Snack Payback

Here it is

You got your own ring? Ha, do you just spar in it? Better watch you don't get in trouble with your local authorities like my mate did. I'd met this guy 6 years before I moved to Australia and kept in touch with him, had him on facebook when that got popular. I'd always assumed he owned a Muay Thai Gym in Perth as he was always promoting events at his 'gym' on his facebook page. But when I moved to Perth I found out he'd just been running a fight club in his back yard! Once it was brought to attention of his local council they sent him an angry letter saying the police had been contacted, so he shut it down quick! I took a picture of the letter, I'll see if I can blank out the names and addresses and post it here.

Sylvie if you enjoy rock climbing documentaries and books, have you read or seen 'Touching the Void'? Both the book and the film are absolutely brilliant.

This one's pretty interesting, mostly focuses on Sityodtong but also features other top gyms of the golden age. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScAK-Y0c-rU I like the Muay Thai Stories on Lawrence Kenshin's youtube channel. I think most or all of them were filmed by a girl called Angie Wong (I'm assuming her family name is Wong, her instagram handle is @angiewon9) but Lawrence Kenshin doesn't seem to give her any credit for it. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtBmulRKslSIlrEetkk1J1O2j3PZ-48kY

Oley Kiatoneway works as a trainer at Parunchai Gym, Thung Song, Nakhon Si Thammarat.

The Khmers didn't leave any written history behind, only what was carved on the temples of Ankor. Some foreigners who lived there at Ankor's height left detailed writings of their time there, which is how historians are able to have some understanding of what life was like there. Back to regional fighting styles - Thailand, Cambodia, Burma and Laos have all been fighting each other and occupying each others territory for centuries. There definitely will have been cross over between styles at various points in history.

Whatever it is, it's infected and inflamed. Keep putting antiseptic cream on it, but if it doesn't improve or starts getting worse then better to get yourself to a doctor (if that's possible at the moment). Probably worth pointing out I have no medical training by the way, beyond some first aid courses

That's great you got to train at JWP's gym. He comes across as a really sound fella

I guess some people like to try and give themselves an air of mystique. Like they spent a year deep in Isaan, kicking down a hectare of banana trees every morning, followed by a grueling 10 hour training session, followed by 2 back to back fights at the local stadium. Day after day. Finally, after a year of this, they were bestowed the title of 'Kru' by their trainer. They walked across the country to Suvarnabhumi and flew home. No mate, you just woke up one morning and decided to start calling yourself 'Kru'.

Something else that amuses me - although I haven't actually come across it in Australia, seems to be a North American thing from what I read on forums/facebook - is non Thai trainers/gym owners calling themselves 'Kru'. I'll have to put this isolation time to good use and try and make a gif.

When are you thinking of heading over? It sounds like all gyms are closed at the moment. His gym has a facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/townintowngym88/?__tn__=%2Cd-k-R&eid=ARCiBlfYjrqn6GTteldBGZ-Yt-x1sqj4I7ymu6mhDrDIsCG2q_r-4qsbH4U8a7uempJnD0CcN0lJ7spE but they might not reply. If they don't reply then your best bet would be to get to the gym before the morning session ends (once this corona lockdown has been lifted, obviously) and arrange a private session then. Sylvie has a map to his gym here: https://8limbsus.com/muay-thai-thailand/training-hippy-singmanee-relaxation-comes-power

It's also a way for a lot gyms in the west to make more money from their members. The first gym I trained at here in Perth had a grading system. They charged $60 to attend the grading, and then another $20 for your new shirt with your new grading on it 'So Snack Payback, will you be attending the upcoming grading?' 'Err, no I won't' I don't train there anymore All the places I've trained at in Perth have been fine. Even that place I talk about above, despite the grading nonsense it was a friendly gym. Once I started heading over to Thailand to train I soon realised I needed to find a new gym if I really wanted to improve. The place I'm at now is great - Thai owned and run. Very friendly and my technique has come on a lot. Also tried one other place before settling at my current one. Owner had spent a lot of time in Thailand and had had Thai trainers over. Again, very friendly and well run place.

As mentioned above, all gyms in Aus are closed now, all events cancelled. My gym was hoping to organise some outdoor sessions with small numbers, but public gatherings are limited to two people now. So just have to be patient...

Very sorry to hear that

Trained today in Perth, West Australia. A couple of the lads in the gym have fights coming up in a few weeks. Still set to go ahead at the moment.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-10/jessica-lindsay-died-after-extreme-training-for-muay-thai-fight/12042078 In the news here at the moment. Sad story.

Come on, you can give us a bit more info Where were they from?? You're more likely to run into that problem in a place like Phuket because it's such a popular tourist spot. You'd be better off heading away from the beach if you were after a quieter gym.

Yes, I remember Boonlai talking about this in the library session. It's a pity his win against Namkabuan isn't on youtube. Their 2nd fight is there, which Namkabuan wins. I'd also really like to see Boonlai's fight against Wangchannoi as well. Hopefully they'll both be uploaded in future. Do you think you'll film another session for the library with Boonlai at some point? Talking of big size differences and Namkabuan plowing made me think of his fight against Chatchai Paiseetong. Namkabuan looks significantly bigger than Chatchai. In the 5th round Namkabuan comes out and just plows, throws Chatchai around the ring. Do you think he's worried he's losing the fight going into the final round so tries to put on as dominant a display as possible against his smaller opponent?

I don't mind them. They came in handy when I really started to get into Muay Thai - gave me suggestions on some legendary fighters I could look up.

Agreed Agreed! I've never seen him mentioned on any other 'best of all times' lists that are out there, which is bizarre when you look at his achievements: 5 Lumpinee belts, Fighter of the Year 1993. Just make it a top 15

Interesting, I didn't know the fight was at 126 lb. Boonlai won his first Lumpinee belt the following year, 1992, at 115 lb. So probably an even bigger step up in weight for him. He won his 122 lb Lumpinee belt in 1994. One of my go to videos on Muay Thai Scholar Somrak was incredible of course. If only they'd given him a title shot...

Check this fight out! Rambo with his relentless dern against Paruhatlek's heavy hands

Great work again, Kevin! I couldn't find any footage at all of Paruhatlek on youtube when I've searched for him before, but just had a look and some of his fights have been uploaded in recent months. That's tonight's viewing sorted I've spoken to Thais who rate him very highly (he ko'd Samart). It would be great if you could get him in the library