With an extensive resume in fighting fascism and far-right movements across Europe and Asia, a Greek coach founded his own anti-fascist Muay Thai fight club. This is his story.
By Karin Zidam
The sound of fighting could be heard from above ground — the dull echoes of boxing gloves as they make contact with skin, the thunder clap of shins as they struck Thai pads, and the cries of intensity as bodies collided during sparring sessions. Their passion was palpable, raising the temperature within the old half-basement in Athens. The smell of sweat wafted off visible stains on every t-shirt in the room. It was almost the end of the session.
Amidst the crowd of students was a middle-aged man wearing mitts and nudging a teenager forward with practiced drills. His short hair and thick goatee were specked with grey and his sharp eyes gave off a penetrating stare. He soon stopped and brought the proceedings to a halt. The class shook hands and strolled off in the direction of the locker rooms. A handful of pupils walked towards the bathroom, besides which hung a framed black flag that read “The Genuine Anti Fascist Fight Club.”
IliasIlias Lamprou wiped the sweat from his brow as he watched his students scatter across the room. Though just 40 years old, he has been involved in martial arts for over 20 years. He is the founder of the White Tiger Muay Thai Camp, a Greek-based martial arts gym that is home to over 100 students and labels itself one of the first anti-fascist gyms in Athens.
