I was looking for latest news to write about today, but I just found this instead. And I think it’s more interesting than news today actually. I just found out from reading an article at muaythai.co.th that on March 17th every year is “Boxer’s Day” or “National Muay Thai Day” or known in Muay Thai world as “Muay Thai Day”.

So here is a little bit of history. On this exact day in 1774, Nai Kanomtom, the greatest Muay Thai fighter at that time defeated 9 or 10 Burmese opponents with his bare hands when he was captured in Myanmar because of Ayutthaya, the capital city of Thailand back then where Nai Kanom Tom lived was invaded by the Burmese and burned down the city.

Before that you should know what his name came from. Nai means “a man”. And “Kanom Tom” means boiled snack or dessert. He was a hawker in the ancient city of Ayutthaya. However he was also trained Muay Thai.

If you have seen “Ong Bak”, you can see how tough Thai boxers were back in that time. They fight till they drop or till the opponents pray for their life. They don’t have gloves to safe themselves and the other fighters, only ropes (bound-fist-boxing). There were rules but no limits, they fought till they counldn’t.

Anyway, back to Nai Kanom Tom, on that day the King of Myanmar wanted to test his own fighters against Thais to see which one is better; Thai boxing or Burmese boxing. Nai Kanom Tom was chosen to represent the Thais. He fought and defeated 9-10 (according to Wikipedia) opponents.

Of course the King was shock and impressed. He offered him 2 choices of rewards, Money or 2 wives. He chose wives as he thought that money was much easier for him to find. After that he and other Thai prisoners were set free and returned to Thailand as a hero.

Until today, the name of Nai Kanom Tom’s still told and passed on generation to generation as Muay Thai still lives. And March 17th is celebrated “Muay Thai Day” for his feat in his honor and for Muay Thai.

Hello! We’re back again, just like every week with another Muay Thai Gym. “Eminent Air Thai Boxing Gym” is the name of this gym. It was founded in 1997 by Mr. Somboon Niruttimetee or “Attorney Toy”, a Thai boxing promoter at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, Thailand.

Thai Boxing Eminent Air Gym is one of the principal Thai boxing gyms in Thailand. Classes are now opened for foreigners and whoever interested in learning Muay Thai. There are 6 professional trainers here who are highly experienced for Thai Boxing and teaching Muay Thai classes abroad. Every course is privately watched by the masters.

Just like almost every gym, here also provides accommodation. Additionally the gym is right in the city but surrounded by green. This school offer both long term program and daily program. So those are the choices for you to pick.

Training schedule here doesn’t seem so hard. From what I see, the day starts at 6.30 am with warm up and ends at 6 pm. And the price is not that expensive comparing to those well-known gyms. One day course is only 500 baht. That’s the cheapest I guess I’ve seen so far for one day training.

For more info, you can log on to its website, where you can find out more interesting stuff about this gym, such as galleries, training schedule, trainers and boxers, VDO clips, etc. So right now you can give it a quick look at www.eminentgym.com

And for contact information, you can find it also in the site or you can contact Mr. Somboon (The Owner of Eminent Air Boxing Gym) directly Tel. +66-81-802-6332.

If you regularly check out our MuayThaiArt.com/weblog, you would know that we are actually here everyday introducing you lots of thing about Muay Thai and Thailand. So come back again tomorrow and see what we’ll be showing you!

Last summer on the way to Chiengmai, I stopped at Lampang and visited the National Elephant Institute. It was really a nice place to visit. It is the largest Thai elephants conserving center with good standard for domestic elephant care.

There are also tourism activities, such as, elephant show, homestay, elephant riding, trekking, and the funniest one, training to ride elephant. The elephant show is scheduled 7 days a week. And the ticket is freaking cheap. The riding is also interested but I didn’t try it last time. Next time I won’t miss it for sure.

The place won Thailand Tourism Awards for the best natural tourist spot. Today it is also a school for those who want to learn more about elephants. The students will be closed to those smart and friendly elephants and live with Thai Homestay where you will experience Thai northern life style. It’s only 10-day course that really worth the time. It’s might be your only opportunity to be that close to elephants and get to know them and learn how to take care of them.
pictures from www.thailandelephant.org

If you’re interested in the course, for more information like the cost and the schedule each day log on to the official website of this institute at www.thailandelephant.org.

What I love about the place is besides being a home, a school for those kindest big animals; it is a hospital for sick or injured elephants and a nursery for the young ones. There I realized how badly those poor things had been treated. But from now on they will have a much better life.

If you get a chance to go to the north of Thailand, don’t forget to take a quick stop and visit this elephant institute. You will fall in love with those lovely elephants. It might be the only chance to get this close to the biggest animal on land.

Last week I was talking about how to choose and buy hand wraps. They are important gears you need for this sport to protect your main body weapons, your hands. Knowing how to wrap them properly is also essential. Because if you do it wrong, it will cause you more injury, not keep you from it.

So I decide to write this step by step so you can follow easily. Bear in mind that there are other methods to wrap your hands also. You can choose the one most convenient for you.

First hold your hand out, face it down and relaxingly spread out your fingers. Start by placing the thumb loop around your thumb. Make sure which side is up and down, some wraps have direction written on it. And do not twist the wrap during the process. Then wrap it across the back of your hand and go around your wrist a couple times high enough to support your wrist well. Make sure you’re not doing it too tight to blog your blood circulation.

After that bring it across the back of your hand and go around your palm and then around your knuckles a few time. From the knuckles, cross the back of your hand to wrap around your wrist again making “X”. Repeat the “X” a few more times.

From your wrist, now it’s time to start wrapping around each finger, starting with the thumb. Wrap around your thumb and go on top of the back of your hand again to your wrist and go around your wrist. Repeat that one more time before you do the same with the rest of the fingers. Index, middle, ring and pinky.

Then from your wrist again wrap around your knuckles. Finish this by wrapping your wrist and fasten your wrap’s hook.

If it’s your first time you will see whether the wrap is too long or short. Alternate the times you wrap around your hand in some steps. To make sure you wrap it good, you must feel it comfortable and secure, not too tight or too loose.

The first time might seem hard. But just a few practices you will get used to it and you can do it without thinking. Keep practicing!

A couple days ago I read news of once famous Muay Thai boxer. I don’t wanna put his name here, since it was no good news and he was such a great fighter. Anyway he was arrested for dealing drugs. That made me thinking. I want to know what all those many boxers do once they stop being in the rings.

The person I’m gonna talk about today also once a famous Muay Thai fighter. He was a WBA Flyweight Champion from Feb 13 1994 to Nov 24 1996. Only two years of glory and money. IMO, that’s quite a short time. After that his life got worse and never gets any better. His name is Saen Sor Ploenchit.

Saen Sor Ploenchit picture from Wikipedia

Unluckily he didn’t save much money for his future. After he lost his WBA Flyweight Champion, his career seemed to end. He didn’t get much chance to fight in big match anymore. Until one day he himself decided to end his boxing career.

Who knows that once being a great boxing champion, one day Saen Sor Ploenchit had to earn money by staring in some music videos? Today his life is getting better now I believe. Since an owner of Muay Thai gym heard about him and wanted to help by offering him a job as a trainer at his gym.

I know that many Thai boxing fighters don’t have good ending for their lives. At least Saen Sor Ploenchit didn’t end his life by throwing himself in jail like the one I read about in the news. One thing it was their fault that they didn’t plan to save money for the future but the other reason might be because Thai government doesn’t support professional Muay Thai boxer as a career. Once they stop fighting, there goes their money. I hope one day the government will take an eye on these great people that at least once bring honor to the country.