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Poster News Chief Reporter Li Zijiao Zhang Haizhen reported from Chengdu
On July 6, the new film "In the Octagonal Cage" directed by Wang Baoqiang was officially released, the film is adapted from real events, telling the story of pouring his heart and soul into Tenghui, leading a group of unattended children to find a way out of life and "growing wildly".
As the prototype of the protagonist of the movie, long before the release of "In the Octagonal Cage", Sumu Darji (hereinafter referred to as Sumu) from Heishui County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, often appeared in the public eye. For example, on July 17, 2022, UFC Fight Night, Su Mu, who aims to hit the top 10 in the UFC flyweight division, staged a spectacular showdown with his opponent. For example, in January 2021, Sumu defeated Zaluk Adashev and won the victory. A little earlier, in the 2016 season year-end finals flyweight belt battle, Su Mu won the first gold belt in the history of "Wulin Cage Pair"...
Su Mu was interviewed
Su Mu is not only the leader of the new generation of athletes in China's UFC, but also the first person in Sichuan to reach the UFC. In the octagonal cage, under the spotlight, the audience saw his blood-boiling dream-chasing scene, but what everyone could not see was his fate from "cattle herding baby" to "Tibetan eagle".
If there is no fighting, it is necessary to herd cattle
In the summer of 2010, Su Mu, who was worried about his summer homework, ushered in an important turning point in his life: the Enbo Fight Club enrolled students in Blackwater County. "My academic performance was not very good, but I have loved sports since I was a child, and I used to watch the show "Wulin Feng" at that time, and one of my uncles introduced me to practice martial arts."
Su Mu was furious, but the club teacher's request was to "finish the summer homework and sign up again". Su Mu didn't write a word, and he begged the teacher again, and the answer was that the parents must agree. Su Mu is the only son in the family, his parents are farmers, so poor that they don't even have a cow, and their income is only enough to survive. Recalling his childhood, he laughs and says, "I usually farm, pick up stones, do odd jobs, and if I didn't have fighting, I might still be herding cattle, and I have to herd other people's cattle." ”
The family knows that Su Mu learns to count down, and has been wrestling in the sand with his friends since he was a child, belonging to children who do not have huigen academically but are good at physical strength. So, 14-year-old Su Mu was sent by his parents to the Embo Club and began to learn martial arts.
Childhood Su Mu (first from right)
Be sure to stay here
"The bed here is so soft."
Su Mu remembers that the first time he came to the Embo Club, his first reaction was "if only I could live here all the time." "Because at home I don't have my own separate bed. Just went to the club, one person in a room, big bunk beds, sleeping very solidly and very comfortable. Su Mu said he came wearing only one outfit and no extra luggage, and the club's owner, Embo, took him and his new child to the brand store to buy clothes. In the past, I used to change new clothes once during the New Year and holidays, but I often have new clothes to wear here, so I am very happy. ”
With a soft bed to sleep in, new clothes to change, meat to eat, school to go to, and competitions to play, Su Mu made up his mind, "You must stay here." ”
Su Mu and his friends play together
Meet the man who changed his destiny
Embo, a retired soldier, gives "troubled children" like Sumu food, clothing, and shelter here for free, and teaches them to earn a living in martial arts. Su Mu said that Embo took care of them for several years.
"He is very kind in life and strict in training. On rainy days, seeing us wearing slippers, he would blame us for not wearing socks and getting cold easily. When eating, he would add meat and vegetables to us. During the game, he would encourage us offstage. Because of this, Su Mu and other children call Eimbo "Godfather," and their evaluation and praise reach the height of "giving us a new life, and we will be grateful to him for the rest of our lives."
"When we first arrived at the club for half a year, we basically practiced the basics, and after a year and a half, we started to get in touch with the game." Su Muben has talent, and with the blessing of sweat, he has improved rapidly. "I'm also the captain of the Embo club, so I'm usually very strict with myself."
Players training at the Embo Fight Club
Actively prepare for the competition and grow into a talent along the way
The rules and regulations of the club, white on a red background are pasted on the wall. The first article reads: unconditionally obey the command and arrangement of coaches and managers in training, competitions and daily life, strive to improve the level of technology and tactics, and win glory for the country.
When participating in various competitions, Su Mu did not even dare to imagine that one day, he would become the pride of China standing on the world stage wearing the national flag. In 2013, he won the second place in the Sichuan Provincial Sanda Competition, and in 2014, he was selected as a member of the provincial team, "The most impressive thing is that in 2016, he won the first gold belt in the history of "Wulin Cage Pair". ”
Su Mu said that he was very stressed at that time. "Because the coach also said that you are the first person in our club to compete for the belt, you must be responsible. So I quietly practiced. I got up at seven o'clock in the morning to run, then I trained with everyone, and in the evening everyone rested, and I had to practice my movements. "In more than two months of high-intensity training, the most relaxed time for Su Mu was when he was injured." With a big bag of swollen knees, I can finally be lazy and go to rest for two days with peace of mind. ”
Su Mu is training
If you don't regret it, it's the best ending
He started sanda at the age of 14 and did not switch to MMA mixed martial arts until the age of 19, and officially signed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) at the age of 22. Su Mu still believes that boxing is the way out that truly belongs to him. "For children who can only herd cattle and carry stones in the mountains to earn money, their parents have no way to show them a feasible path, their academic performance is not good, and the final outcome is most likely to continue to work in the family farm."
Su Mu said that in addition to the UFC, other partners in the club have other ways out through martial arts, such as sanda, such as joining the military and police, and working as a martial arts instructor to make a living. "We are really a lucky group of children, and for us, 'octagon' means a way out."
Wang Baoqiang and Su Mu
After the movie "In the Octagon" was released, Su Mu watched it completely three times, "I think back to the past when I fought side by side with my partners. He said that the movie is inspirational and true, and as for whether martial arts is the "best way out" for children, in fact, no one can give the most perfect answer. But at least, if the children don't regret it, it's the best ending.
"If I don't fight anymore, then I will also do something like this, which is to continue the sport of martial arts, train more children who like fighting, and also open up a new path for 'children in difficulty'." Su Mu said.