When someone asks me this I do leg work. I'll go online and research the area that my reader is from. I've researched muay thai gyms from Philadelphia, to Tampa, to Austin to Spokane. Yet, there are really only a handful of individuals in North America (I know of) who have training in the older systems of muay thai.
Since Tony Jaa brought muay boran into the mainstream with his movies Ong Bak, and the Protector, I've seen a huge spike in interest in the older systems. But what I've seen, at least here in the U.S. is the same techniques from the same choreographed muay boran demo that's been on YouTube for years. And trust me, you'll begin to see the mega gyms like Fairtex, Tiger Muay Thai, and probably even UFC gym cash in with muay boran programs where you'll learn to "fight like Tony Jaa." Join now and receive a FREE TapOut t-shirt for only $35.00 - no, sir, you get the shirt for free when you pay me $35 dollars. But wait, there's more!
My readers, who I appreciate so damn much, I need your help. If you have encountered, or trained at a gym that uses muay thai as its base, but trains for the street, or a school that trains specifically in muay boran, muay chaiya, muay chao cherk, lerdrit, or krabi krabong - and does not offer MMA or BJJ classes as well - let me know! Even if you know a hidden gem that's old school in how they train, where they don't have walls covered with pictures of the school owner hobnobbing with celebrities, where they don't try to sell you a 120cc bottle of Thai liniment for $30
. Those are the schools I'm looking for. Let's find 'em, and give them the publicity they probably hate, but deserve!Either leave a comment on this post, or send me a note at donnie (at) oldstylemuaythai dot com. Let's help each other find the dream gyms we know are out there.
I'll start with the gym I teach at - Muay Thai Academy International - Santa Clara, CA http://www.militarymuaythai.com - no nonsense combat training based on the older styles of muay thai.
Hi, I train in a gym in Madrid, Spain where we do it the traiditional way (mae mai, look mai, etc.). Strictly speaking, our master does not like to call it muay boran because for him muay thai and muay boran are the same. We also belong to the The Association Institute of Thai Martial Arts. If that counts, then it's:
ReplyDeleteVictori Gym, Madrid
with master Pratin
Cheers,
N.
Hey Donnie,
ReplyDeleteI'm gonna ask you the same question haha. So I had been training down in LA at The Yard for a few months - great place so if anyone is looking for a place go check it out: http://www.theyardmuaythai.com/
My question is that I just moved to Boston - more specifically Brighton and I work in Cambridge - and I need to find a good place to train, any idea? I heard there's a Sityodtong around any thoughts? Thanks Donnie!
G
Muay Thai means ‘Art of Eight Limbs’. It mixes movements like punching, kicking and others to hit the eight points that is known to weaken one’s body. Learning Muay Thai is quite interesting and challenging.
ReplyDeleteWe have some dude, who teaches Muay Boran in Russia, Moscow. No MMA, and other things, but he is really crazy...
ReplyDeletesad...
If you are in florida and want to learn traditional styles of Muay Thai...Enrique Franceschi is def the instructor. I have been going to him for 4-5 years and he is OLD SCHOOL! The classes are hard, the students are helpful...we are a family and Enrique expects us to show respect to him, others, and the Muay Thai art. We go to every fight card we are invited to and we represent!!! He has been doing this for over 30 something years and is an AMAZING fighter and instructor. If you are in Orlando... He is the guy to see for Muay Thai!
ReplyDeleteI find it a more than a little disheartening that you have an open enough mind to explore past muay thai sport to more combat and self-defense oriented off-shoots of the art, yet are so close-minded as to dismiss a gym/school if they teach mma or bjj as well. I teach muay thai at a very good bjj academy (not that far from you btw), and I do it teaching both sport and self-defense applications.
ReplyDeleteThe fact is you have to balance things like business and what your potential students are looking for, with staying true to yourself. And knocking some combat sports as not legitimate martial arts simply because they are in fact sports is short-sited. Where else does a martial art get tested so rigorously on a day to day basis, refining and honing what works? Sure you have to always keep in mind limitations rules inherently force on an art, but that doesn't mean you throw the baby out with bath water.
One of the biggest reasons Muay Thai is such a dominant striking art is due to the constant and rigorous testing of techniques in the sport on an every day basis. You'll find that to be a fairly consistent trend through martial arts that are actually useful in street situations. Judo, wrestling, boxing, etc. all have intense competition aspects to them, and all of them destroy the more esoteric arts when entering the realm of reality and application. At least this has been my experience.
Why do you feel the need to bash mega gyms like Fairtex, Tiger Muay Thai, and UFC gym? The way I see it, the more people that become interested in Muay Thai sport or art the better it is for everyone.
ReplyDeleteNo bashing, Anonymous. Just my opinion. I actually think that Fairtex was key to bringing muay thai to western audiences in the nineties. But with Alex Gong's passing, it seemed that priorities changed. I understand that its a business, and I don't do this for the money, so my opinion may be biased. But, for me, muay thai is not an art, its a system based on efficiency. And 5 rounds at 3 minutes each round does not equate to efficiency, in my humble opinion.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly seems like you have a vendetta against Fairtex. I've been looking up some info on Lerdrit lately and stumbled onto more than a few of your comments about Fairtex and I have to tell you it is a BIG turnoff & it seems like you think you can elevate your status by trying to bring theirs down. I personally think it is better for Muay Thai overall for more people to participate and become fans. More power to them if they can spread Muay Thai around and help grow the art, sport or whatever aspect people are interested in. Everyone has their own reasons for studying/practicing/teaching Muay Thai, don't assume your reasons are any more noble than someone else's. Just because you don't do this for the money, doesn't make you any more noble than someone else. Not everyone is in the position to be able to teach for free. For many Thai people Muay Thai was a means to get out of poverty & support their families. Using the example of 5 rounds at 3 minutes as a sign of inefficiency is a fallacious argument. You are using the sporting aspect of Muay Thai as a sign of it's inefficiency. I could argue that boxing is a system based on efficiency too. Just because people pay to watch boxers fight for 12 rounds doesn't change that fact. Boxing may not be as well rounded as Muay Thai, but then again Muay Thai is not as well rounded a system as MMA. Just because someone participates in the sport doesn't not mean they can't fight in the street either. I would argue that participating in the sport helps elevate your skills and endurance. BTW Muay Thai fights don't always last the full rounds. They often end very early when the abilities of the opponents are mismatched. I'm sure if you fought someone like Yodsanklai on the street it probably wouldn't last too long either.
ReplyDeleteStreet VS Sport Nonsense.
http://www.straightblastgym.com/street.htm
I've learned the different variations of Muay Thai kicks before, but we didn't learn any fancy names for it. The elbows are nothing new either, some people like to guard the side of their head as opposed to the front of their face. I don't think old school is necessarily better or worse. Depends on the situation & application I guess. I say live & let live, learn everything & mix & match according to what works for you. I believe the introduction of boxing techniques greatly helped Muay Thai. Innovation & progress are good, otherwise we would still be riding around in the horse & buggy. I guess there are those who still prefer to be "OLD SCHOOL" for the sake of being cool or different.
ReplyDeleteI just read everyone of these replies to the post and maybe 2 or 3 had to do with what Donnie was looking for. I was hoping to see one near Dallas Tx. but instead I saw a bunch of people blasting a blog because he gave his honest opinion on them. I took Muay Thai as a kid from 7 to 13. The teacher was an old man from Thailand. He has long since died. I am looking to get back into it and I am looking for a place like that. That is what I got from this post. If you dont like what he has to say dont read his blogs.
ReplyDeleteThere is a great teacher in Fort Collins, Colorado. The Kru teaches many arts and some MMA stuff but HE DOES NOT MIX the traditional students with the sport fighters. He feels that MMA trains for sport not for real situations and therefore the focus in what to train his students is a completely different world. His school still takes old school challenge matches as well, last I heard. His school used to be called Roc House but I think the name has changed since then.
ReplyDeleteJust did a check - Roc house in Fort Collins is still around. Spoke with the owner on the phone - and I think we got cut off, or he hung up on my. He says they train muay thai and muay boran. Here's their website - www.personalprotectiveart.com - If you happen to train there, or stop by, let me know what you think.
ReplyDeleteScratch that - it's http://protectiveart.com. The other link didn't work.
ReplyDeleteI train at Ludis Training Center, which used to be Roc House, with Kru Court Bolton. He's an outstanding teacher, and he can speak to any level of experience in the martial arts. Everything that has been said is 100% accurate so far, except for the challenge matches. He says he'd love to, but that sort of thing is generally illegal. BUT! You do have to sign a death waiver to train here!
ReplyDeleteI trained with Kru Bolton as well a few years ago when I lived in Colorado and I can attest he is a fierce and true teacher of Ancient Thai arts. He also teaches the deeper meaning in martial arts and really takes an interest in his students lives. Back then when I trained, I can also attest as above written, he was considering taking challenge matches and writing the names of the defeated schools on the wall. I guess things have changed a little bit.
ReplyDelete