Khun Kao

I agree that a lot of you are splitting hairs.... Whether or not you maintain the "traditions" of MuayThai is a personal choice. Everyone has their own reasons for maintaining or discarding them. I am on the side of those who feel that through maintaining the traditions you are immersing yourself more deeply into the art and gaining a much richer experience. I will say from personal experience that through the practicing of the rituals associated with MuayThai, you are able to acheive an advanced state of mind in training and fighting. Performing your Wai Kru/Ram Muay & following the tempo of the music as you fight.... It's integral to truly developing your own fighting in the MuayThai style. MuayThai is not a just a set of techniques to use in the ring. There is an actual "STYLE" to the fighting.... a rhythm.... a state of mind. I actually got to that point a couple of times. Never in the ring, unfortunately, but performing exhibition matches for Thai Cultural Events. Performing in front of a completely Thai audience to live fight music.... You'd have to do it to understand it. But as I've already said, it still boils down to a matter of personal choice. If you choose to go the route I have, great! I personally believe it will make you a more complete fighter. But if you choose to pass, thats fine as well. I've trained with some GREAT MuayThai fighters who don't know jack of MuayThai's culture, rituals, and traditions.

I don't believe you failed. Sounds like the kid has been needing a lesson in humility and got it. Was your instructor to blame? Perhaps. But there simply are just some people in the world like the kid you describe who will only learn humilty and respect through a display of force. Hopefully he did learn his lesson.

Depends.... If your primary goal is to train in BJJ, then a 90-min class per week would be a good supplement to your training. If you are serious about training MuayThai, then one 90-min class per week just won't cut it.

Bruce WillPete7.... So how do you efficiently condition your shins? I'd buy into the heavy bag and pad conditioning but lets face it neither of those are as hard as another persons shins, and when you are in a muy thai fight that would hurt. Like I said, you kick the heavy bag and kick the Thai pads. No, they are not as hard as someones shin, but when you kick these things all the time, your shins gradually become tougher and tougher. Another thing to bear in mind is that no matter how well you condition your shins, clashing shins/bones with a training partner or opponent will still ALWAYS hurt! The idea of shin conditioning is to raise your pain threshold so that you can tolerate it, but I've talked to active and retired Thai boxers with HUNDREDS of fights, and they all concur that clashing shins ALWAYS hurts to some degree.

In most MuayThai gyms, the only acceptable method to condition your shins is to kick the heavy bag and kick the Thai pads, massaging your shins to promote circulation between drills or rounds.

I'm considering adding Muay Thai to the arsenal. Its not as simple as that, IMO How are classes typically run? I can't speak for all classes, but mine typically start with some warm-ups and stretches, shadowboxing, bagwork, then pad/partner drills. We try to spar at the end of every class, which is voluntary. We also mix in conditioning drills such as calisthenics and plyometrics in between our MuayThai drills. Is Thai terminology used? Again, I can only speak for my own classes. We do use Thai terminology, but not exclusively, so its not like you're going to have a lot of trouble understanding what we're talking about. Are there any forms or patterns (Kata)? Not in the sense that you're probably thinking. In Muay Thai, we practice combinations. Combinations, of course, are a type of pattern, but they are dynamic. There are not set rules that govern your combinations such that every students combination will look exactly the same as their classmates. There are certain "guidelines" in regards to how to do a technique properly and what constitutes proper footwork, but each combination is subject to each students interpretation. I hope that makes sense.

Buakaw & Dekker are fighters from different eras. Dekker was a fighter back in the 90's. Buakaw is a current fighter. I understand that Dekker is trying to make a comeback. I don't know if he's going to return to fighting Muay Thai, but he did fight in an MMA match earlier this year and lost. I believe that Buakaw is in a heavier weight class than Dekker. Buakaw fights at about 145 lbs. I think Dekker was in the neighborhood of 130 lbs. I'm not positive about that, though...

Yes, Muay Thai has the potential to get really rough. Depends on the intensity of your training, though. Those who train for recreation don't have it too rough. Intense? Yes. Rough? No. But, if you are training to fight..... that's a different story. Its both intense and rough. It NEEDS to be!

Lots, actually. I've read all kinds of articles, and seen a few documentaries. One video documentary was on the TV Show "Dreamchasers". MTV did a show called "I'm a Muay Thai Boxer" Just do some searches on Google. You'll find stuff....

There are so many different techniques for Jabbing its really not worth going into them all. Most Jabs are meant to be fast and sharp, not powerful. They "snap" out to pop your opponents head back (as already mentioned). You *almost* always step as you Jab, but usually you step at an approximate 45 degree angle instead of straight forward. You should aim the majority of your Jabs right at the bridge of your opponents nose, with the palm facing the floor. This keeps your hand in his face so that he is momentarily blinded by your fist.

Gloves Focus Mitts Body Shields Thai Pads Heavy Bags Shinpads Headgear Jump Ropes Wall Mats Medicine Balls

I don't know if this is still valid: Angel Cartagena, JR at.... Body Arts Gym 926 2nd St Northern Liberties Philadephia, PA 19123 215.928.1610 angel@bodyartsgym.com http://www.bodyartsgym.com/

Wow, you're not looking in the right places then.... j/k Lloyd Irvin's Martial Arts Academy Camp Springs, MD http://lloydirvin.com/ (Muay Thai & Boxing) Team Lloyd Irvin Arlington, VA http://novamartialarts.com/ (Muay Thai & Boxing) Evolve Academy Germantown, MD http://evolveacademy.com/ (Muay Thai) Trident Academy Woodbridge, VA http://www.tridentacademy.org/index.asp (Muay Thai) One Spirit Martial Arts Herndon, VA http://www.onespiritmartialarts.com/ (Muay Thai) *This is where I train, fight, and teach. Check the link!!! Mi-Ki-Do Team Alexandria, VA http://mikido.com/ (FC & Mixed Rules Kickboxing)