A SLAP IN THE FACE
YOU South Africa|12 October 2023
From Russia to Vaal Park, welcome to the world of competitive slap fighting, where participants face each other in brutal but carefully controlled battles 
JACO HOUGH-COETZEE 
A SLAP IN THE FACE

TWO burly men stand on either side of a heavy iron table, rigid and ready for battle. They take a deep breath as they stare into one another’s eyes. Then they nod to each other, signalling they’re ready to trade blows.

Pieter “Bulldog” Vorster winds up his right arm mere millimetres from opponent Alex Ravis’ face. He moves closer, preparing for his second practice swing.

Now the distance between them is just right.

As Bulldog pulls his arm back a third time, thunderous applause erupts from the 500 spectators who’ve come to see the two face off at the No Name Village, a hangout in Vaal Park near Sasolburg where tonight’s clash is taking place.

Shockwaves reverberate through the room as his palm connects with Alex’s cheek, sending him careering.

Alex desperately reaches for the two holding knobs on the table, but his legs have given out and he tumbles backwards onto the floor.

After a medic has made sure he’s okay, Bulldog is declared the winner.

Welcome to the world of competitive slap fighting – where grown men take turns striking each other in the face as hard as they can until someone submits or is knocked out.

Alex may have been slapped silly but there are no hard feelings, event organiser Robert Krisch says.

“We’re like one big family.”

SLAP fighting began in Russia about five years ago but descended into mainly uncontrolled fistfights until the craze spread to America, where rules were established and fights were offered at regulated events.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM YOU SOUTH AFRICAView all
BALLON IN THE BAG
YOU South Africa

BALLON IN THE BAG

Manchester City midfielder Rodrigo Hernandez Cascante says his Ballon d'Or win is a victory for Spanish football

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024
IT WAS ALL A LIE
YOU South Africa

IT WAS ALL A LIE

A new doccie exposes the Grey's Anatomy writer who fabricated her life story

time-read
5 mins  |
14 November 2024
'I WILL NEVER GIVE UP'
YOU South Africa

'I WILL NEVER GIVE UP'

After her husband, anticorruption activist Alexei Navalny, was poisoned and murdered by the Kremlin, she became the public face of Russia's opposition. In this candid interview Yulia Navalnaya opens up about life on the run, her perilous family life and why she's continuing her husband's fight to save their country

time-read
10+ mins  |
14 November 2024
AGREE TO DISAGREE
YOU South Africa

AGREE TO DISAGREE

Trevor Noah on how his childhood squabbles with his mother inspired his delightful new book

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024
PAUSE THE CLOCK
YOU South Africa

PAUSE THE CLOCK

Researchers have discovered that the ageing process spikes at 44 and 60. Here's what you can do to slow it down

time-read
5 mins  |
14 November 2024
MPOOMY ON TOP
YOU South Africa

MPOOMY ON TOP

We chat to SA's most popular female podcaster about love, loss and her booming success

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024
MY BROTHER IS NOT TO BLAME
YOU South Africa

MY BROTHER IS NOT TO BLAME

Tinus Drotské says his sibling, ex Bok Nǎka, is the victim in the brawl with a neighbour that landed up in court

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024
MATT THE RECLUSE
YOU South Africa

MATT THE RECLUSE

A year after his friend's tragic death, the actor continues to shun the spotlight

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024
A LEAP OF FAITH
YOU South Africa

A LEAP OF FAITH

After her husband tried to kill her by tampering with her parachute she thought she'd never trust a man again-but now she's found love

time-read
5 mins  |
14 November 2024
THEY'RE MY KIDS!
YOU South Africa

THEY'RE MY KIDS!

This West Coast woman treats her monkeys as iftheyre humans and animal activists are not happy about it

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024