#161 Muangchai Kittikasem - The Straight & the Rotational (60 min)

Muangchai reportedly fought around 100 Muay Thai fights before transitioning into Boxing in the Golden Age. As the legend goes, he took his first Muay Thai fight before ever training (Karuhat also says his first fight was without any training, at the spur of the moment); he was at a Temple fair and there was a cash prize offered for fighters: 150 baht for the winner and 100 baht for the loser. Since he'd get paid either way, he signed up and ended up winning against a fighter with already 10 fights. When he went home and gave the 150 baht to his mother, his father listened to the story and started training him and his brother in the backyard (his father was not a trainer or a fighter, previously). There isn't much of Muangchai's Muay Thai record on Wikipedia, but from what is there, he was a KO artist. His transition into Boxing was equally fortuitous; he took a Boxing fight in order to help fill in as a last-minute replacement, as a favor to a promoter, and did so well that it was decided he'd go do that. His pro boxing record was 25-4, with 17 KOs, and he became Thailand's first 2-weight World Champion, as Junior-flyweight IBF champion at 108 lbs, and then one year later the Flyweight WBC champion at 112 lbs (the belt Chatchai would eventually hold).

You can check out Muay Thai Scholar's Highlight edit here:

He asked us whether we wanted to train boxing or Muay Thai when we arrived and we choose Muay Thai because we are investigating the close relationship between Western Boxing and Thailand's Muay Thai lately, and we are very interested in how they dovetail together...plus he was blasting absolutely thundering kicks when we walked up to the gym. We often want to reach into the deepest parts of a fighter and their style and his instruction in Muay Thai is beautiful, full of important keys to both his World Championship boxing and his Old School Muay Thai. In particular its the way he uses both a very straight, lancing style with strong rotational forces that he showed me that really made an impression. I hope you get a lot out of the session with this legend like I did.

What to Look Out For:

Helicopter Blade Rotation: there are many styles in Muay Thai, but two large sorting categories are how rotation is achieved: "prayer wheel" or "coptor blades." Muangchai squares firmly in the "coptor blade" category, generating his power from strong upper-body whipping motion and deep twists. I struggle with this because its not something I usually train until I started focusing on the shoulder on the opposite side of the weapon being thrown (so, right kick or punch, the left shoulder is thrown back).

Standing Side Pillar: for his cross, which is very powerful, Muangchai does something that was once explained to me by Chatchai, so the understanding of it is due to his explanation, although the technique belongs to many. Muangchai wants every strike to be thrown with a whipping, just-let-it-go kind of feeling. But he doesn't lose control of his balance or trajectory because it's "capped" by his opposite side. So, on a right cross, the right shoulder will hit the jaw and the left standing leg and hip will hold firm and upright, keeping you from falling forward or sideways if you miss your target. This opposite side firmness acts something like the bank of a river, channeling all that energy back down the "alley" you have created and to the target.

Rotation for Defense: Muangchai shows some very cool forearm blocks and slick little slips to defend. The rotation from each side sets up for a counter on the other, so the rotation of offense and defense are the same, making it a no-brain process. This has some very old school antecedents. I've seen it from Arjan Surat and somewhat in General Tunwakom's Muay Lertrit.

Slow, Steady: I'm told to slow down a number of times and you can see why, when he commands it. In the West we're told to speed up all the time - be fast, be first - but there's a difference between fast and rushed; never rush. Muangchai wants the pace to be steady, even, relentless. He's not slow, but he wants you to slow down, be smooth and legible. Potency lies in the transition from ease to speed.

Footwork: there are two beautiful points of footwork in this session. The first is the forward and back of his long punches, it reminds me of fencing. Weerapol also took the forward-back movement from his Muay Thai into boxing. But he has gorgous side steps and matador slips as well, so he's definitely not stuck on tracks. The second beautiful point is "Boxing or Muay Thai footwork?" When he's moving around in his dancing footwork, he definitely reads as a boxer. But when I asked him if you can use that same footwork for Muay Thai, he explained that it's not Boxing vs Muay Thai, it's winning vs having to walk someone down. If you're ahead, the dancing footwork can let you float on your lead. But if you're behind, you still stay light on your feet to stay responsive and agile while closing down your opponent; regardless of which discipline.

Other Sessions Referenced in this Session in my commentary, study deeper into the Muay Thai Library:

#81 Chamuakpet Hapalang 2 - Muay Khao Internal Attacks (65 min) watch it here

#33 Kru San Sitmonchai #1 - Control of Pace & Distance when Advancing  (56 min) watch it here

#140 Weerapol Sahaprom - Symmetry and Power in Boxing & Muay Thai (1 hr, 40 min) watch it here or podcast here 

#64 Chatchai Sasakul 2 - Elements of Boxing (72 min) watch it here

#155 - Relaxing With Power | Khaosai Galaxy (1 hr, 12 mins) watch it here

#133 Bangsaen Tor. Kotsan - Central Core, Boxing & Muay Thai (85 min) watch it here, podcast here

#90 Arjan Surat 2 - His Old School Tough & Defensive Style (94 min) watch it here

#5 Hippy Singmanee 1 - Developing Power (69 min) - watch it here

#142 Arjan Metprik Silachai 2 - Relentless Pace & Low Kick Attack (69 min)  watch it here or podcast here

#107 Pudpadnoi Worawut - The Basics from the Legend (72 min) watch it here

Muangchai planting a kiss on Sot, after taking his 112 lb WBC title

With his 112 lb WBC title

Winning his IBF 108 lb title

Watch Muangchai fight for the 112 lb WBC World Title and come back from several knockdowns to win it spectacularly in the end:

Muangchai Kittikasem vs Jung-Koo Chang WBC 112lb title WAR watch it here

(the above seems to be for the 108 lb IBF title, despite how it was named on YouTube, such a fight.

Some of Kevin's Photography from the Session

If you enjoyed this session there are many great Boxers and boxing-related sessions in the Muay Thai Library, check these out:

#140 Weerapol Sahaprom - Symmetry and Power in Boxing & Muay Thai (1 hr, 40 min) watch it here or podcast here 

The absolute legend Weerapol shares the principles behind his amazing career. 3 times he was the Rajadamern Champion in the Golden Age, and then he went onto become a WBC and WBA World Boxing Champion. 15 years of Muay Thai, 15 years as a boxer. Discover the beauty and power of his style, one of the best Thai fighters in history.

#155 - Relaxing With Power | Khaosai Galaxy (1 hr, 12 mins) watch it here

Perhaps the greatest Boxer Thailand has every produced, in its long line of Champions, the ferocious Khaosai Galaxy teaches his particular "inner movement" with which he generated so much relaxed power, 100% applicable to Muay Thai. A great treat to get to know this legend of the sport and learn from his movement directly.

#109 Chatchai Sasakul 3 - Developing Rhythm & Precision (1 hr, 46 min) watch it here

The best boxing coach in Thailand, former WBC World Champions Chatchai Sasakul, teaches the importance of rhythm and precision. Chatchai's instruction brings western boxing technique to Thailand's Muay Thai, as he was also a Golden Age stadium fighter.

#74 Samson Isaan 2 - Muay Khao & Western Boxing Excellence (59 min) watch it here

In 1991 there was no fighter more of a force than Samson Isaan, who took Fighter of the Year then. His relentless style combining Muay Maat punching aggression with Knee Fighting pressure and clinch made him a wrecking ball. In this session discover what made this little fighter so impossible to handle.

#75 Lakhin Wasantasit #1 - Boxing & Muay Thai Organized Destruction (76 min) watch it here

Lakhin was a beast, to stand in front of him was to invite disaster. Perhaps no fighter of the Golden Age was more feared for his hands. In this session he shows just what made him so intimidating, and how he developed a style predicated on inflicting maximum damage.

#159 Lakhin Wassantasit #2 | The Art of Close Power Fighting - Muay Maat (1 hr, 23 mins) watch it here

One of the most devestating small-framed punches in the Golden Age Lakhin shows this subtle things that made him so hard to handle as a fighter, keys to proximity, but not too much proximity. This session builds on the first session we filmed with him almost 6 years before. They make a perfect pair giving insight into heavy hands in traditional Muay Thai.

#116 Samson Isaan 3 - Dern Pressure Fighting & Defense (44 min) watch it here

There was nobody tougher and more relentless than Samson Isaan in the Golden Age. Winner of the 1991 Muay Thai Fighter of the Year, undefeated as a World Champion boxer, he was famed for his pressure fighting. But beneath all that heart were the techniques that make it happen. Here he shows how he likes to pressure, his footwork, the keys to balance, and how hands and knees work together. This is his 3rd session in the Library.

#115 Eagle Den Junlaphan 2 - Boxing Within Muay Thai (66 min) watch it here

WBC World Champion Den Junlaphan teaches boxing for Muay Thai, all the in-fighting and pocket postures and techniques that can make a more complete pressure fighter. This is his second session in the Library. Footwork, keeping your head in, developing continuity, all important for boxing, can translate to Muay Thai as well.

#152 Bangsaen Tor. Kotsan #2 | High Level Ruup & Control Over Space (Boxing & Muay Thai) (57 min) watch it here

Western boxing has had a century long influence on Thailand's Muay Thai, but from the outside it is sometimes hard to see how they come together, and support each other. In our second session with Bangsaen he lays it all out, how beautiful boxing principles when fused with Muay Thai allow a potent control over space, with emphasis on Ruup.

#148 Anantasak Panyuthapum | Boxing, Elbows and The Feet (80 min) watch it here

One of the great elbow and great hands fighters of Muay Thai's Golden Era has been the boxing coach of the Thai National Boxing team for years. We learn from him the foundations of how boxing & elbow attacks go together in Thailand's Muay Thai, and his secrets to his dynamic, aggressive fighting style.

#147 Nungubon Sitlertchai - Explosive Striking & Control Over Space (1 hr, 40 min) watch it here

Visiting Nungubon's gym way out in Ubon Ratchathani Isaan we are able to document his absolutely beautiful muay, both explosive and full of the control over space. Learn his secrets to a fluid, punishing Muay Thai, bringing together the arts of boxing and muay, built on a devotion to shadowboxing. True Golden Age excellence.

#133 Bangsaen Tor. Kotsan - Central Core, Boxing & Muay Thai (85 min) watch it here, podcast here

Just a tremendous session with a great kru of Chor. Hapayak gym, teaching core principles of staying in your frame, fighting and defending out of your center, bringing together the forms of Western Boxing and Thailand's Muay Thai. Reach back into the history of Thailand's Boxing and Muay Thai synthesis.

#95 Wangchannoi Sor. Palangchai #2 - The Secret Powers of a Cool Heart (77 min) watch it here

The first session with one of the best fighters who ever lived was so good we went back right away and filmed a 2nd. This time his fighting style is put into more context, focus on angling off, the differences between boxing and Muay Thai & Wangchannoi's beautiful jumping knees.

and honestly many more, browse the full MTL here.