By PoeDare CheeNo PlatinumGym
Muay Thai, in its most commonly-known form is a ring combat sport where two combatants, male, female, or transwoman (I have not yet ever heard of a female-to-male transgender fighter as of yet. For the F4W board’s infotainment, science has yet to duplicate the human penis, so you can either continue waiting outside the American Medical Association’s doors, or continue with your $2 dildos from Spencer’s Gifts at your local malls) fight with their knees and elbows, as well as punch and kicks. Another notable characteristic is the Baam or Plum Clinch, which is performed by placing your hands on top of each other, palms down, on top of the crown of your opponent’s head (to hold and apply pressure, expand your chest and pull down; you should have your knees bent while doing so to have a proper base). However, its perfect translation means Thai Boxing (actually its Boxing Thai, as Thai apparently is like Spanish in which adjectives go after verbs), or Thai Martial Arts. Muay Boran (Ancient Boxing or Boxing Ancients, as Randy Orton has been practicing on Shawn Michaels and Dusty Rhodes), a precursor to the common ring sport we call Muay Thai, was the subject of the popular martial arts film, Ong-Bak, starring Thai stuntman “Tony Jaa” Panom Yeerum, who studied Muay Boran for six years just for the making of the film. Of MMA fighters who have Muay Thai training include: former PRIDE Middleweight Champion, Wanderlei da Silva; former King of Pancrase and UFC Heavyweight Champion, Bas Rutten; his student Duane “Bang” Ludwig; Marvin Eastman; and former UFC tournament champion and current IFL coach Marcos Ruas (who developed his Ruas Vale Tudo style from Capoeira, Muay Thai, and the Brazilian grappling style of Luta Livre). Some Pro-Wrestlers who have noticeably trained in Muay Thai include: Satoru Sayama the Original “Tiger Mask,” who developed most of kick-based offense from Muay Thai training, and would later use that to develop his Shooto system; Nobuhiko Takada, who had several Muay Thai instructors within his UWFi promotion (Bowy Chowaikun and Mr. Momoe Nakanish, Makoto Oe) crosstrain his workers; and the late Shinya Hashimoto, a former NWA World Heavyweight Champion. Some kickboxers who have Muay Thai bases are: two-time K-1 World MAX GP Champion, Buakaw Por Pramuk; Japanese main-eventer Kozo Takeda, who is a student of the Japanese kickboxing legend Toshio Fujiwara; and many time K-1 multiple-time K-1 GP Champion “Mr. Perfect Ernesto Hoost. Other notable Muay Thai practitioners include katoey, or transwoman, Muay Thai boxer, “Nong Tum” Parinya Charoephol, whose story is told in the biopic, Beautiful Boxer, and hirself has starred in such films as Mercury Man, and squashed former All-Japan Women’s Pro wrestler Kyoko Inoue in a squash (in the film, Kyoko is given more offense as the match between Nong Tum and Inoue helped Nong Tum achieved international infamy. Famous video game characters depicting the style if Muay Thai include: Joe Higashi from the Fatal Fury and King of Fighters series; Sagat representing sport Muay Thai, and M.Bison (Vega in Japan) supposedly representing Ler Drit in the Street Fighter series; and also Bruce Irvin from the Tekken series. Enough of that, on to the stats of the fight…
Jason Chambers
Nickname: Hollywood
Gym: 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu / Legend’s
Former Gym: Renzo Gracie Association
DOB: 03/23/1980
Height: 5’11
Weight: 170 lbs
Styles: Submission Grappling (I think Eddie Bravo’s style is very different from Renzo’s though Renzo’s isn’t that classical), Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, Jeet Kune Do (PHASE I Instructor), Kickboxing, Wrestling, Judo, Karate (?), “NHB”
MMA Record: 16-5-1
Former Total Fighting Challenge Welterweight Champion
Appeared on: All My Children, Sex in the City, Fear Factor
Key Victories: Adrian Serrano
Key Defeats: Thiago Alves, Michihiro Omigawa
Key Career Appearances: Reto Maximo (Mexico), DEEP (Japan), Icon Sport (Hawaii)
Vs
Yoddecha Sityodthong
Aliases: Yoddecha Chor Prasobchoke
Gym: Sityodthong Training Camp
DOB: 1977
Height: 169 cm (5’7”)
Weight (as of 2006): 69 kg (152 lbs.)
Styles: Muay Thai, Western Boxing, Full-Contact Karate (?)
Stance: Orthodox
Muay Thai Record: 70-12-2 as of the taping
Boxing Record: 1-0-0
Former -67 kg Lumpinee Stadium Champion
Former World Professional Kickboxing League World Welterweight Champion
Former King’s Cup (Tournament) Champion (1998-2001)
World Professional Kickboxing Council World (–72.5kg) Middleweight Champion
Key Victories: Rayen Simson (97 S-Cup Champion), Mohammed Ouali (97 S-Cup 2nd)
Key Career Appearances: China, Japan, Holland, Italy
http://www.dailymotion.com/tag/Rayen/video/x16xa7_yoddecha-sityodthong-vs-rayen-simso_sport Here Yod is fighting the ShootBoxing World S-Cup Champion of 1997, Rayen Simpson of Suriname (note many great Muay Thai boxers such as Rayen, Remy Bonjasky, Ernesto Hoost, and Lucia Riker come from Suriname, which is similar to Thailand in climate and economics).
Yog-Sothoth, er I mean, Yoddecha is a fighter about the height of Jushin Thunder Liger, though is more cut (than Liger or Lance Storm) and because of the environment seems to be an average sized Boxer in Thailand. In Thailand, the last part of a fighter’s ring-name is the name of the gym, hence Yoddecha SidYodThong (and since I kick the bag twice or so a week at Platinum Gym, thus I am PoeDare CheeNo PlatinumGym for this issue). I do not think he is on the juice since Muay Thai is a sport with religious connotations, literally, in Thailand, and because of the economics. WikiPedia lists him as a former Full-Contact Karateka either of Kyokushin or its offshoots (that’s for another installment for me to discuss), though I do not know the story with that. What is certain is that in his only Western Boxing match, he knocked out a fighter named Fisal Famaria in Nonthaburi, Thailand, November 09, 2001, on a card probably promoted by his coach and manager Ajarn (Thai for teacher) Yodthong Sennan. His greatest asset from various YouTube videos such as the above seem to be his footwork, roundhouse kicks, and powerful body shots.
Jason Chambers is an MMA fighter with less than half the experience Yoddecha, having only 22 pro fights in his career, with maybe a few Submission Grappling and Judo tournaments on the side. Of his 16 MMA career wins, only 5 were KOs, and of these 5 was one was from an injury and one was a flash KO before a minute of the first round. Suffice to say even though he is training at Legend’s, where Bas may be coaching some of the classes, he has not yet been tested on his strikes yet. He has had prior Jeet Kune Do training before so he may be decent in evading strikes. He has never lost via knockout, even to strong strikers such as Thiago Alves so that may count for something, though there is a first time for everything. And here is a synopsis of the show.
I. Bangkok – SidYodthong’s Challenge at Lumpinee Stadium
The show opens with an explanation of the Science of Eight Limbs by the hosts Jason Chambers, whose stats are listed above, and Bill Duff, an ex-NFL Football player Wrestler, and student of Korean Martial Arts, thereby giving him somewhat of an advantage over Bob Sapp. They then travel to Lumpinee Stadium, one of the three national boxing coliseums. Lumpinee is in fact a dingier venue than Arena Mexico or Arena Colliseo with its lack of air conditioning and metal girders. Funny how because of this, Chambers says the experience is like, “Human Cockfighting,” the term used to bury his sport of MMA for all those many years. Although fighters start professionally at 8 years of age, they cannot get a title fight until they are 15.
Aside (1) The Two Venerable Stadiums: Throughout the article, I will write asides about topics not covered on the show but may be useful trivia. In Thailand, Muay Thai is the national sport, and national fighting art, with both classes and fights sanctioned by the King Bhumiboi Adulyadej (Rama IX) ‘s commission that oversees the Noble Art. In Thailand, two national stadiums give priority to the Art of Eight Limbs. They are: the aforementioned Lumpinee Stadium and Rajadamnern Stadium. Lumpinee Stadium was named after the birthplace of Buddha, Lumpinee, Nepal. It is located in Lumpinee Park, Bangkok, Thailand. Fights in divisions up to and including the Welterweight Division (147 lbs or 66.638 kg). Rajadamnern Stadium is located in the center of Bangkok, and features fights up to the Middleweight Division (160 lbs or 71.575 kg). Fights are held here Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, with 6:30 PM bell times (thank you Wiki). The above stadiums were the stomping grounds for greats such as Dutchman Ramon Dekkers, mentor of Bas Rutten, and Rob Kaman
They meet David Farrell, a farang (foreign) fighter. He discusses with out intrepid hosts the type of fights once known as Muay Kaad Chuek, basically fights where boxers wrap hemp ropes around their wrists as their only protection to do battle. Although some fighters did wet their wraps to harden their strikes, he did discount the ridiculous theory of Taipei Deathmatches (matches with glass-assisted wraps. The later-abdicated monarch, King Rama VII (real name: Prjadhipok) lessened the violence and set up a commission to oversee Muay Thai that instilled the rules of the modern ring sport. However, despite sanctioning by bodies such as the Thai monarchy, many fighters like the defeated kid in the match show are badly concussed, and sometimes succumb to fatal blows.
The hosts then meet Master Sid YodThong, who challenges them to fight the aforementioned Yoddecha, whom despite the above listed record supposed has had over 125 fights (that latter number is confirmed by outside sources online). Seeing their disadvantage they go to the renowned FairTex Gym (former home of the late Alex Gong). Here they work on the “Power Angle Kick”(why don’t they just fucking say Mid Roundhouse Kick) with Samransak Kriream, a former Lumpinee Stadium Champ. Another farang fighter, Matt Shriner then explains the physics of the above kick, in which the whip-like motion of the attack, with its use of the shin bone can crack ribs as if with a baseball bat (funny story is that late Japanese pro wrestling legend Shinya Hashimoto’s Roundhouse Kick measured the power of a wooden baseball bat. Meanwhile, his colleague Kensuke Sasake’s Lariat measured the same or more striking power. Thus, Nakajima better do what Madame Hokuto tells him or else he might as well jump into an open ditch).
II. The Royal Academy’s Ler Drit
The Royal Military Academy founded by Colonel Ler Drit in 1960 has taught his modified Muay Thai of his namesake style for the purposes of warfare. This style boasts of destroying enemies with one blow. The boys meet its current instructor, Col. Supachok Sampattavanij, who gives an overview of the school in his tidy whitey gi, while his students. After having a student demonstrate something akin to a kata or a pre-arranged set of moves, Duff smashes some cinderblocks with the Ler Drit students. Ler Drit’s emphasis as explained by the Col. is on power and focus. This is exemplified in the close-ranged elbow, whether to the sternum or the jaw. After drilling on a heavy bag, the Col. remarks that Jason’s Elbow Smash is more precise and powerful.
III. The Krabi-Krabong Knights of Ayutthaya
Taking a boat from Thailand up the Chao Phraya River to the previous Thai capital of Ayutthaya, when the Thais ruled over the Ayutthaya Empire of Siam (1350-1767). It would be due to King Naresuan the Great of the Sukhothai Dynasty (1555-1605; reigned 1590-1605), and supposedly, his mastery of Krabi Krabong that lead to the expansion of the Empire. In the old capital, Jason and Bill convene with a man mounted on an elephant, which turns out to be Nodkajohn Dithyawathana, a historian for the local Buddhai Sawan Institute, which now occupies the Therevada temple at Ayutthaya. The weapons of Krabi Krabong were introduced: the Krabi curved sword; the Krabong staff; the Ngao halberd (which kind of resembles the Chinese Kwandao); and the Lao, a buckler shield worn on the hand that almost resembles the modern kick pads or focus mitts. At Buddhai Sawan, Nod’s fighters teach the guys a Baan Koh (a Plum clinch Knee to the stomach). Think Yoshihiro Takayama’s old finisher. They claim the technique can have the power equivalent to lifting a two-ton car. The two hosts noted that they needed a punch to round out their repertoire… and they don’t get it.
IV. Muay Thai LopBuri: The Art of the Monkey King, Hanuman at LopBuri
Hanuman (or his other aspect Sun Wukong to us Chinese, Taiwanese, and Kongers, Ton Ngo Khong to my Viet cousins, or Son Goku to the Japanese) is a very popular monkey god to the Hindus. In the epic, Ramayana, Hanuman has his tail burned to assist divine prince Rama in saving his beloved Sita. Somsak Wannakfang is a local historian who introduces the hosts to Kru Pradit Lokphong, local master of the Muay Boran variant Muay Thai LopBuri. He introduces them to the technique Hanuman Tawai Waen (translation: Hanuman Presents the Jewel), a cross between a two-handed elbow to the chest and a double Uppercut. They decide to test the attack in a suitable gym…
Your browser may not support display of this image. It’s not too late for Vinny to do a vignette with the Crab-Eating Macaque in preparation for the monkey’s fight with Coughlin (prediction: Macaque KOs Coughlin with a Tiger, ahem, Monkey Uppercut in 33 seconds, and walks off with Nikki in his low rider).
V. The Little Gym in Sara Buri
After their excursion playing with macaques, they head on motorcycle back to Kru King Tong's gym in the small town of SaraBuri. If Lumpinee was a spartan complex this place would be somewhat considered destitute. Many of the fighters in the gym are young orphans of kids living in poverty with dreams of becoming Lumpinee Stadium champions. And of those kids, many fight twice a month, possibly four times more than an average Western Boxer annually. They live in 10 by 12 feet rooms, sleeping on mats on the floor, with shrines that have not been optimally maintained. This life, however, makes these kids pugnacious, as Bill Duff notices. The first thing King Tong tells them before they spar is that Hanuman Tawai Waen is not effective in the ring because its too slow and it leaves you open to attacks since both arms are out. He instead has a fighter translate that technique into a quick double- armed shove followed by a Kao Dode (low Jumping Knee~!) After practicing that technique for a while some of the aforementioned pugnacious kids enthusiastically agree to spar with out heroes. Bill went first and caught an inner-thigh strike while in the Plum Clinch to his ribs (and flinched). He did get a High Single-Leg on the kid but he bumped well, and rolled back up to face him. On the other hand, Jason sparred a bigger kid closer to his size, and was able to block most of the kid’s punches but got stripped and caught with knees inside. This worried Hollywood, and thus led to…
VI. Muay (Boran) Chaiya Training in a Camp Located Undisclosed in Parts Unknown Between the Border of Myanmar and Thailand (What A Long Title)
And so our hosts travel to an unknown location along the border to the neighboring Myanmar. It is here they encounter the Kru Preang and his school (which they liken to “infiltrating a secret ninja camp”), that teaches the style, Muay (Boran) Chaiya. The difference between ring Muay Thai and Muay Chaiya, remarks the translator, is that the roots of Muay Chaiya once instilled in Muay Thai “has been washed down to almost nothing.” Bill and Jason watch a demonstration of this art, and learn that its main philosophy is to never back down, i.e. its practitioners always move forward. The special trait that allows a fighter to do this involves the use of the point of the elbow to block.
That night, Kru Preang sat them around the campfire to tell his guests the story of Muay Chaiya’s founder. Two centuries or so before, a farmer from SinghBuri was captured by the army of then Burma (Myanmar). He was to be enslaved, but he demonstrated great valor to the Burmese king by defeating ten of his solders with his Mae Mai Muay Thai techniques (advanced specialty skills like the aforementioned Hanuman Tawai Waen. He was released, and from that day on became known as Nai Khanom Tom, “the Thai fighter” (in Burma), and would teach Muay Chaiya in the Thai capital.
Inspired by the story they heard, Jason and Bill woke up early the next morning to train with Kru Preang. He would form that point put them through a very special training regiment. To strengthen their kicks, he had them kick banana trees. To optimize their reaction time, he would have them dodge a myriad of lemons tied to tree branches. To instill a sense of fearlessness he had them chop right in front of their eyes, knee-deep, in leech infested waters. To increase stamina, he made them run along the path to the school. To help their concentration, he taught them meditation. All the while, he would drill them on the special elbow defense that they would learn called “Tak Malai…”
Aside (My Muay Chaiya Seminar): Shortly before Halloween in 2005, at a Muay Thai gym in the Rose Hill District of Manhattan, New York City, NY, I attended a seminar in what I was told in a rare form of Bare Knuckle Muay Thai. The instructor at this seminar was a Colonel Amnat Pooksrisuk, of the Siamyuth Academy in the School of Muay Thai Navarach, visiting from Thailand to pass his art to people interested . We spent a good portion of the first session of the seminar working on the triangular stance employed by this school of boxing. We then worked on the Elephant Stride, the means of locomotion to this art (I will provide links in the Addendum that will better explain these more esoteric ideas, in which I quite frankly was really uncoordinated in applying). In the second session after the half-hour break, we worked on simultaneous attacks like the Hanuman Tawai Waen i.e. one arm uppercuts while a knee strike is performed. I confess I did not think I would use most of these techniques as they would be too complicated to apply to MMA training (I had this foolish dream that I may someday hope to do opening matches with Hook n Shoot, Jeff Osborne’s little MMA promotion based in Evansville, Indiana and work my way up to a Japanese organization like ZST or DEEP or if I was lucky as a jobber in DDT. I wanted to be the first Cantonese-Chinese in Japan, even though I knew Lion’s Den’s Haygar Chin was with PANCRASE a short while, though he didn’t stay in the biz for long. Supposedly it was due to filial piety, which I do not completely believe in. Damn what an optimistic dreamer I am~!). However, one thing that seemed very interesting and perhaps pragmatic was the drill he called the Tak Malai.
It’s quite simple really: Start with your ready position in your fighting stance. To Master Colonel Amnat that would be the Triangle Stance. Now bring your arm up to your forehead bending your elbow until the point meets your eye. Now slick your hands back your hairline as if you wanted someone to check you out in a sexual manner. Now do that faster. Then do it alternating between arms. Then do it alternating your arms while someone is attempting to palm strike the side of your head. And finally, block a strike then with the other hand attempt a palm strike. Thus a supposed impregnable defense without bobbing and weaving. This is actually similar to the Crazy Monkey defense employed by Forrest Griffin’s mentor at Straight Blast Gym, South Africa’s Rodney “Chico” King (not he LA Rodney King). Too bad Forrest never learned it right.
Prelude to the Fight
After their epic training, purportedly “congealing” all that was taught by their Krus, the two heroes rush to the beach town of Pattaya, which felt the brunt of that tsunami a few years back, and seems to have gone somewhat back to business, to the SidYodThong Training Camp. SidYodThong being a wise promoter chose Chambers as Duff is TOO BIG~! Bill was pissed and verbalized that he came to Thailand to fight. Jason, on the other hand was very nervous, especially since there was an ambulance outside. He revealed in an interview this month while promoting the show that he was not 100% going in. After warming up with Bill, Jason cautiously walked into the main ring of the SidYodThong Training Camp in front of a capacity crowd, which was mainly Yoddecha’s friends, and maybe some family. Before the match, both fighters performed the requisite Wai Kru Ram Muay dance to honor the respective Krus and Buddha’s Four Noble Truths, while wearing Mongkong talisman headbands, with Pong Malai reefs.
Aside (Rituals in Muay Thai): It was shown in a dramatic re-enactment of the bound-fist Muay Kaad Chuek earlier in the show that the Mongkongs were once wore around the necks of fighters. The hosts said the function of this accessory was to protect the fighters from harm during the fight. Mongkongs are never to touch the ground also, supposedly because it would nullify its powers. Neither are the Pra Jiad tasseled armbands worn before a fight to ever be stepped on for the same purposes.
Not mentioned on the show was the musical accompaniment during the fight. The instruments employed are the Ching cymbals, Klong khaek drums, and the Pee Java reed pipe. According to SidTodThong’s own webpage, the music of Muay Thai is dedicated in homage to ALL gods of the Thai people, especially the universal creator deity, Pra Isuan, and Hanuman, of course. Although the drums and cymbals set the tempo, the melody of the Java Pee flute is said to weave a spell over the combatants that would calm them and allow them to meditate during the Wai Kru.
The Fight: Yoddecha Sidyodthong (120-2-3) vs. Jason Chambers (16-5-1)
Yoddecha, for the most-part maintained a vicious snarl throughout the fight, maybe one more vicious than Wanderlei da Silva's (it seems that most Muay Thai fighters look as mean as possible during their matches (I guess the Java Pee’s spell is not enough to stop fighters from killing each other). Jason's right knee was conspicuously taped. Back when I was grappling though, my coach told me to smile and relax because snarling causes muscles to tense up in the face, and as a domino effect down stiffen your movements). After the aforementioned Wai Kru Ram Muay, Yod began with a Teep, or push kick, straight into Jason's abs. He actually lands a blocked Misawa side shuffle kick, or as it is known in Muay Thai, the Crocodile Sweeps Its Tail (Chorake Fad Hang) on Jason Chambers ~! Later in the round he hits a blocked Left High Roundhouse, but is able to counter Jason's kicks with High Single-Leg Takedowns. I would say Jason was trying to feel out Yod but could not answer much of Yod's faster, harder, and more accurate offense. He did block most of the High and Mid Roudhouse Kicks but he may have been caught with most of the Teeps and Low Roundhouse Kicks.
Round two began with Yod continuing to keep the distance with Teeps. When Jason got close he landed a Flying Knee, which did not connect solidly on Jason. When Jason attempted to feign a Crocodile Sweeping Its Tail, Yod no-sold it and just hit a Low Roundhouse Kick. Jason finally trapped Yod with a Plum Clinch and laid in some Side Knee Strikes to Yod's ribs. After wrestling out of the Plum, Yod hit a vicious Teep to Jason's sternum, and ended the round controlling the distance.
In the final round, Yoddecha decided to demonstrate his Western Boxing skills to Jason with good Jabs, Hooks, and a big Body Shot. Jason attempted a Side Trip like an STO or Osotogari but Yod's balance was too good for Jason. Yod unloaded with more Punches, Roundhouse, and of course Teeps, Teeping his way to a decisive "victory." At that point, Yod seemed joyful as if he thought pure Muay Thai triumphed over farang MMA, even hugging Jason. Jason knew the fight was going to go this way but knew he had to move on with his life, and to the next show. Unfortunately for him, this was only the beginning of him and Duff’s journey, and Chambers in an interview said he needed hospital rests after all the other episodes since the Muay Thai excursion so apparently both Duff and Chambers will quote Baum’s characters, and mutter, “There’s no place like home,” at the finale of the series.
When I first saw the fight I thought they were not fighting high-impact (in training, it is actually good to work mid-impact on your techniques, to get things technically accurate, before moving to full-contact sparring). However, upon rewatching this fight, even though they are sparring, they made contact, though they did not hit each other with full power. The camera work and video editing were also very good in manipulating the footage to add an epic-feel to this sparring session. For what it was, I thought it was entertaining for the five minutes shown of a fifteen minute spar, as we saw the breadth of Muay Thai technique from a Lumpinee champion, and connect with one of the hosts in his struggle to keep up and defend. I still hope that next season they can fill the show with all celebrities, and have Dustin Diamond (he’s so tough he can fight soft jazz musicians and other washed-up comedians), and Bill Goldberg be the hosts.
Addendum:
Weight Classes in Muay Thai (taken and edited from Wikipedia):
Minimumweight 100 lbs+ (45.36 kg.) Note: 100 lbs is the least you can weigh to fight.
Mini Flyweight 105 lbs (47.727 kg.)
Junior Flyweight 108 lbs (48.988 kg.)
Flyweight 112 lbs (50.802 kg.)
Junior Bantamweight 115 lbs (52.163 kg.)
Bantamweight 118 lbs (53.524 kg.)
Junior Featherweight 122 lbs (55.338 kg.)
Featherweight 126 lbs (57.153 kg.)
Junior Lightweight 130 lbs (58.967 kg.)
Lightweight 135 lbs (61.235 kg.)
Junior Welterweight 140 lbs (63.503 kg.)
Welterweight 147 lbs (66.638 kg.)
Junior Middleweight 154 lbs (69.853 kg.)
Middleweight 160 lbs (71.575 kg.)
Super Middleweight 168 lbs (76.363 kg.)
Light Heavyweight 175 lbs (79.379 kg.)
Cruiserweight 190 lbs (86.183 kg.)
Heavyweight 190 lbs+ (86.183 kg.+)
Super Heavyweight 209 lbs+ (95 kg.+)
I believe these are the weight classes as delegated by the Commission of the King of Thailand. If it was me I would also have Monsterweight at 100 kg (220 lbs), Super Monsterweight at 110 kg (242 lbs), Ultra Monsterweight at 120 kg (264 lbs), and finally Maximumweight at 319 lbs (145 kg), because guys like Bob Sapp and Choi Hongman probably have health issues and even at their height could stand to drop some weight.
Brazilian Muay Thai Family Tree
Nelio “NAJA” Borge Souza (learned Muay Thai from a TaeKwonDo friend who fought in Thailand) -> 1970s Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Luis Alves (found Boxe Thai Gym) -> RDJ, Brazil
- Marco Ruas (former UFC tournament champion and founder of Ruas Vale Tudo)
- Pedro “the Rock” Rizzo
- Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira (former PRIDE Heavy Champ)
- Flavio Molina -> RDJ, Brazil
- Wellington Narrany >- RDJ, Brazil
- Rudimar Fedrigo (found Boxe Thai’s main rival, Academia Chute Boxe, in 1978) ->
Curatiba, Parana, Brazil
- Pele (Vale Tudo legend; left to form Team Pele) & Rafael Cordeiro (coach extraordinaire)
- Murilo “Ninja” Rua
- Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (former PRIDE GP Champion)
- Assuerio Silva (found Total Punch MMA as part of Casa Preta)
- Wanderlei Da Silva (former PRIDE Middleweight Champion)
Dutch Muay Thai Family Tree
Jan Bluming (legendary Judo and Kyokushin Karate Black Belt)
- Thom Harinck (found Chakuriki Gym in 1972)
- Peter Aerts (multiple time K-1 World GP Champion; found Team Arts)
- Melvin Manhoef
Kenji Kurosaki (Japanese kickboxer who fought in Thailand)
- Jan Plas (found Meijiro Gym in 1976) -> Amsterdam, Nederlands
- Johan Vos (found Vos Gym) -> Amsterdam, Nederlands
- Ernesto Hoost (multiple time K-1 World GP Champion)
- Lucien Carbin (found Team Golden Glory with Cors Hemmer)
- Bob Schrijber
- Allistair “Ovaries” Overeem
- Rob Kaman(many time World Muay Thai Champion; Dekker’s sparring partner)
- Andre Manaert (Champion Muay Thai boxer; trainer of Arts and later Bonjasky)
- Remy Bonjasky (multiple time K-1 World GP Champion; left for Vos Gym)
Cor Hemmers (apparently self-trained)
- Ramon Dekkers (many time World Muay Thai Champion; Bas Rutten’s mentor)
- Bas Rutten (former King of PANCRASE and former UFC Heavyweight Champion)
Resources:
WikiPedia. http://www.wikipedia.org
: “Thailand.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand
: “Muay Thai.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muay_thai
: “Parinya Nong Thoom.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nong_Thoom
: “Rama VII.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rama_VII
Simone Faclini. SidTodThong MuayThai & Boxing Camp Pattaya.
http://www.sityodtong.net
: “Fighters.” http://www.sityodtong.net/sf-promoter.htm
: “Wai Kru.” http://www.sityodtong.net/way%20kru%20musi%20story.htm
FightMaster.com. http://www.fightingmaster.com
: Jeroen Beek. “Meijiro Gym.”
http://www.fightingmaster.com/trainers/mejiro/index.htm
: “Cor Hemmers.” http://www.fightingmaster.com/legends/dekkers/hemmers.htm
: “Thom Harinck.” http://www.fightingmaster.com/trainers/thomharinck/index.html
R.N. “Find out who is Nelio Naja!” http://www.realfightgear.com/News-more-411.html
Muay Chaiya Style Kru Preang. http://www.muaychaiya.com/index_en.html
And a final aside: Do not expect every Fool’s Gold to be this length of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. I actually immersed myself in Muay Thai history, and MPEGs, while I was preparing for seminars and the two or three Muay Thai classes I ever attended. I expect the Sambo and Judo episodes also to get mega-issues because I did Judo for a semester in my college and trained maybe a total of 17 months in Freestyle Combat Sambo. I might do a 6 or so page “MMA” installment since I want to rant about how American cagefighting sucks a big one. I might do a larger Karate installment as sadly when I was really bored I would do fantasy MMA scouting with Kyokushin fightersL. {plug}
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