While on vacation in Thailand two years, photographer Sandra Hoyn chanced upon a Muay Thai competition near Bangkok.
Often known as “the art of eight limbs”, where the use of elbows, knees and shins are allowed, Muay Thai is a vigorous, physically demanding full-contact sport.
With a heavy focus on body conditioning, most fighters train for years before entering the ring, however, what Hoyn saw at the competition shocked her. Instead of toughened fighters, she witnessed children as young as 6-years-old fighting in the ring.
In her poignant photo series, ‘Die Kampfkinder’ or ‘Fighting Kids’, she captured these ‘child fighters’ as they trained and fought in competitions.
“Few of these children boxers will be rewarded with fame, glory or money,” Hoyn told Slate. “The most shocking thing for me was to see the pressure on these children. They are the instrument for the parents to earn money, and they have to win the fight because the parents bet a lot of money on them. A lot of people lose all their money in one night.”
To find out more about the series, please click here or visit Hoyn’s Hoyn’s to view more images.
[via Slate, images via Sandra Hoyn]