This week’s secret code word is Brazil. Anyway, here is some bloodsport for your amusement (the first of many emails about various bloodsports). First, some background info: what you’re about to see is a Russian show run by a bunch of Russian youtubers called Каменные Лица, or Stone Faces, in which the competitors just slap the hell out of each other. It’s based on a sport found at the Siberian Power Show that looks very similar; here’s an article about it. The champion, Василий Камоцкий, is nicknamed Пельмень, or Dumpling. In his normal life he’s a farmer from Krasnoyarsk. He’s used his winnings from slap fighting to fulfill his dream of buying a combine harvester. His opponent here is Zuluzinho, a Brazilian Vale Tudo fighter whom the Russians refer to as Чёрный Папа, or “Black Papa.” I recommend turning subtitles on. Here’s the title bout.

I’ll see you all at practice, so long as you tell me the secret code word. If you don’t, the Score Bot will vaporize you. Best,

Lev Bernstein

Secretary, Quiz Bowl at NYU, 2020-2021