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In case anyone is curious what this should sort of look like in practice (in a ring setting), this session with Yodkhunpon reflects the consistent violation of your opponents space and the constant stance switching this style uses. When done effectively it will keep your opponent from being able to regain their base as you batter them with different attacks which come from unconventional angles and sides. The overarching idea is to initially utilize defense to see an opening and then counter, continuing to flow through attacks which will in turn create new openings until you have neutralized/shutdown your opponent. The stance switching really changes the relationship to range because you cover so much more space by being able to step or attack off either side with no reset period.

9 Fighters of the Year With the addition of Namsaknoi to the Library we now have an incredible 9 Fighters of the Year documented in the Muay Thai Library. reaching all the way back to 1972 (RIP Sirimongkol who was precious to capture), covering over 25 years of elite greatness. It's one thing to look at a list (below), but such another thing to actually look at their muay, and the men themselves, their personalities, their rhythm and movement. It's kind of incredible that this has been assembled, and we definitely have plans to look document as many of these yodmuay as we can. This is over 12 hours of archival footage. Thank you patrons for making this all possible. It is literally preserving the legacy. There are 4 Muay Khao fighters (Dieselnoi, Langsuan, Chamuakphet, Samson - he considers himself a Muay Khao fighter) which is awesome because this was a rather undocumented, under celebrated style of Muay Thai until only a few years ago. It's recent appreciation has in some part come through Sylvie's revival and archiving of it. You could add Naksaknoi, who was a pressuring fighter who would finish opponents off in the clinch, that would make 5 Muay Khao fighters. You have two Muay Maat punchers in Samson and Kongtoranee. Kaensak was also adept with his hands, and Samart and Sirimongkol as well. And maybe 4 Muay Femeu fighters in Namsaknoi (he fought both ways), Samart, Sirimongkol and Kaensak. A very nice cross section of absolutely elite fighting styles. Naksaknoi (1996): #65 Namsaknoi Yudthagarngamtorn - Sharking The Angles (67 min) watch it here Samson (1991): #41 Samson Isaan - The Art of Dern Fighting (64 min) watch it here Kaensak (1989, 1990): #24 Kaensak Sor. Ploenjit - Explosive Defense (55 min) watch it here Samart (1981, 1983, 1988): #34 Samart Payakaroon - Balance, Balance, Balance! (81 min) watch it here Langsuan (1987): #45 Langsuan Panyutapum - Monster Muay Khao Training (66 min) watch it here Chamuakphet (1985): #49 Chamuakpet Hapalang - Devastating Knee in Combination (66 min) watch it here Kongtoranee (1978, 1984): #37 Kongtoranee Payakaroon - Power In The Hands (89 min) watch it here Dieselnoi (1982): #48 Dieselnoi Chor. Thanasukarn - Jam Session (80 min) watch it here AND #30 Dieselnoi Chor Thanasukarn 2 - Muay Khao Craft (42 min) watch it here AND #3 Dieselnoi Chor Thanasukarn - The King of Knees (54 min) - watch it here Sirimongkol (1972): #54 The Late Sirimongkol and Lertrit Master General Tunwakom (81 min) watch it here A list of the older Fighters of the Year winners: 1999 – Saenchai Sor Kingstar (Highlight Video Here) 1998 – Kaolan Kaowichit (Highlight Video Here) 1997 – Anantasak Panyuthapoom 1996 – Namsaknoi Yuthkarnkamthon (Highlight Video Here) 1995 – Kaoponglek Luksuratham (Highlight Video Here) 1994 – Orono Por Muangubon (Highlight Video Here) 1993 – Wangchannoi Sor Palangchai (Highlight Video Here) 1992 – Jaroensap Kiatbanchong 1991 – Saenmuangnoi Lukjaophomehesak (Samson Isarn) (Highlight Video Here) 1990 – Kaensak Sor Ploenchit (Highlight Video Here) 1989 – Kaensak Sor Ploenchit 1988 – Samart Payakaroon (Highlight Video Here) 1987 – Langsuan Panyuthapoom 1986 – Panomthuanlek 5 Palang 1985 – Chamuekpetch 5 Palang 1984 – Kongthoranee Payakarun 1983 – Samart Payakarun 1982 – Dieselnoi C. Thanasukarn (Highlight Video Here) 1981 – Samart Payakarun 1980 – Nongkhai S. Prapassorn 1979 – Phadetsuek Pitsarnurachan 1978 – Kongthoranee Payakarun 1977 – Vicharnoi Porntawee (Old Footage Here) 1976 – Porsai Sittbunlert 1975 – Pud Pad Noi Vorawud (Highlight Video Here) 1974 – Puth Lawlek 1973 – Sansak Muangsurin (Classic Fight Here) 1972 – Sirimongkol Luksiripat 1971 – Seechang Sakornpitak (Classic Fight Here) 1970 – Fasai Taweechai taken from this website source, which is posting from a book

I use pad holding as an aid to teaching visual cues. Everyone should learn pad holding, I reckon. At some stage that is.

Are working on it, but understand not all fighters lead positive, stable lives after their fighting days. I don't know the exact situation, but I get the feeling it isn't awesome. As a note, in his fighting days his nickname was "Chivas".

His privates are 1,000 baht an hour, and he is a really cool instructor. What he really wants to do is just move with you, get relaxation going. We are going to try and film another session with him this week and put it up in the Library.

There is another video you guys have posted in the past talking about how his footwork is almost more like a trot/shuffle (I forget the exact wording), and at the time I thought about how similar it was to my old footwork. I kind of dismissed it as random coincidence at the time because as you mentioned it is very unique and not many people move like that. Namsaknoi is another one who I have always really paid attention to because his footwork is so well balanced and he has a similar kind of shuffling when he circles out. Watching General Tunkawom move you can see how it would translate to a ring setting. I think it's not popular because it does take a little longer to check kicks or throw your own kicks, but it is incredibly easy to walk people down and keep them moving backwards. It's also incredibly easy to throw elbows while moving like that. I don't think it's a coincidence that Yodkhunpon is known for his elbows and that Muay Lertit has 24 unique elbows. There is absolutely some overlap there. If I can ever get some money together I would love to come work with Yodkhunpon. I've actually wanted to come work with him for a couple of years because he was the only one I saw with that similar footwork style. I've really struggled to get my movement back after trainers tried to change my style to something "prettier" and more stadium friendly. No one seems to understand what I am trying to do and will continually insist it is wrong (which I am almost 100% sure is because of the kicking/checking aspect). Korat kind of got it, but still insisted on me having a deeper stance traditional stance than I was comfortable with. I will say that the stance change definitely helped develop power in my kicks, but I want my movement back.

I'm watching the day 6 videos and wishing someone would beat the Western boxing out of me lol. Things that were great for that style are totally tripping me up with Muay Lertrit. We'll get there though, we'll get there. I feel like a lot came out of our discussions today, it was nice to be able to break things down a bit on a conceptual level. Kind of feeling our way around in the dark a bit. Hoping this will lead to some more "ah hah" moments next week during training. Wooooo go me for finally figuring out that elbow block at around 39:30ish lol. Only took me 8 days Now I just gotta add back in the details like tucking my chin so I can put it to use.

One of my favorite low kick set ups as well. If done with perfect timing, its hard to stop. I also like a long lead arm uppercut to low kick as well. Either you tip their chin up so they dont see the low kick or they try and block by shelling and going heavy on their lead leg. I actually teach a system of punch set ups to low kicks each with the idea that the punches move the weight of the person firmly onto the leg you want to kick. The punches can even be more like hard slaps just for that effect.

The General is a very busy man, with a lot on his plate. It’s quite impressive. Being said, we did not have him teaching us today. Rather, the assistants working with him at the WMA (World Muay Thai Alliance) told Tyler and I to practice with each other in a separate room from the community class. This gave Tyler and I time to compare notes and elaborate on our learning processes. What came out today while Tyler and I were comparing our notes, was how similar so many aspects of Lertrit feel to my style of Kung Fu (San Soo). This comes back to an earlier point I tried to make about things being similar, but different. A saying that has become popular between the General and I. In the past I’ve used language as an analogy for learning martial arts. In the early stages of learning an art, one learns the alphabet. Latter, they learn words. So enough how to put together sentences. And before long, conversation is possible. In some instances some martial arts are as different as Thai and English. Other times, martial art styles feel like the same language, but spoken in a different dialect. San Soo and Lertrit feel how I’ve heard others compare Portuguese and Spanish. Please keep in mind I speak neither of these language, only bad California English and am going of what I’ve heard from those who do speak these languages. Both San Soo and Lertrit are true martial styles. There is no sporting application to them. They are meant to incapacitate someone. Also, they flow from once strike to the next. Similar to dancing, once you know how each move can lead to another, there is no break between any two motions. You can simply move from one strike or manipulation to the next from any position you find yourself in. While there are time when my San Soo habits are not helpful in Lertrit, what is helpful is understanding how to flow. The General uses both the word flow and natural. The move should be natural, is what the General will say, it should flow. It's like learning to speak a fluently, rather than in a broken sentence structure. In San Soo and Jiujitsu we talk about flow. Flowing from one move to the next as seamlessly as possible. If you mess up, you just keep going, flow to the next thing you know. The General will talk about a missed punch flowing into an elbow. In jiujitsu, a failed arm lock can flow into a choke. Similar, but different.

I didn't have a chance to read through it earlier, but I'll try and give it a shot if I have some time this weekend. I can always use more info on anything regarding sleep or depression. My sleep has gotten a lot better over the last decade, but I still only make it about 60-75 min at a time without waking up. Lol I've mostly given up at this point, but it would be nice to see what true recovery sleep would feel like.

Oh great! I'll try and find one tomorrow, thanks!

It doesn't make you hotter in my experience. Obviously feels warmer than just a sheet, but no different from a regular blanket. It can also be used while chilling and not sleeping. It calms me down somewhat, makes me feel grounded.

I actually have not tried these before, I only heard about them recently. I get super hot when I sleep so I'm afraid that will just make it worse. I might give it a shot though if I can find one for a decent price. I can probably buy one off Lazada. Hahaha you are definitely right though, I've tried pretty much everything. Insomnia is a serious pain in the ass.

Hey. No sleep I hear ya. It's hard to give advice to insomniacs because usually they tried everything (being one of them I know). I had people asking me: oh bad sleep did you try black out curtains and earplugs? And I'm like dude: you tried being up 40 hours feeling your brain fall apart and then crash only to find yourself wide awake after 4 hours? Obviously I tried everything. But here's one of those questions. Weighted blanket tried those? I have one, it's a budget version filled with pellets. But it helped me a bit so I'm considering investing in a gravity blanket.

I completely agree. I didn't realize how important/helpful it is until I started learning to hold pads with my last Thai trainer. I used to go to a gym in the US that had us all holding pads for each other (only one coach for the gym unfortunately). I had really mixed feelings about that. The biggest problem was that no one really knew how to hold pads nor did it consistently. The coach would show people and try to make corrections where he could, but no one really understood why they were holding pads a certain way or how to watch whomever was striking. No one moved their feet, people didn't know how to catch shots, no one could mix in different strikes, etc. It was kind of a mess. I'm not very good at holding pads imo and people were blown away when I would hold freestyle. I usually ended up grabbing one of two younger kids (they were siblings) and had them hold for me because even though I couldn't use any power, they were very creative in deciding on combos for me to try. They gave my brain a workout at least. We always did pre-set combos like jab, cross, hook, knee, hook, kick. Good for a big group like that, but not really good as an individual fighter who has their own style. Freestyling pads will teach you the "tells" and what to look for when someone attacks. Super important for progression, especially if you are going to fight.

I know. I'm just fan boy #1. I had read things weren't good. I prefer the 33sec one to the chivas one. Sometimes, I like rose coloured glasses.

I'd dance naked in the moonlight and sacrifice chickens to the dark lord if Wangchannoi was number 10.

The General demonstrating an elbow to the kidney, or such:

Tim's Vlog #3 - July 7th, 2019 - on the community class

There's a pharmacy in Pattaya that sells it, but it's CRAZY expensive. I think they intend it to be consumed for a laxative or something, given how tiny the portions are that they're selling. So I buy mine online. You can just google and find Lazada or iHerb or various other sources. Not too expensive, but definitely not the drug-store prices I'm used to in the States.

It would be really interesting if after you get some time in with the General's style if you came and spent an hour with Yodkunpon here in Pattaya, and see if the connection you intuit would become a real one. Almost nobody fought like him (he has been looked down upon in some ways for it), but it would be very cool if they informed each other. If somehow Yodkhunpon's very fight-specific style helped helped create some of the connective tissue between the General's Muay Lertrit and sport Muay Thai. Something that does not really exist at this point.

I love this. It's something that isn't thought about nearly as much as it should be. People don't realize how long it takes to set things up when you are off your base or recover from overextending. It mentally flusters people and they can't keep up once you start finding the gaps. I don't think people realize how much time/efficiency is lost with a lot of their strikes due to the angle or from "having fat" on their technique. That's actually a lot of what I like about this Muay Lertit style I started doing. Everything is built around never losing your balance so you can always be prepared to counter with short shots, flow through even if you miss with your intended strike (turning a missed uppercut/hook into an elbow, missed knee into a kick, etc.), and interrupting your target and knocking them off base so you create openings. I still really suck at it and am adapting (or re-adapting since it is similar to my original style), but you can 100% see how easy it would be to absolutely steamroll people once you are comfortable with it. It aint pretty, but I'll be goddamned if it isn't effective lol.

I cant speak to other coaches (except the ones I know well) but for me its an essential part of the art. Disrupting balance is huge not just for the scoring in competition but for generally taking control of the fight. Being able to see it is a skill that can be taught. I have a fighter whos become scary with it. Lets just say, sparring with him has become a pain in the ass. He doesnt even need to hit hard, he just times your weight shifts and tags you as you do. The time spent trying to recover the balance is time away from countering and attacking. It just gives him so much momentum to keep steamrolling who ever hes playing with. He used it his last fight against an opponent who had a size advantage. The coaches I know, who belong to a group we are all affiliated with do a lot of this work too.

This is something I feel more people should be teaching in general. I haven't been training that long, but haven't seen hardly any coaches talking about fight theory or strategy (what queues to look for when an opponent is about to use a specific technique, or how to manage fighters with different styles) with their fighters the way I think they should. It's largely left to the fighter to kind of figure out alone later down the road.

Thanks, brother. Its a good system in that it works really well in fights for my guys. I number code a short punch to kick combo and have them drill it repeatedly til they can do it without thinking either from hearing me call it out or from visual cues from their opponent. Example is the lead hook to low kick to the front leg is a 3k. We even do variations on the low kick to front leg, like a probe vs heavy to test their balance and responses (do they check or just eat and try and fire). It gives a better understanding on their opponent to work from. Theres ones for far leg attack as well.

Just don't go to a gym near a beach or anything too touristy that's full of of permanently hungover westerners and fancy new equipment with no Thai fighters. Those trainers are used to seeing people for 2, 3 weeks at a time and having a revolving door of fresh foreign customers. So there might be less personal care if the whole thing feels more transactional and short termist. Go anywhere else, like a regular part of the country, stay long term, one of any of the so many random gyms with predominantly young thai fighters training and living there, and maybe a few other foreigners dotted about. Trainers care about you way more in that context, and genuinely want to see you improve and win, and are good about getting you fights.

I really like this philosophy. It's amazing how much more damage you can do by getting someone's weight loaded or getting them off balance. Good stuff!

Yeah I am orthodox then switch to southpaw as I step through. It works pretty well because it initially looks as if you are simply taking a deep step to the right to circle out (sometimes I'll slap the lead hand down and pass it to my left just prior to the step through as well) then you blast them with the kick. Its basically just some misdirection, it doesn't need to be that hard. It totally lawnchairs people though and is funny as hell to watch.

This is very true. My first fight got canceled 4-5 times and then I got one the next evening. Fight arrangements are generally a total shit show for everyone out here lol. Another option here might just be to straight up lie about your fight experience lol. Just tell them you have like 5-10 fights and go with it. That might help motivate a trainer or gym to find you a fight as it is typically a little more work for them to find someone in your weight class who is very inexperienced or brand new. I don't know if that is good or bad advice lol, but it's an idea!

Yes, I pull the heel then send the elbow into face. Only something I can practice when sparring a Kru. Most the fun stuff I know I am only allowed to do when sparring a Kru... I get in trouble when I do it with other students. I learned a lot of stuff that I just don't see used very often in fights. The more I study and learn, I do understand why some of these things aren't used as much anymore even though they are effective. But my god, they're so much fun to do!!! I am trying to picture what you are describing. I am a southpaw. Are you Orthadox and you switch to south and do this? That's the only way its making sense to me. I also like it when they swing my teep because I just come around with the backfist. That's a fun one too.

Do you pull the heel towards you when you do this? I always thought that was such a cool small detail lol. I like pretty much anything that sets people off balance like that though. For me my favorite technique is probably a switch stance liver kick on orthodox fighters while on the move (stepping outside their lead foot). I think it is the trapping aspect of it that I enjoy the most. It just completely switches their open side as they start to move with you and leaves them basically defenseless as you see them have an "oh shit" moment before they get blasted in the liver lol. Good times, good times indeed

We as people can get so caught up on individual successes that we sometimes forget the wonderful people who support us to do the many things we love.

Oooh I feel for you! I'm so sorry about this experience. Recently at my gym we had a guy who is clearly more than middle aged, not very fit, not that experienced, tall and heavy and not a long time customer. He got a fight within 2 weeks. Which he won and he was very friendly but still it feels unfair. These things happen. I've also met a very experienced female fighter tall and around 65-70kilo. In Thailand longtime. She told me she gave up on fighting because a fight would be announced get postponed and in the end taking 6 months...to her not worth that hassle. It's so hard advocating for yourself and as a woman there's so much bullshit on top of everything else. And displaying any kind of negative emotion about it will only break down communication completely. To me only thing that has worked is being patient, friendly and trying to get sympathy. Showing you are sad without blaming anyone has proved to be useful. But it's not easy.

100%

Spins- Be it elbow or back fist, esp. from swatted away teep. Up elbow from catching and dropping a teep. Body shots. I think body shots are so underrated but they can make life so miserable.

I was in Phuket. I am back in the US now. And you are the third person to say "Chiang Mai." I do like the night market there the best of the one's I've seen so far. I got my sak yants there. I think that it is a sign. I know its way cheaper there than in Phuket and the only woman I trust to touch my hair in Thailand is there. The question is will there be fights at 65 or 70 kg because that is as low as I can go. I am not a tall woman- I just am a very thick one. But I have seen fights with women my size, at least in Phuket I have. I just need a good gym and trainer that I can trust. I'm so easy going and laid back- except when you say you are going to do something, you have to do it- that does irk me. Again, thanks for listening to me. My heart is broken over it... but I think I do want to give it one more shot- especially since I've invested this much time into learning the Thai alphabet and slowly reading.. (hahaha). I just want my shot. Thanks.

Bangkok does not have a lot of female fights. People are drawn to there because it's the capital, but it is definitely NOT the capital for female fighting. Given your frustrations I would say avoid Bangkok. Chiang Mai has lots and lots and lots of fight cards with women on them. Bangkok almost none.

Oh yes of course meditation. Most simplest thing to do, hardest to stick to. I have used epsom salt soaks a lot in the past due to sleep issues and trying to learn some wim hoff techniques. Where do you get epsom salt in Thailand? Or you just use regular salt? I wear glasses in the evening and bluelight glasses do not work with that but I use filters on my phone, but I am pretty sure I get way too much bluelight. For melatonin regulation Dr Jack Kruse (bit of an asshole on social media but also a genius) has interesting ideas on letting sunlight hit the retina in morning https://jackkruse.com/time-10-can-you-supplement-sunlight/ Thanks so much for the link, very interesting and I might go for her book as well.