Muay Thai Promotion Plans for the USA

Published : January 18, 2010 :: 18:01:09 [ 1,057 views ]

The Ministry of Commerce Thailand are making plans to protect the Thai martial arts from being adapted by foreigners and taught abroad.

Pattaya, 18th January 2010 [PDN] The Ministry of Commerce Thailand’s administrator has come forward in a bid to protect the Muay Thai (Thai boxing martial art). He stated that he had noticed that Thai boxing is being taught abroad in a very different way to the unique and authentic way in accordance with the Thai culture.
According to the government, plans for conservation of the art will start with the topping up of the Thai teaching careers abroad and will be represented by the famous Thai star “Ja Panom” (Tony Jaa) in promoting the plans in the USA.

Mr. Alongkorn Phollabut, (The Ministry of Commerce, Thailand Deputy Minister) has revealed that the Thai boxing nowadays has been adapted by foreigners who have directed it away from the authentic martial art as we know it. This may cause the boxing students to misunderstand the Thai culture and to solve this problem, the Muay Thai creative committee will be put in charge of the regulation and conservation of it.

Mr. Phollabut went on to explain that in addition to developing the performance of Thai workers in the field of Muay Thai sport, in this country and abroad, the Mua Thai schools will be advanced with re-standardizing the curriculum.. At the start, Muay Thai school operators and their instructors, both Thai and foreigners will be expected to complete the education curriculum training which will be certificated by Thailand before the start of a business. Also, the ministry will offer support in the expansion of Muay Thai schools abroad. This is expected to bring it up to the same standards as the international Thai establishments that have expanded abroad and will be another way to increase the economic value of Thailand besides the export industry.

Mr. Phollabut continued by saying, around the end of this month he and Tony Jaa will travel to the USA to promote Muay Thai. It had been planned to meet with a Hollywood movie production company for Tony Jaa’s participation in the Hollywood Entertainment community. This will increase understanding in Muay Thai worldwide. They will also consult with the Muay Thai clubs in USA to raise the opinion of plans and development whilst at the same time approving the image of Muay Thai education to be more modern and international. We may organize the Muay Thai training centers which are well known abroad.

According to the foreigners who are interested in studying, the numbers had decreased. In varies schools they do not have Muay Thai instructors, but they provided another kind of martial arts instructors to teach the students ultimate fighting which includes kick boxing, mixing it with the Thai boxing art. This varied very slightly from the original Thai martial arts. For example, they are not taught the master respect dance and the unique postures of Muay Thai including the elbow- knee rising. Moreover, the decision rules have been changed from the original.

Comments

Gary T

said :

As long as traditional Muay Thai is taught in gyms and training camps in Thailand surley that is all that should matter. Any Westerner who wants to learn the pure form of the sport can learn it in its country of orign.
If someone want to learn a hybrid version of the art in a foreign country that is up to them.
We live in a global community and there is enough room for everyone.

Email : garythomson68@blueyonder.co.uk Date : 2010-04-22 18:38:35

Andy A

said :

Khun Phow, unfortunately, I don't posses 'Clou' whatever that is, but I do have a clue... I too agree that Bua Kaw and Yod are excellent fighters; if not gods in modern day Muay Thai and their prowess is not in question, however, unfortunately, their mastery lies in the practical art of Muay Thai and not in it's commercial promotion in languages other than Thai. JWP was suggested because he has mastered the art and also speaks English in layman's terms which is critical if one wants to get through to the English speaking masses.
Furthermore, whilst i accept that a part of Wai Kru pays respect to teachers, ask many fighter whether theirs also thanks Lord Buddha, their families and to empower themselves and I'm sure you will discover that 'thanks' is aimed at wider audience - like many things, morphed to fit modern day thinking and practice. To quote "Mr. Alongkorn Phollabut, (The Ministry of Commerce, Thailand Deputy Minister) has revealed that the Thai boxing nowadays has been adapted by foreigners who have directed it away from the authentic martial art as we know it. This may cause the boxing students to misunderstand the Thai culture and to solve this problem, the Muay Thai creative committee will be put in charge of the regulation and conservation of it." The very essence of Muay Thai has already changed from border combat protecting Thailand frontiers from Khmer, Laotian and Burmese aggressors to a sport fought in a ring for cash.
Let us not stand in the way of progress, there's room enough for 'Traditional' Muay Thai and the Western adaptation. It's incredible that Thailand continues to attempt to copyright and trademark the impossible (Full Moon Party!), when the country is one of the worst flouters.

Email : andy_ankers@hotmail.com Date : 2010-01-19 18:28:28

Phow

said :

Andy A.
Seems you don t have much of a Clou. Tony Jaa is very well known in the west, he did for example ONG BAK and Tom Jam Gung, Ong Bak 2....
ONG BAK 1 was a huge success worldwide. But ,
I don t think he would be the right man for this Job, cause a movie Star is not a fighter.
and John Wayne Parr are you kidding??
He is from Australia...
Obviously the Thais don t wanna have a foreigner to represent there martial Arts.
I would recommend Bua Kaw (very well known fighter in the West or Yodsaenklai.
The Wai Kru is very important for the Sport, it has nothing to do with Religion, it just shows respect to the Teacher.
I think it is stupid from the government to make such a move, but I would understand if the WMC would make such a move.

Email : suwanna.cat12@gmail.com Date : 2010-01-19 09:59:24

Andy A

said :

So the government is poking its nose in to Muay Thai now? Can't help but think that somebody is after a free holiday to the US and some other is keen on self-promotion.

Who is this 'Thai star “Ja Panom” (Tony Jaa). If Muay Thai is to be represented effectively, then used a true ambassador such as 'John' Wayne Parr - the west know who he is, the same can't be said about 'Wannerby Ja'.

Look at Contender Asia for a fine example of how westerners represent Muay Thai.

For the record, many of the practices endured by these extreme fighters are inherently Thai and will always remain so. In the west the extreme schooling required to become an authentic Muay Fighter 'Master' would be against the law; many viewing the training and act as physical child abuse, hence it being watered down.

With regard to 'master respect dance' do you mean Wai Kru? If so, then this too is Thai and relative to the national religion and belief structure that many don't share.

Email : andy_ankers@hotmail.com Date : 2010-01-19 06:41:42

Jimmy

said :

This place is such a joke, what about the Thais copying American movies? no wonder no one takes this place seriously.

Email : dgevaux@yahoo.com Date : 2010-01-18 20:36:04

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