Fight Video: Dany Bill vs Den Muangsurin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tun73ZCRW_o

no images for this one folks

Congratulations

Congrats to the York students who took part in Siam no. 1's challenging Blue grading:
Kevin, Leo, Kari, Arash and Mike
Also congratulations to G from XC


Ajahn Suchart and Kru Jen

The grading is a challenging test of physical fitness, basic Muay Thai technique and basic Thai culture. We expect great things from our new batch of advanced students.

Shane Campbell Highlight

A cool video of Shane Campbell, one of Canada's world champions and rising stars.

Watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjgZdUQdKQc

11 Year old Girl Working the Bag- Video

If you know anything about Muaythai in Thailand, then you'll know that children often start training for full professional fights at a very young age. The way they train is reflected in the level of technique and poise they possess in comparison to foreigners who take more time to develop their skills.



Here's a small clip of an 11 year old Thai girl working the bag. I thought it was cool to see the intensity and aggression she's putting into her bag work.

Watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94g5DP1fiA0

Judging and Scoring in Muay Thai

Judging Thai fights is a much debated subject. It's a great way to score a battle between two fighters, but isn't incredibly easy to understand. So it isn't a surprise that other blogs and articles have tried to cover it.

Here are some reliable sources, from authority on TRADITIONAL MT judging Tony Myers, to help clear up your understanding.



What Techniques Score (Tony Myers)
http://www.muaythaionline.org/disciplines/judgetechniques.html

Key points:
*Must be a MT technique to score

*Can be any MT technique but must be visibly effective to score. The highest scoring is usually the technique that causes your opponent to end up on the floor

*Will not score if walked through, or countered with a equal or stronger technique

*Dominating the ring space can win you the round, and thus...

*Running away or tactics that show a lack of engagement in Muay Thai fashion (ex. grabbing ropes, falling on purpose when leg is caught) can cost you the round



How are the Fights Judged? (Tony Myers)
http://www.muaythaionline.org/disciplines/judgescored.html

Key Points
*Momentum counts: "although one boxer may begin strongly and dominate early in the fight, it's the finish that is important and a boxer behind early can be overtaken"

*Professional fights are judged as a whole and rounds don't have equal emphasis. Emphasis is given to a fighter finishing strongest over the last three rounds.
-R1 has the least significance and is often scored as a draw, and R2 may also be scored as such. Judges make note of the dominant boxer of these 2 rounds for reference.
-R3-5 are the most important, and in the case of a close fight the boxer who had the edge in the first two rounds will be awarded the win.



My Own 2 cents:
Often, we have people describing MT scoring to us by points. You'll hear that punches are worth 1, and kicks are worth 2...etc etc.

There is truth to that in the sense that kicks, elbows and knees are traditionally stronger and more damaging weapons than punches. So they generally score more favourably in Thailand. Punches can be just as devastating, but usually need a lot of visible effect for a Thai judge to score it as favourably as a body kick or knee.

So while MT judging follows no formal points system, this is why it is often explained as such and allows us westerners to conceptualize the scoring at a basic level.

---
Keep in mind, this isn't how fights are necessarily scored all over the world by every organization, including the amateur ones we compete in. This is traditional scoring for fights in Thailand, which many MT enthusiasts are trying to make standard over-seas.

Fighter Profile: Lamnamoon Sor Sumalee

Lamnamoon Sor Sumalee
1972
Nickname: Telephone pole knees (seriously...that's what it is)
Titles: several weight class Lumpini titles

For a great write up on Lamnamoon's career: http://news.axkickboxing.com/article?id=135

Videos:

Lamnamoon has some very technical bouts, as well as some absolute wars

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gaE4IReagY&feature=channel_page

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cp0QwMDOSes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seDh4ZAcoyc

Fight Video: Karuhat Sor Supawon vs Nungubon Sitlergchai

2 of the most technical little guys from the golden era going at it

Watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5dQ195B8WM

Arash's List of Camping Essentials

A lot of posts today!

Here it is, the camping list: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=6028OLRN

There is also an identical list posted in our class for reference!

YUMT's previous, current and up and coming fighters will be listed here:

	Nic Du Preez Current Fight Weight: 145-155 Fights: 7 amateur fights fights and demos gallery:
	Brian Trinh Current Fight Weight: 175lbs Fights: 4 amateur fights fights and demos gallery:
	Cam Tang Poy Current Fight Weight: 115-125lbs Fights: 3 amateur fights fights and demos gallery:
	Serge Reznikov Current Fight Weight: 155-160lbs Fights: 2 amateur fights fights and demos gallery:
	Arash Rad Current Fight Weight: 175 lbs 1 amateur fight fights and demos gallery:

Websites for Contender Asia Season 2

If you are up for following the next season of the Contender Asia:

official site under construction: http://contenderasia2.com/

blog with information on the show and its fighters: http://muaythaitigers.blogspot.com/

Shadow Boxing Basic Technique

Brian working a basic southpaw rear kick

Sawadeekhup everyone. Just based on what I've seen in class lately, I just wanted to remind everyone to be working their basic weapons in shadow boxing in both orthodox and south paw (especially with testing coming up).


Keep in mind things like:
-correct guard, proper step
-golden step
-properly extending on all your techniques instead of rushing them too soon. You'll notice the difference on pads.

*Shadow boxing time is for shadow boxing, not discussing politics or picking your nose! lol*

Just my personal input. Hope that helps

Nic and Kru working southpaw knees

Fight Video: Buakao vs Nieky Holtzken 2009 (K-1 MAX)

Who isn't interested in what Buakao's been up to lately?

This fight is from the K-1 MAX 09 final 4 tournament
Click: http://www.megavideo.com/?v=J331IQQ7

If you've never heard of Holtzken, he's mainly a K-1 rules fighter who has fought Buakao before, as well as Thai champion Lamsongkram.


He's not going to let this go unpunished...

Fight Video: Giorgio Petrosyan vs Albert Kraus (K-1 MAX)

Petrosyan lands a knee on Kraus

I usually wouldnt post K-1 fights, but Giorgio is a well known MT fighter who has had great fights with Thai talents such as Buakao and Narupol. He is known for very skillful timing. As of late he has made a shift to K-1 style rules, but is still great to watch for his precision.

Albert Kraus is a former K-1 MAX champion and has fought in Superleague. He is known for more of a boxing style of fighting.

Watch: http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/x9uqep

Muay Thai Stadiums

If you've watched any Muay Thai fights from Thailand, then you'll have heard of Lumpini and Rajadamnern (I hate trying to spell that...). They are the two most well known and prestigious stadiums to compete in. To have a high ranking or to hold a title in one of those stadiums is like being a world champion.


Anuwat has several titles at several weights from both stadiums

Here's some history/information on each of them.

Lumpini Stadium
Click

Rajadamnern Stadium
Click

Sakad and Sagat

A couple other Muay Thai blogs have posted on "Sakad Petchyindee", an incredible fighter who had a record of over 300 fights, and numerous titles. Many claim that this is where the Muay Thai fighter Sagat, of Street Fighter fame, draws his namesake from.

Up until now, I have struggled to find any video footage of Sakad. So here is a small clip of him I came across recently

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIgdQ3NXMOM

Here's what is supposed to be a fight between him and another fighter, Nokweed:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5vGEBT-dGU&feature=related

Fight Video: Ramon Dekkers vs Sakmongkol

The fact that this fight is on youtube in its entirety is amazing. You need to watch this if you are into full muay thai action.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP8HtTJu4dU

Test Changed to July 25th

Read the previous post, but replace "11" with "25".

Also, Mike D. has offered to have a pool party on July 11th at his place after class, as well as for watching UFC 100 that night. Stay tuned for details...

July 17th

Blue shorts testing on July 17th. If you are being considered for/considering it, be sure to be running and pushing yourself in the workouts. Also be paying attention to your technique, as no one needs to remind you that it is a significant part of the process. As Ajahn says...the test isn't meant to kill you, but it will be physically challenging.