The Crowd Over the Score: A New Perspective on Martial Arts Journalism

Last year, standing in front of the Karama Fan Zone door, I observed that during the France-Croatia World Cup match, thousands of South Asian workers did not just watch the scoreboard; they embraced mutual exchange, dancing to the drumbeat, and trembling hands as the main focus. The gathering of the crowd is the actual event; the match result is merely an occasion. I documented this in my 'crowd notebook,' which became the foundation for each piece of writing. In the martial arts world, Bangladesh's boxing and judo federations have been under the strict control of military and police personnel for a long time, where young workers are often forced to step away from their professional career to participate in competitions. In this structure, prioritizing the emotional response of the spectators as data is more important than established norms. The behavior of the spectators, their social connections, and the environment surrounding each action provide a community with a temporary stage. In my writing, the momentum of the spectator gathering, interviews with the athletes at the gym, and the documentation of spectators' reactions post-match in a 'ledger' are essential for in-depth analysis. Every analysis of tactical changes, referee calls, and corner advice prioritizes the spectator's likely, subtle reaction. Spectator emotion, expressed through a strong, full utterance, goes much deeper than the tactical analysis of the game. Through this depth, we can distinguish the community's aspirations, hopes, and the structural causes of its decline. Through this subtle perceived language of the spectator gathering, we can redefine the experience of everyone, beyond the game.