Everyone is wearing Thai trunks.

[Damian Mavis]

Ya man... that really sucks, you really should have emailed me. I would really like you to come visit my school and say hello. 2 years huh.... what are you going to do in ChiangMai all that time?

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD Thailand

[OctaviousBP]

Hey Damian,

I'm on hiatus from the gym as I'm back in Chiang Mai for the next couple years. I was just passing through BKK yesterday and was wondering what you were up to. Next time I'm through, I'll give you a heads-up.

D

[Damian Mavis]

Hi Dave, yes each instructor is different at each academy, you are an instructor there now I think and you're a very good guy. Everythings good here, living my dream... although its not as glamorous as you'd think. Just shot a video for MTV Asia last week for a Famous Thai rap group here..... was a good experience because I was the choreographer in charge of the stunts and action (it was a video featuring a bar fight) but it's hard work sometimes and not always fun. I have a very big martial arts studio now (350 sq meters) and things are going well but it can be stressful and hard work too heh.

Sportmuaythai, ya basically they'd nail me when I was just finishing my kick but there were plenty of times they just kicked me and I missed the timing for shield so it was my fault. I didnt mind. My holders were just pushing me, it's their role to pick me apart a bit and keep some pressure on while I try to get my kicks and knees in. At the time it seemed very intense but with my experiences in Thailand... looking back I realise it wasn't that difficult at all and I'm a little embarassed I was so nervous about it.

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD Thailand

[DocFairtex]

Real Muay Thai is Real Muay Thai but Sabaay Sabaay.

In America we do what ever we want, I was an American Style Champ that wore Thai Shorts in 1993 and honestly I did not have a clue about real Muay Thai. Strikes in Muay Thai are really basic but the timing/ quickness/ distance/ counters/ emotional control is the complexity in Muay Thai and honestly the only way to understand/ learn them is to train with a Thai Trainer/ Champ. Here are some cool Videos to check out!!

Checkout VIDEO of Doc training at JAPAN Fairtex!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QldsiKoZ1vY

Awesome Thai KID fighters that can KNOCK you Out!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNQOMG4xNsg

Here is a Basic Fairtex Hand Wrapping!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b28VBJ912cA

Tough Muay Thai KNOCKS Out Technique!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oo5emfh-ZU

Stone HANDS Thai punching KNOCK Out!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpDzYncBoHw

“Z” Box training at Pattaya Fairtex with Choke!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRILP_B5DK4

[sportmuaythai]

I tested for my shorts with a TBA academy. My inside right leg was black from mid calf to mid thigh. I used the term silly to refelct how much importance those TBA members put on that test and their feelings that everyone should follow their rules.
Damian Mavis
Honour TKD Thailand.

I'm just curious about the test. Does the tester show pad for you to punch, then kick you in da leg? Thai trainers do this all the time to remind you to stay guarded at all time. Or worse, to show you that they are full of weapons. But testing and bruising your leg is another thing. I think it's unfair if that is done, since the tester knows your move while you don't know his. If the tester wants to show his superiority because he is testing for his trainer permit, then I'd suggest spar testing. That is, the tester gets into situation where he allows his testee to execute weapons as required by the test, while showing his skill at keeping things under situation.
BTW I may have misunderstood the whole thing, because I don't know anything about them.

[OctaviousBP]

a different level of respect and humility is at each TBA school

Or even a difference amongst individuals from a specific school...

How are things Damian? Still in BKK?

[Damian Mavis]

Sure, my experiences were with my TBA academy, I'm sure depending on the instructor a different level of respect and humility is at each TBA school.

Damian Mavis
Honour TKD Thailand

[Python]

Damian,

I was not calling you a liar, my "IF" was not to say that you were lying or making it up. Sorry if it appeared that way.

Now, I will ask you to NOT "generalize" the TBA students like you did, because we are not all the same. While I was testing for shorts, I would NOT belittle someone elses "way" of teaching, test or no test. So, the members you referred to DO NOT represent all TBA members.

Thank You.

[Python]

Garland,

Was that you who said Ajarn didn't approve of you going over the ropes at a seminar? I have witnessed this too. He told me that for the actual fight, to always go over the ropes, but NOT to do it during normal training...I guess the differences in the level of respect.

[Python]

Eh, I think "tang" is just as good as "taeng." :P It's never straightfoward to spell Thai words with English letters.

Yes, "Kaow" means knee, but unlike English, it's more of a noun rather than a noun/verb. A few ways to say "throw a knee strike" in Thai are "tang kaow" (stab knee) and "thee kaow" (hit knee). It's common for trainers to shorten the command and say just "thee!"

Anyway, arguing/being perfectly correct about the language can become silly. I just find it humorous that Ajan Chai (he's Thai right?) requires that his students call out the name of the strike. I mean...wouldn't it be equivalent to saying "thae" with each kick and "thoy" with each punch?

LOL, I hadn't thought of it like that, but yea that makes sense. I just never questioned it since Ajarn Chai required it (yes, he is Thai).

[Khun Kao]

I have a terrible time with the way I butcher the Thai language when speaking with my Thai friends... Depending on the vocal inflection, the word "Kao" (Kow) can have 4 different meanings. White, Rice, Knee, and I think the 4th one was a way to refer to a mountain?

But in any case, SportMuayThai is exactly correct in regards to how there are a lot of rituals and customs in the world of MuayThai that are traditional and correct. Each gym or Kru adheres to the ones that suit them. If you choose not to observe particular rituals, it isn't wrong so long as you respect those who do.

[Garland]

the knee word is short, while rice is pronounced with a long tone, ie kaaow, with a higher pitch.

I have a tin ear...I can't tell the difference.

[sportmuaythai]

Since Thai is so tonal, is there a different way to say "khao" or Kaow for knee, like dte khao (knee delivered like a round kick) as opposed to Khao as in dishes like Khao Pad Sap Pa Rot (I think it's like a curry fried rice), Khao Neow Gati (Sweet Sticky Rice)?

the knee word is short, while rice is pronounced with a long tone, ie kaaow, with a higher pitch.

[Garland]

Eh, I think "tang" is just as good as "taeng." :P It's never straightfoward to spell Thai words with English letters.

Yes, "Kaow" means knee, but unlike English, it's more of a noun rather than a noun/verb. A few ways to say "throw a knee strike" in Thai are "tang kaow" (stab knee) and "thee kaow" (hit knee). It's common for trainers to shorten the command and say just "thee!"

Anyway, arguing/being perfectly correct about the language can become silly. I just find it humorous that Ajan Chai (he's Thai right?) requires that his students call out the name of the strike. I mean...wouldn't it be equivalent to saying "thae" with each kick and "thoy" with each punch?

Since Thai is so tonal, is there a different way to say "khao" or Kaow for knee, like dte khao (knee delivered like a round kick) as opposed to Khao as in dishes like Khao Ped Sap Por Rot (I think it's like a curry fried rice), Khao Neow Gati (Sweet Sticky Rice)?

[sportmuaythai]

Cowpaste,

Taeng (i spelled it wrong in the last post) translates to "stab" or "pierce". Kow is the proper word for knee. So if an instructor says Tang to get his students to knee, that is his choice I guess, but not the proper translation. Ajarn Chai (TBA) requires the students to say "Tang" with each knee, so I require it of my students as well, so they are prepared when attending seminars with Ajarn Chai.

Dear Python, the spelling may differ, but the pronounciation is still similar to Tang the orange powdered drink. I'm with Cowpaste regarding who should yell the word Tang. The instructor yells tang so his student will know which weapon he should execute. Spectators also shout tang to encourage their fighter to become relentless with the knee stabbing. After all, your students are not required to shout sork or tae are they?
Regarding going over the rope, Thai fighters do this all the time. Beside not getting mongkol under something that's not proper, it's also more dignified entrance. But I can understand the view for going under the robe. Your ajarn encourages being humble which is very important. The stomping of foot at the end of waikru may be crowd entertaining, it's a sign of cocksureness. However,if the fighter doing it gets badly beat up, instead of getting sympathy from the spectators, he may get chuckles. Nevertheless, the bow and arrow as well as the stomping of the foot is tradional and authentic for some stream of muaythai. It gets more rediculous and good for laugh when the fighter substitutes hand granade instead of bow and arrow.
I didn'nt see Cowpaste's post since I was typing my own post, which is redundant.