Courses

MUAY BORAN Report from Thailand Exceptional success in Thailand: the first international Muay Boran seminar was celebrated in Ayuddaya. The first International Muay Boran and Krabi Krabong Seminar organized in Thailand by the AITMA (Association Institute of Thai Martial Arts) in collaboration with the IMBA (International Muay Boran Academy) and celebrated in the old Siam capital, Ayuddaya, was a great success. It was the fulfilment of a dream for all the Western participants of Muay Thai, who, for the first time, have seen their knowledge and passion for the traditional art recognized directly from the source. The effort to spread ancestral Muay Thai, representing years of work by Master Woody and his student and collaborator Marco De Cesaris, is showing results that surpass even the best forecasts, and their international school (IMBA) is already considered by the members of the Thai Culture Commission as the true interlocutor in the incessant effort to improve the technical base of the discipline, continuously revised in order to respond to the demands of the modern practitioners.

Thanks to the support of the Commission, represented by Director Kietisak and the assistant to the Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, General Kwang Robcop, the participants could practice and compete in archaeological places normally closed to the Thais themselves, which were, incredibly, left open for the boys and girls of IMBA. There were many participants and the Italian, Spanish, German and English groups demonstrated enthusiasm that moved the Chief Instructor, Grand Master Paosawat, who had words of praise for everyone.

The highlights of the training trip were the following: --A wonderful seminar on the traditional method of preparation of the Kard Chiek, the dreadful rope gloves, similar to the "caestus" used in ancient Rome Boxing, presented by Grand Master Paosawat (President of the Grading Commission of Kru Muay Thai Association) and Grand Master Vichit (Grand Master of Krabi Krabong and honorary member of the Kru Muay Thai Association) in the Utong Hotel.

--A series of training sessions in Krabi Krabong near the Ayuddaya Institute of Physical Education Arng Thong, personally directed by Gran Master Vichit. In the same place, the students of Master Paosawat had prepared some traditional training circuits based on the reconstruction of ancient methodologies, done with modern material.

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--A series of traditional Muay Thai training sessions directed by Gran Master Paosawat and Gran Master Woody, near the suggestive scenery of the Chai Wattanaram Temple in Ayuddaya. The technical sessions followed a meditation session and a series of breathing and isometric strengthening exercises, very similar to an ancient form of yoga. --For the lovers of sport Muay Thai, the possibility of training with world Boxing champions and champions of Rajadamnern in Thai Boxing was organized by Gran Master Paosawat and the IMTF staff in the former IMTF headquarters situated on Rama V Road, in Bangkok.

--An interesting seminar about traditional Muay Thai, focused particularly on the technical applications of Mae Mai, near the Pra Sri Sanpetch Temple, directed by Gran Master Paosawat and GM Woody. Apart from the basic forms, the possible stylistic variations and the most efficient combinations of the Mae Mai were analyzed in detail, giving to all IMBA western members the impression to be on the right track as far as technical knowledge is concerned. --Another Krabi Krabong and traditional Muay Thai training session took place near the famous archaeological site Pa Nead Chang, in Ayuddaya, famous for the images in the Van Damme film "Kickboxer", filmed precisely in that location.

--The 17th of March is Nai Kanom Thom Day for all Thai people, to commemorate the national hero who, with his combat skill, freed many of his fellow soldiers who had fallen prisoners to the Burmese. On the morning of the 17th we had the privilege of participating in the ceremony of honor of the Thai hero with the most famous former Muay Thai fighters of Thailand in the suggestive landscape of the ancient capital. --A seminar and conference organized by the AITMA, Kru Muay Thai Association, and IMBA in the conference room of the Hotel Utong Inn, in which the professors of the University of Rajabat presented the two years post graduate course requested to obtain a certificate of specialization in Muay Thai and Muay Boran, which, as of now, is mandatory for those who study Phisical Education and want to be qualified to teach this Arts in thai schools. The professors of Rajabat thanked Gran Master Woody, Marco De Cesaris and Doctor Distefano, adjoint lecturer of the University, for the help given in the planning of those programs.

--In the afternoon of the 17th the awaited Mae Mai Muay Thai competition was held: this spectacular competitive form has already spread among the IMBA athletes and is captivating the Western practitioners more and more. After the first experience in August of 2003, this time the Italians, Spanish, and English participated in the competition without fear, along with some young Thai athletes. The cup for first place was given to the Italian IMBA team, with IMBA Spain placed second, and Thailand Junior third. From this year on, national and continental championships have been scheduled and each year, coinciding with the 17th of March, the world championships will be celebrated in Thailand.

--The grand final was the Ceremony of the Wai Khru (in which the Assistant to the Deputy Primer Minister General Kwang Robkop put the Mongkon on the heads of all the Thai boxers present, in a traditional gesture of investiture), done very near the Wat which is dedicated to King Naresuan, in Ayuddaya. Apart from the presence of General Kwang, Gran Master Vichit (as always in the function of master of ceremonies), Gran Masters Paosawat and Woody, and the Director of the Culture Commission Mr. Kietisak were also present. --The afternoon of the same day the Khan assestment and grading took place in the presence of the Examination Commission of the AITMA, headed by Gran Master Paosawat and whose members were Gran Master Woody, Arjarn Marco De Cesaris, Arjarn Lek and Arjarn Ronnie Green. For more information about the next trips and competitions in Thailand and to consult the Official Register of the Muay Thai Masters, you can check the Thai web page of the Kru Muay Thai Association: www.krumuaythai.net.

Thank you for the texts & pictures that contributed from Budo Internation (writen by Marco De Cesaris)