Big Trip To Isaan, What's Coming To the Library: Nungubon, Lamnammoon, Santi Gym, Anantasak, Chatchai Sasakul (Patreon)

my vlog about the trip is above. This is part of my Sylvie Run Cast series where I talk about all things Muay Thai on my runs. You can watch the series on YouTube, here is the Playlist.

We just got back from a big trip to Ubon Ratchathani in Isaan to film for the Muay Thai Library project, so this is a bit of a heads up on what is coming! We filmed for the first time with Nungubon, a great very decorated fighter of the Golden Age (one of the very few to have fought both Karuhat & Saenchai in their primes - we ask him to compare them!), and one of three that we filmed with with Western Boxing roots, integrateable into Muay Thai. We also filmed our second session with the Muay Khao legend Lamnammoon (the first session is linked below), digging into even more details about his unique style, something I personally really love. And the third thing we did was go to the the Santi Boxing Gym in Ubon Ratchathani and train with the camp, filming how they train and capture the whole atmosphere of what real, grassroots Muay Thai is like in Thailand. These small provincial gyms have been disappearing and are hard to find. We really wanted to capture their Muay for the Library.

On the way back home we swung through Saraburi and filmed with Anantasak at the Nation Boxing Sports Center where he is the coach of the Thai National Boxing Team. It's a real privledge and pleasure to be adding him in the Library, our 18th (!) FOTY. He was known for his potent, beautiful hands as a Muay Thai fighter, and his elbows, and he teaches the principles of each.

And then we ended our trip with the incredible Chatchai Sasakul, who we have filmed with many times. He is one of the all time favorites of patrons of the MTL, the best boxing coach in Thailand. He teaches a life-changing awareness of weight transfer that not only founds beautiful boxing, but also Muay Thai. He opened a brand new gym above Bangkok, Thai Payak. Its a great session, as I haven't seen him in 3 years, and through a lot of what I've learned since then I'm able to bring out more of his teaching, at an even deeper level.

Here are some of Kevin's photos of the 5 new sessions coming. You can follow his edits as he completes them in his photography Facebook Group. He posts as he goes. And as always you can follow the Muay Thai Library on Instagram where I share lots of historical photographs of legends and great fighters of the past, and what's happening with them now.

above, Chatchai Sasakul, WBC World Boxing Champion, 2x Coach of the Year, Golden Age Muay Thai fighter

above, Nungubon Sitlerchai, legend of the sport, 4x Lumpinee Champion, PABA boxing champion

above, Lamnammoon Sor. Sumalee, Muay Khao legend, 4x Lumpinee Champion, Rajadamnern Champion

 above, the training of a true kaimuay (traditional Muay Thai camp) in Ubon Ratchathani, Santi Boxing Camp

above, Anantasak Panyuthaphum, Omnoi Champion, Izuzu Cup Champion, WMC Champion, 1997 Muay Thai Fighter of the Year, PABA Boxing Champion, current coach of the Thai National Boxing Team Coach

If you'd like to brush up on Lamnammoon and Chatchai for the coming sessions here are the links:

#136 Lamnammoon Sor. Sumalee | Relentless, Spearing, Ripping Muay Khao (92 mins) watch it here or podcast here

In this special sessions one of the great legends of Muay Khao, Mr. Vampire Knees, Lamanmmoon teaches his very particular spearing and attacking Knee Fighting style. He came out of the teaching tree of the famed Hapalang gym, and developed a relentless, quick burst, smothering style. A must watch for any knee fighting enthusiast.

#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.

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

Chatchai is not only a former WBC world champion, he also is the recipient of Thailand's Coach of the Year. He is one of the great striking coaches in the world, and in this session he breaks down all the basics from the footwork on up. Nobody has a more beautiful and potent hands foundation. Watch and learn from a master.

#14 Chatchai Sasakul 1 - Perfecting Hands (106 min) watch it here

Former WBC world boxing champion at Flyweight, and winner of Best Coach of the Year in Thailand, Chatchai in this nearly 2 hours of video makes micro adjustment after micro adjustment, honing in pristine technique in the basic strikes of boxing, for use in Muay Thai. It's all about weight transfer.

you can browse the whole Muay Thai Library project here.

As always thank you to all our patrons who make these kinds of documentary trips possible, as we seek to archive the legendary Muay Thai of Thailand and the amazing men that created it.