Martial Arts travel the globe as we and Top Gear’s Richard Hammond follow the fortunes of a group of six Western athletes as they visit a remote community in north east India to indulge in a spot of Aki Kiti. Lesley Jackson tunes in to find out more.
This little gem has been hidden away from the general viewing public on a Sunday evening on BBC2 at 11pm, when most people are tossing and turning in their beds trying to get to sleep before the horror of work on Monday morning. It wasn’t until Easter, a visit home and my mother’s eagle-eyes on the TV guide that she noticed, “ooo, look Les, there’s a fighting thingy on, you should watch it for that Martial Hedge you do. Dad; set the VCR.” Ace!
Another aspect that makes this programme both witty and fascinating, along with Richard Hammond’s pithy commentary, is the interesting cuts made between the western and Sumi dialogue.
Due to this combat reality show nestling in BBC schedule limbo, I entered the series halfway though in episode four of eight. Narrated by Richard Hammond, of British motor programme ‘Top Gear’ fame, we follow the fortunes of six male western athletes of various disciplines as they travel the world to take part in a range of combat tournaments against the local experts, presumably so we can see the arrogant westerners get their arses kicked. For this episode, we are taken to North East India to the Sumi tribe, who like to practise and compete in a neighbourhood martial art called Aki Kiti. This comprises full contact sparring on a stony, dirt floor; kicking and blocking only with the feet. To look at, it draws similarities with the bottom half of Muay Thai and Savate, only with less finesse. Oh, did I forget? This is the tribe who like to indulge in a spot of head hunting with machetes, when the fancy takes them.
So it is with this eight day challenge of training and living with the locals ahead of them that our plucky crew of British and American beefcakes start by a barefoot run around the mountains to condition the feet, followed by climbing up a forty foot bamboo pole to condition their upper bodies and of course, to show off a bit. Where ever you are in the world, macho behaviour never changes. However, it is from here that we start to see some of the more subtle and interesting features of this programme as we see the painfully young, pretty and posh Richard struggle in climbing the bamboo pole due to his slight build. He came back down to a series of consolatory back slaps and “never minds” from his western counterparts and jeers from the Sumi locals. I know that they are there for competition and to prove their western athletic ability but one couldn’t help get the impression that the Sumi people were dying to see us fall flat on our faces.
Last Man Standing
Another aspect that makes this programme both witty and fascinating, along with Richard Hammond’s pithy commentary, is the interesting cuts made between the western and Sumi dialogue. With reflective notes coming from the Western camp came blunt and disparaging remarks from the Sumi. Although given a hospitable stay with their local coaches and host families, they are subject to utterances such as, “They don’t look as strong as I expected” and with regard to the cocky but troubled American Jason, “He has a lazy nature...later I will beat him with a stick.” It is later in the programme, and with some poignancy that we see Jason gain more from the brief flash of a secure family environment in his short life than a punishing regime, to the point that when it comes to the final competition, he kicks some serious butt.
Finally, we are led into the competition and the final showdown between the locals and our spirited band of western hopefuls. After an early meeting knocked out our best chance in Brummie Mark with a fractured heel (one couldn’t help wonder if there was some giggery pokery behind that one) the gang stand up to the stony stares of the local fighters dying to prove themselves against the Western imperialist invaders. However, they and the expectant audience both at the tournament and on the sofa are surprised as we see our team open up a can of whoop-ass. Although the locals are shorter, slighter in build and have more technical experience the Western team dig their heels in and put three out of four fighters in the semi-finals through sheer bloody mindedness. The tension builds as we start rooting for Jason to beat the arrogant local hero who curtly responds to his previous opponent’s gracious defeat with, “He was weak.”
The Shogun
Heroes and Villains is shown on BBC2 on Saturday evenings and is the story of various military leaders’ victories, their success in battle and their sometimes morally questionable decisions. Lesley Jackson is hooked by the story of the first Japanese Shogun, Ieyasu, and his fight for ultimate power in seventeenth century Japan.
So what happens in the end? Well I can tell you that it was an all western final with Jason taking first place. They took on the locals at their own game of Aki Kiti and won, with Jason being presented with a special macheté, which I would like to see him take through customs! Take the time to tune into this show as you are in for a treat. We are given a fascinating insight into fighting around the globe as well as getting a taste of a remote community who despite being native, are not necessarily romantically noble.
Last Man Standing is shown in the UK on BBC2, Sunday evenings at 11pm until the middle of April. For any previous episodes, go to www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer to view over the internet.
Fun and Entertainment 
Martial Arts travel the globe as we and Top Gear’s Richard Hammond follow the fortunes of a group of six Western athletes as they visit a remote community in north east India to indulge in a spot of Aki Kiti. Lesley Jackson tunes in to find out more.
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