Entry 1: Red Hot Chili Peppers in Brazil

 

Richard Writes:
From the dark refuge of the men’s hut, I could hear the preparation outside, the children’s hushed voices and the commanding murmurs of the Kalapalo elders. Someone shouted a noise - "Hoi!" - and the murmuring rose in approval. The comb had arrived.

When I say "comb" few will understand why my brow was beaded with sweat, why my heart pounded solemnly against my trembling ribs. After all, a comb is an eminently unthreatening item, and even the scratchiest of them cannot do more than leave a faint and transient mark. Combs as I knew them were harmless things. Yet the people around me bore vivid scars etched down their arms and legs like endless white barcodes. The kind made by razor blades. Or possibly piranha teeth …

Brad and Rajko, the first to endure the ritual through which every wrestler has to pass, had bled steadily. They had looked impressively impassive as they were scratched, and I resolved to look equally statuesque. Taking my place, I tried a confident laugh. It came out soft and strangled, and Tamalui gave me a sympathetic look. The chief, an excellent man and naked as the day he was born, knelt before me to examine my legs, and after wetting the comb, he began.

Some clever person once noticed that a gang of piranhas can shred a cow to the bone in six seconds, and this is without a sharpened set of dentures. The teeth that pressed into the soft, dimpled flesh of my upper thigh had been worked on, and worked on well. That first scratch was startling, a searing, uncompromising tear down through the hairs of my groin. I breathed out slowly, and looked to the sky. The chief worked quickly and curtly, as if he were sanding a fencepost. The burning spread with each scratch, first skirting round my thigh, then edging down to the soft skin of my knees, on to the taught part of my calf, and ending with the shins. Teeth on shinbone was a difficult combination, neither wanting to give way, while in the middle my unhappy skin found no direction to yield. All the while my face, held toward the sky, bore a kaleidoscope of pained expressions: gritted teeth, puffed cheeks, eyes tightly closed, head cocked. None of them helped.

It was during the second leg that I looked down, to survey the damage, and instantly wished I hadn’t. Where the wounds of my comrades had flowed gradually, mine poured like crimson rivulets, and round the soles of my feet pools of blood formed against the hot sand. My legs were shredded, flayed pink from waist to ankle. Even at the best of times mine are not attractive legs, but, like anyone else’s, they definitely look worse when you take away half the skin. "Ravaged" is a word that gets thrown around carelessly, but I use it now with the utmost seriousness. My pasty legs were ravaged to pulp.

In a place where every unusual thing has a very deliberate reason, the sight of the chief now grinding chilies into powder was not one that filled me with confidence. Powder now in hand, and advancing upon my legs, it seemed nothing would deter him, and I racked my brains for some way out. It is difficult for the mind to create canny escape plans when there are chilies in the blood, and as the first slap of the chief’s powdered palm hit my wounds, pain hit me like a thunderclap, and in a convulsive shot of pure discomfort, I stood like a fool, veins bulging in my neck, eyeballs throbbing in my skull. It was agony. Horrible, sustained agony.

And then he stopped, and though the burning remained, it was softened by the realization that those who had looked on so anxiously now smiled warmly. Tamalui looked fondly on, and there I saw that I was no longer a fool. I was a warrior. Even the chief seemed pleased, and in a sudden appreciation of everything Kalapalo, of this wonderful ritual and its meaning for the wrestlers and the people of the village, I shook him by the hand. Then, legs stiffened by the congealing wounds, I hobbled over to Rajko and Brad. The mood was quiet, but a deep satisfaction filled us all.

Brad’s Take:
Man, he put the handful of salt and chilies on the top of my quad and I automatically felt it lock up on me. It literally felt like he took fire and just lit me up and then he just worked it all the way down and he made sure he was getting it in all the cracks, all the crevices. He worked it in. And then he hit the other leg. And I'm just sitting there going, "I'm at a 15, man. The pain is at a 15. It's off the charts. This is horrible. This is like being burnt alive." You can't wash it off. The whole warrior squad is sitting there watching you. This is the test of manhood basically. If you can't endure this pain, then basically, you can't wrestle. And I'm gonna wrestle. So, you know, I hold my composure. It's over. Game over. I step to the side. Rajko is next. Right on. But the one that made me crack up is Rich. Poor bastard. I told him, "Don't do the salt and the chilies." I was like, "Don't do it, man. It hurt. I promise you. Don’t do it. You don't want to do it."

And then he just looks at me with the Richard grin and goes, “I have no choice.” He already did it. And he's just, his jaw clenches 'cause it's all locked up 'cause the dude is rubbing it in his leg. And you just see him go, hmm, ah, hmm. And he's trying to hold his composure so damn well. I feel his pain. But I'm not in pain anymore 'cause I'm just laughing at him. And it completely took my pain away. I was, like, "I'm so glad you're here, Rich. You made it all better for me." And we walk away and everybody's walking bold legged, comparing our pain like, "Well, I hurt more than you because I'm black. And I hurt more than you because I'm young." Rajko hurt more than everybody 'cause he's old, you know. So then I just slapped everybody on the leg and on the arm and called it a day.

Comments

[Warrior culture]

I think some viewers are misinterpreting the aim of the show. This is not a show about fighting. You can watch the UFC on Spike TV for that.
It's really a show about the human spirit. Can these men find the endurance, strength, and fortitude to go to far away lands and compete against the greatest warriors in that region in THEIR forms of combat. If so, it will take everything they have, on every episode to do so.
These are for the most part, guys who are in good shape but not world class in any discipline. They are for the most part, average guys. Which makes it more compelling. And good television.
And Dave, please mate... wrestling for your high school is NOT wrestling for the honor of your village or family. Things that mean life and death in some areas of the world. These people have been doing this since they were children, and have been for centuries... and you would not last 10 seconds with any of them.

[So]

Incredible show, I can't wait to see next Thursday's. I like how they chose a random group and no one really has experience fit for the show. That is what makes it interesting. It is a survival of the fittest! I'm not a tv buff but this is an exception. I just wonder how the produces worked everything out with the tribes?? That is beyond me..

[Shantelle]

Amazing and completely riveting. I am a new fan of Richard who seems quite charming, and his blog indicates he is extremely intelligent as well. I cannot wait until next week!

[Jennifer B.]

Last One Standing is a fantastic show, and I can't wait to see the next episode. So far, I like Richard (my favorite), Rajko, and Brad, though the others are cool as well.

[Mark Hoban]

hi all glad most of you are enjoying the show it was a long hard slog to film. I think for us all to be experts in martial arts would sort of defeat the object. It was great going in there not knowing what was ahead of us and learning something we had never done before, keep watching it gets better and better

[Wendy T.]

This blog was really entertaining and I love the show! Can't wait for next week and for more blogs. It would be interesting to see what kind of show Discovery could make for women to participate in... I wouldn't mind joining in a challenge or two. :)

[Michelle]

You guys are amazing! I am absolutely loving the show 100%! It's even more spectacular at how you enter the cultures with respect and reverence...and the tribes treat you as their own! I don't watch TV that often, but this is my new favorite show that I have to keep up with! Mad props to you!

[Gina]

When are you guys going to get an email or something so that we can keep up with you're doing after the show? This has got to be the most interesting show I've EVER watched! Ever! Go Rajko! Representing the Christians!

[Gina]

Can the producer please contact me? Are you guys in an office in Silver Spring? That would be awesome, because I'd love to be an intern when I start my Strategic Communications/PR degree in the Spring.

[Ana]

I LOVE THIS SHOW!! I'm not really into "fighting" shows, but this is so refreshing and interesting to watch. I really enjoy seeing how the guys interact with different cultures and the guys had me rooting for them at the end of the episode. It really must be a great learning experience and something I look forward to watching every week!

[Brandon Clark]

GO JASON!!!

[Julie]

I think I'm in love with Richard. Correction - I AM in love with Richard.

[wolfyne]

I am impressed. I was hesatant to watch at first - I figured it would be another macho show, but I really loved the way the tribe was portrayed. I loved the anthropological side of the show, as well as the fighting. It was really interesting to see how the "outsiders" were welcomed into the tribe and had to participate in all the various rituals. I look forward to the next one.

[Mary]

WOW! This show is so amazing. I love that guys have little (not counting the kickboxer) to no experience but still try there best. Also, it is great that they have so much respect for the cultures. This show is awesome and I can't wait for next week!

P.S. Richard, Good luck and post some more amazing blogs!

[SusieQ]

My teenage son insisted on watching the show, and at first I wasn't looking forward to it. I thought it would be a combination between an overly-scripted "reality" show and professional wrestling entertainment. What a happy surprise to discover I was wrong!

Learning about the Brazilian tribe and the way the different participants respected and interacted with each other was amazing. Opening up a dialog with my teenager about respecting cultures and different ways of doing things was delightful a bonus. I'm definitely going to be watching every week, alongside my son.

[Dave]

Ok Warrior! I just think it would make for a much more entertaining show and give the western culture a bit more respect if they had some background. I didnt say lets take Mike Tyson and send him out there. I think they could have found a Body builder that Wrestled in high school, or a BMX racer that had some boxing experience. See where Im going with this. No I dont thing you should send prize fighters down but at least send someone down thats seen some form of combat in there entire lives.
Ha as for me not lasting 10 sec. You don't know how good of a wrestler I was. So sure there were some natives (Probably a lot) that I wouldn't last ten seconds. But remember the are humans and it doesn't take superman to toss the weak ones around if you've been in that situation a thousand time already in your life.
This week stick fighting would have been nice to see someone with fencing skills in there.

[Marshall]

This show is absolutely awesome. I am looking forward to the future episodes. Brad is the man. I think this show is a great idea. I'm a huge fan of different fighting styles and this one shows some to you. You also get to see the styles being practiced in their original environment. I appreciate what the cast is going through to bring it to us. I hope one day to be able to do things like this. :)

[JackieP]

I think a few ppl are writting off the talent and skill of the 6 athletes. I think Warrior has a point. If what you want to see is two guys go at it who are both trained in martial arts or wrestling you need to watch a WWE or UFC. This is on a whole new level of challenge. There is no doubt these men are forces to be reconed with. Just because you pull them out of their element dosen't make them any less powerful or dangerous. A true athlete is more than his training. It is his mind, his focus and his ability to adapt. This is about the human experience about culture and the spirit of a competitor. Those wrestlers were born warriors. You saw the little boys playing at wrestling in front of the bon fire durring the festival of the dead. It's part of thier lives. The guys just walked in there and trained in 10 DAYS! That was tremendous! What a daunting task those warriors walked into. That warrior culture, the Kalapaolo wrestlers, had respect for those guys when they left. To gain a warriors respect is a great honor. Honestly they sent 3 of the boys to live with the women that says something. The Brazilians respected the Spirit the heart of the guys. When the athletes were originally told that none would compete they didn't give up. It lit a fire in their center and they channeled that energy and focus into their training and that's why 3 of them were then allowed to compete. The athletes stopped thinking about how hard it was and just focused on the training. Mark, Rajko and Richard didn't have those fights handed to them because they showed up in a boat. They fought for & won the chance to compete after being written off. The spirit to overcome against all odds that is the spirit of a warrior.

[Aaron]

Can we get some actual athletes on there to fill in the place of the guys that aren't even close to athletes please. None of these guys are true warriors and could care less about the tradition of the sport. I would be honored to be on a show like this, and would surpass all expectations.

[Dave]

That you Aaron!! Again I will reiterate. I dont want to see a UFC fighter in there or anything. What I would like to see is some good athletes in there (not pro athletes) and not all UFC fighters. It would have been cool to see some people with minimal backgrounds. A decent wrester, a fencer, a boxer, a pentathlete, a kickboxer (which they do have). Not pros at there sports. Maybe they get paid to do something completely different (like there a BMX racer now, that wrestled at some point) or even some IT professional that boxed in college. These guys are in good shape but i didn't see much athleticism out of them. Not one of them even remotely competed against any of the natives. they should just put them on an island by them selves and bring in one native coach and let them go at it. It would be a little less embarrassing for them.
O and I don't need to go to a death fire to see kids wrestling at a young age any elementary school has kids being trained every day with moves from all over the globe. I wonder if the natives have ever see a wizzer before, or the hundreds of moves that can be run off a front headlock. I saw three moves being used off the front headlock on that show.
Yes im going to still watch the show because Its amazing how little skill these guys seem to have. I am interested in the kickboxer I think if he gets put in the right situation he will whoop some native arse.

[Warrior culture]

Dave my man, you have to remember that the producers are not trying to create good fights or quality competition. Their aim is to make compelling television. And that comes from competitors you want to root for... people with interesting personalities and back stories (family man Brad or the privileged Richard) rather than great or even good athletes.
I think the reason people tune in is not necessarily for the actual battles, but to hear the combatants fears and apprehension the night before. Something I'm sure we can all relate to, thus bonding us with the competitors... and making it more likely we will watch next week.

[Bass Man]

People can talk all they want about the athletes on this show. When it comes down to it, these men are very talented in each of their own sports. And they are being critisized by a bunch of people jealous that these guys are doing something with their lives, while the rest of us are sitting on our lazy butts watching them on TV. I applaud all 6 of these men on their efforts to learn new sports and learn about different cultures. Maybe the critics should apply for the next season and put their money where their mouth is.

[One of the Last Ones]

Some interesting comments! I can understand the criticism of our fighting...I wish I'd have had more combat experience going into the trip! But as you'll see if you keep watching, combat experience would have only been helpful in a few of the tribes...

Warrior culture - thanks for your comments!

One of the 6!

[Rhyno_11]

The last show was probably the most brutal thing that I have seen on t.v. in a long time. I give the 6 athletes all of my respect for going over there and doing what most of us wouldnt dream of doing. Great job guys.

[Kylynn Lucas]

I completely LOVE this show. It is amazing how courageous you men are. And I do have to say that I think Rajko is th sexiest man ALIVE! I melt when I just watch him on the show. Keep up your morale and keep pushing yourselves. I look forward to seeing what happens next! Good Luck!
-Kylynn Lucas
xoxo to Rajko!