Source: http://www.geocities.com/WestHollywood/7078/parinya.html

Interpreting of Parinya's words was provided by Apisak (Fai) Chaichanasiri. David Wilson is editing a book of stories about gay and lesbian martial artists and authoring a second book on the martial monastic orders of China and Japan. David can be reached at email address This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

I was born Parinya Jaroenpol, on June 9, 2524 B.E. (Buddhist Era, or 1981 A.D.) in Bangkok, Thailand. I was the fourth of five children. The oldest is my brother Wibool (Jeab), then my brother Wira (Tong), my sister Charoemsri (Maew), me and my youngest brother Adisak (Pae). My parents nicknamed me, Nong Toom. I am closest to my sister.

At the age of seven, my family moved to Prow Village in the northern province of Chiangmai. Other children would sometimes pick on me when I was young. If I became angry, I would strike back. They soon learned that they could not beat me.

One day, when I was twelve years-old, I visited the Lanna Boxing Camp (later to become Lanna Kiatbusaba Boxing Camp) with a group of my friends. Everything about the camp interested me. I watched fighters practicing in the ring. Arkom Choosang, who was to become my first trainer, asked me if I was interested in becoming a Mauy Tai kickboxer. I began to consider that I might become a fighter as a career.

Each day, we would practice from six until nine in the morning, and then again from three to seven in the evening. Training included jogging, and practicing kicks with sandbags and targets. My first professional fight was at the age of thirteen in Chiangmai. The owner did not think that I would become a famous fighter, so they gave me the name Inseadum (which means black eagle) Sornnattatong. After I became famous they renamed me after the camp, Kiatbusaba.

My baby brother, Adisak, tried to become a fighter, but quit after only seven matches. I think it was too hard for him. Sometimes my sister or my parents would come to watch me fight.

At first, I did not openly exhibit that I was gay, but the others in the camp knew. No one had a problem with my being gay, although sometimes the other kickboxers would tease me. When I was about thirteen or fourteen I started to wear lipstick.

At my first fight in Bangkok, a large number from the press and audience hounded me. While weighing in, photographers wanted to take pictures of me naked. If the officials would have insisted that I strip, then I intended to return to Chiangmai and not fight. So they didn't make me strip all the way down.

Later, I left my previous camp and changed to the Kai Gong Tup Ar Gard Boxing Camp. I knew and got along with many of their fighters. The fighters at this camp already knew that I was gay and didn't have a problem with it.

When I have free time I like to go out and chat with my gay friends. Many of them are show girls.

I have always wanted to wear women's dresses and I'm attracted to males. I have known that I was gay from as far back as I can remember. It hasn't been difficult for me to be openly gay. I never decided to be openly gay, it came spontaneously. I didn't hide it.

Also, I've wanted reassignment surgery for as long as I can remember. No one influenced me. I just felt it was something I had to do.

There are many gays that have a bad reputation because they cheat people. I have a good career and I don't cheat anyone. I see myself as a positive role model for other gay people. Younger gay people are not interested in learning self-defense from me. They are more interested in finding a career than in learning kickboxing.

In my career, I've fought in Japan five times, and Singapore once. I haven't met other gay people when I travel. If I wasn't fighting, I would want to either own my own Mauy Thai camp or a beauty salon. Currently, I don't have a boyfriend. I would like a cute Caucasian boyfriend around 19-20 years-old. Someone funny, who is not so serious.