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Hi Sylvie I have seen several of your posts on your trips to Thailand and what I am really interested in is Phra Rahu.and your experiences with this deity. I myself have been very pulled towards him and the connection is just there. However, many are afraid of him. I am also a westerner, Scottish, working out how I relate to Phra Rahu. Thanks Dave

How do you feel about Invicta or One championship with Lookboonmee etc?

This is a good topic. Frustrating when there is so much "grey area" as a coach - should i be teaching my students defences to illegal moves that aren't enforced? I've seen people catch kicks and do full judo leg reaps with back of calf - both from the outside stepping across and from the inside - not pulled up or warned. See a similar thing with spine pressure techniques in the clinch. I get it - sometimes the ref won't notice and can't make the perfect call all the time, i don't envy their role and i can't blame them for that. Some of the stuff i've seen is very obvious and blatant. I'm talking more about regional scene in my experience in australia rather than top level competitions.

I like the innovation! Won't it get knocked loose though?

I think Age, nowadays with diets and exercise and new technologies, is not a realy good metric anymore. I know guys in their 40s absolutely smashing it and guys in their 20s being in pain. Each body is different, each mind is different as well. If you take care of your body, train correctly, have a good lifestyle and diet, the only limitation is when your body says "Stop man, it's over". If you feel good, resistant, energetic, don't worry about age. I began Muay Thai 3 months ago and I turned 29 last month. My goal is to have at least a professional fight in Thailand. So I might be old for competition standards, but if I want it, I'll deliver.

Things Sylvie has written on Prah Rahu: Towards the Diety Pra Rahu – Presenting Offerings at Wat Samanrattanaram Life Stages – My Sangwan Rahu Experience – Sak Yant by Arjan Pi Bangkating Chiang Mai Exploring Meaning – Rahu and Khun Chang Khun Phaen

Maybe if an elite Muay Thai fighter - like the current fantasy about Saenchai - joined the UFC and cleaned up? So far I'm not sure that the UFC has seen true Muay Thai, that is, high level Muay Thai born out of the process of Thailand, with strong knowledge of clinch. BJJ would never have taken off if the fighters that introduced it were mid-level BBJ fighters. The UFC has never really seen a Muay Thai version of a "Gracie".