Krabi-Krabong

[chalambok]

"I want all my students to learn Krabi-Krabong. You tell them I said that."-- Grandmaster Surachai Sirisute driving down after the 1996 Pacific Northwest Muay Thai Camp. Well, I have been telling everyone I can for the past 6 years, but few seem to be listening. So here we go again. Master Chai studied krabi-krabong from a very early age with his uncle. He also was fortunate enough to study the 4 phases of muay Thai (legs, knees, fists, elbows) with the best practitioners/teachers of the time. Just this last June he told me how much krabi-krabong had influenced his muay Thai. You can see it in the way he moves, so much different than any other Thai boxers on the scene today. Have you ever seen anyone other than his students protect their head while they are elbowing? Master Chai's angling is straight from krabi-krabong, and believe me, he is just as good with a sword as any instructor I have ever had in Thailand. Now here in America we have a unique opportunity to combine the very best of many martial arts, but it will still be muay Thai, or Krabi-Krabong, or Jeet Kune Do, or Pekiti Tersia, ad infinitum. Why, because most instructors in the US teach principles and not techniques. Thus, when you cross-train you are only adding to your existing arsenal, not losing anything from what you already have. Remember when you were first exposed to muay Thai how impressive the kicks were, how hard they felt on the pads, how demanding the workout was? Well, krabi-krabong is the same thing only with weapons. But once you learn the basics you will be able to deal with the power, the aching thighs, the aerobic workout. Recent studies done in Europe have shown krabi-krabong to be the most aerobic exercise there is, period. Not Tae Bo, not muay Thai, not tennis or basketball, but krabi-krabong. Just think, you are lifting a weight over your head and swinging it for hour after hour sometimes. I have drank 4-5 gallons of water a day at the Buddhai Swan just to keep from cramping. But I learned more about myself than I learned from muay Thai, and kept growing as a martial artist. Master Chai took three of us to the Buddhai Swan the year after Ajarn Dan Inosanto and his wife, Paula, attended: Greg Nelson, Mike Walrath, and myself. He told us not to blow it, and this was the next step for us in our growth as Thai martial artists. I know the curriculum at most affiliated schools here is already huge, but when you seek your own personal liberation you might just think about adding krabi-krabong to your arsenal, for if you do not you will have a very difficult time dealing with it, just as you used to have a hard time dealing with muay Thai.

[William]

Remember when you were first exposed to Muay Thai how impressive the kicks were, how hard they felt on the pads, how demanding the workout was? Well, Krabi-Krabong is the same thing only with weapons. But once you learn the basics you will be able to deal with the power, the aching thighs, the aerobic workout...

Amen!
I was surprised at how demanding Krabi-Krabong was when I was first exposed to it. But it's just one of those things that hurt so good. If you have trained Muay Thai for a while and then go to KK, you can immediately feel where some of the footwork, set-ups, and the foundation for throwing elbows comes from. I would highly recommend it if you can find a qualified instructor.

William

[DJ Coldfusion]

1. Instructors, where are they???
2. I heard the Buddhai Swan closed its doors, any truth to that rumor???

3. "Salty" Dog of the Dog Brothers organization is Buddhai Swan trained and will be releasing a Krabi-Krabong instructional "soon"

Click here for A "sneak" preview of the Dog Brothers' KK tape

Thanks

[terry]

Ajarn Steve is the right guy to field the question on the current condition of Buddhai Sawan.

I'm really happy to see interest in KK developing. What some weapons arts promise, KK delivers.

Hey, Steve. I'm gonna visit Thailand during December and maybe go hang out with Ajarn Chai. Presuming that Col. Nattapong is tied up at his job, where is a good place to train KK these days in Bangkok. I've heard great things about the Bangkok University group, but, well, I'd appreciate your opinion.

Terry

[chalambok]

Krabi-Krabong Instructors

Okay, I will try my best here.
1st: In the United States there are quite a few krabi-krabong teachers, in fact. Just briefly, and in order of their attendance dates at schools in Thailand, as I know it, and without any rankings
Jason Webster, in Dallas TX-hard to find and teaching only selected students
Daniel Inosanto-easy to find, if willing to teach probably an education of a lifetime
Paula Inosanto-see above
Greg Nelson, Minneapolis MN-currently in the fight of his life, my Thai brother
Mike Walrath, Eugene OR-currently inactive while awaiting the birth of a new child, injured in last few years and may not be willing to take on new students
Steve Wilson, Oregn City OR-easy to find, always looking to teach and promote
Surachai Brandon Sirisute, Los Angeles-best reached thru TBA, teaches selected students
Glenn Boodry, Pocatello ID-founder of Confrontation Development, advisory group to SWAT teams, US Special Forces, may be too busy to teach outside of military/police circle
Rick Sollo, Chicago IL-status unknown but I believe he has students presently
Troy Ninedorfer-somewhere in Wisconsin, status unknown
Arlan Sanford, Santa Fe NM-Arlan teaches krabi-krabong, muay Thai and Dog Brothers Basics
Michael Delio, Los Angeles-active instructor
Bruce Raymer, Salem OR-Bruce teaches anyone who is willing to work extremely hard

2nd, to Terry or anyone else wondering about the situation in Thailand. In a word, ?????? Pedro Villalobo is currently in Thailand and training with the students & Instructors of the former Buddhai Swan, where I do not know. Please email me personally and I will give you his email address in Thailand My senior and worldwide father of krabi-krabong, Tony Moore, better knows the current situation with PaKroo Masamarn's family and where they are. He brings Grandmaster Woot to England every year and is doing so again this year so if you would rather train in England for a week or two get in touch with Tony. I have his email also. Please do not inundate me with email unless you are seriously considering travel, complete with the realization that you may have to spend a significant sum of money abroad to learn krabi-krabong. There are also various people claiming instructor ranking from different schools as well as the Buddhai Swan active in North America. Bob Carver in Ottawa is certainly qualified to teach, to what level I do not know but he will not rip anyone off, that I do know.

[mike]

terry or chalambok-

Could you compare Krabi Krabong to Kali/Arnis ? I am not overly familiar with it but I study Kali, Ted Lucay-Lucay variety to be precise.



thanks,


Mike

[terry]

Chalambok is in a better position to make this comparison. I'm an enthusiastic beginner in Krabi-Krabong, not an authority. To date, my training has been limited to basic drills on double da (double stick) and single da. There are several other weapons in KK as well as empty hands. This does, however, represent an interesting challenge, especially since Guro Ted was a friend of mine and a big influence on my panatukan. Please note that I start out with a fundamental respect for both arts.

Here's my best attempt at a compare/contrast (bear in mind previous disclaimer):

- KK Hitting is based on speed and power. The intent is to use a blade in battle. Lucay Lucay Kali trains with a heavy stick, light stick, flat stick as well as many different blades. Many of the Lucay Lucay movements are based on treachery and finesse.

- There are more techniques, many more techniques in Lucay Lucay Kali than in KK.

- KK training is frequently aerobic and can be downright exhausting, even for a guy in good shape. KK form comes out of exhaustion. In fact, they used to tie their hands to their swords in battle such that they could shift their body and continue to swing even after their arms were worn out. I did not see Guro Ted pushing his students to exhaustion.

- KK weapons technology in the single and double da features a very long handle, which is also used to block. The Thais would frequently discard a blade after a battle.

- Buddhist tradition and ritual was observed by the late Ajarn Sumai when he was teaching. You needed to promise to observe the Thai equivalent of the 10 Commandments while training. There were rituals to practice and observe. Indeed, most people I know who trained under Ajarn Sumai said the Wai Kru took as long to learn as the fighting part of the art.

- Lucay Lucay Kali is adaptable to a lot of different situations and environment that are not warfare based. KK may do this, but I haven't seen it. Most of the training I've seen is warfare based.

- If you take two comparably talented and motivated students and trained them for six months in each art, the KK guy would win a stickfight altercation. However, if Guro Ted set out specifically to train a guy for a fight against a KK guy I think he sure could have adapted to that kind of a challenge.

- The attitude towards injury in KK depends greatly on whether you prayed prior to training. If you didn't pray they just scoff at you and walk off. Um, they don't do this in Lucay Lucay Kali.

Terry

[mike]

Terry,

Thanks for the information, Krabi-Krabong sounds like something I would be interested in. And I got a laugh out of "treachery and finesse" I think that sums up the bulk of FMA.



thanks,

Mike