business that developed in this area, following its success other business also grew; plenty of restaurants (om whom many focus on healthy foods – healthy in its conventional sense), fight-gear stores, supplements stores etc. So from one successful business, many other successful business could grow, including other martial arts camps. Moreover, there is a mutually beneficial exchange of money, goods and services. The locals benefit from the influx of customers, and the customers benefit from the various services (in this case martial arts training). A Communist will fail to see the positive sides to this; for them everything is based on the fact that there must be a winner and a loser in any transaction. For Communists an economic relationship must have the exploiter and the exploited, just as a Cultural Marxist must have an oppressor and an oppressed in a social relationship. As a Rightist (in lack of a better term), I view any transaction in terms of results, is the result good, then the transaction is good. Is the result bad, then the transaction is bad (for example; consuming drugs).

To conclude our brief discussion on free market Capitalism. Yes, I am all for it as long as it is in regard to businesses that focus on things that are beneficial to the people, or at least that respects the dignity of humans and animals and that does not capitalise on the vices of the populace. Thus I am not for free market Capitalism when it breaks the rules, in this case overriding regulations put in place by the state; regulations put in place to safeguard the populace and the environment. Contrary to contemporary belief there is actually such a thing as right and wrong. What is right and natural should be encouraged. What is wrong and immoral should be discouraged.

In Sweden there is actually a monopoly on alcohol, called Systembolaget. I am all for it. Alcohol is ultimately more evil than it is good. I am not for banning it; as history shows banning a product can be ineffective. The supply will almost always meet the demand. The best course of action is for the state to take control of the supply and use the revenue for a good cause. The current Swedish government is hardly a virtuous and just one, alas when the power falls into more heroic and capable hands, the revenues generated from the alcohol monopoly will be spent for a higher purpose. Subsidies for Swedish farmers for example, or mayhap financial aid for sports organisations. The options are many. Thus we combine the ability of consuming alcohol with the benefits of using the revenue for a good cause. Libertarians will of course react negatively to these thoughts, alas the age of Libertarians is over; the time of the Nationalist has come.