Robert "Sifu" McInnes - Muay Thai and Shorin Kempo (82 mins) (Patreon)

If you have questions or thoughts about this session, or any of the others, with the help of patron support we've created a new Patreon Muay Thai Library forum where in-depth discussion can be had, check it out: Patreon Muay Thai Library Forum 

It's rare that I include a westerner in the Library. So far the only other time was Andy Thomson, who had been living and teaching in Northern Thailand for over 20 years, leaving an indelible mark on the sport. Sifu is very much in the same line, part of the fabric and history of Thailand's Muay Thai.

Sifu has been in Thailand since the Golden Age of Muay Thai. He was in Pattaya (Central-Eastern, below Bangkok) and closely associated with Sityodthong Gym when it was churning out champions like nowhere else. He helped train big names, was good friends with Master Yodthong (Kru Tui), drove frequently with him to Lumpinee in Bangkok - a trip which took 4 hours because the highway didn't exist yet (it's 1.5 - 2 hours now), and even had the honor of entering the Lumpinee ring as a referee for fights. Something I've never seen any other westerner do.

This is all just to say that Sifu holds a unique place in the world of Muay Thai, bridging not only the Golden Age to the modern age, but also as a westerner within the Thai world of Muay Thai. Sifu took care of Dekkers during some of his later years in Thailand and is still very close with Yodsanan, who is also in the Library. He's been a teacher all this time, which means his style and theories on technique have evolved along with the living world of Muay Thai. 

As a note to those who question his "Sifu" nickname, as invariably happens, his martial arts history began with the study of Kung Fu (hence, Sifu), and then expanded to Muay Thai and western boxing (he helped develop Yodsanan into a World Champion), and now in the last decade or so has focused on Shorin Kempo, a full contact branch of Karate. He's the president of the World Kumite Organization and he is part of large Karate combat promotions in Japan, which his son Junior fights in at a high level. So in this session you get an amalgam of Golden Age Muay Thai (he was a trainer to Sakmongkol in the last decade of his fighting), Dutch Kickboxing (Sifu trained Peter Aerts for long stretches, and others), western boxing (Yodsanan) and full contact Karate. He is living Mixed Martial arts in the older, truer sense.

This session is special for a number of reasons. One of which is that Sifu tells a lot of stories of what it was like back in the day, who was the strongest, what teachers were the best. He also speaks English the whole time (except to his son, Junior, who is half-Thai and was raised here in Pattaya), but more so than it being English is that Sifu thinks a great deal about how and why he does anything the way he does it, and elaborates on it. So, I'm not doing any translating, so much as letting Sifu speak for himself and filling in some gaps with my voiceover in terms of what I was experiencing in trying to do what he was asking of me.

Some things to look out for:

1) Switching Stance: this is certainly an influence from Sifu's experience in Karate, but the way he reasons when to switch stance and how to use it effectively is really interesting. You'd see far more switching back in the Golden Age, and though the footwork and movement that Sifu uses for the drill is more directly Karate, the importance of balance and timing is 100% applicable to Muay Thai.

2) Upper and Lower Body Coordination: I struggled with my punches working with my feet, so Sifu puts me on a pair of basketballs and makes me punch a pillar, which grounds you like you wouldn't believe. Forcing your legs to balance while your arms are swinging is brilliant. And exhausting.

3) Distance, 30 cm: Sifu believes that the range of focus is 30 cm and that any opponent (and yourself from your opponent) will stand 30 cm away from the closest object. So, if you put your hand out in front of you like a feeler, the opponent's focus is 30 cm from that. If you keep it on your own head, they're 30 cm closer.

4) Footwork: everything comes from good footwork, because that's where balance, rhythm and movement come from. Strike and get out of the way, but not meaninglessly. Get your opponent's eyes to close, then when they open them again you're somewhere else.

5) Greatest Impact Leg Kicks: getting your opponent's weight off their leg for the leg kick makes it much nastier. If you can get someone leaning back and then tag that front leg, way harder to deal with than if their weight is on it and the muscle is tense.

6) Separating Muscle in Body Shots: Sifu has me throwing some body digs and tells me to slightly change the angle between the two. Hitting the exact same spot 2x in a row is hard, but also your technique won't be right. A very slight change in the angle increases the impact of the second punch.

Sifu acting as referee at Lumpinee Stadium  back in 1994. He says he thinks this fight was Cherry vs Nampol

Sifu in his Lumpinee Official uniform.

From left: Ishi  (founder of K1), Songchai Ratanasuban (top promoter of the Golden Age, as well as now), and Sifu

Sifu conducting a post-fight interview with the winner after a title fight.

Some of the western top-dogs who trained with Sifu (far right) at ISS/Sityodthong back in 2003. Peter Aerts among them.

The ISS facilities, next to Sityodthing. Big name Kickboxers:  Nick Talakurous former world champ, and Stan the Man  Longinidis, Jougen Khurts , and Yodsanan 

Yodsanan Sityodthong, Junior and Sifu

Master Yodthong (Kru Tui) awarding Sifu an honorific with this Mongkol, 1 year before he passed.

Sifu receiving recognition from the (then) Prince of Thailand (now the current King)

Sifu receiving recognition in Thai newspapers, a couple decades apart.

Some Historic Video:

Sifu with Dekkers - watch it here 

Ramon Dekkers holding pads for Junior  - watch it here 

Sifu holding for Pedro Rizzo - watch it here 

 If you have questions or thoughts about this session, or any of the others, with the help of patron support we've created a new Patreon Muay Thai Library forum where in-depth discussion can be had, check it out: Patreon Muay Thai Library Forum  

Related Library sessions you might enjoy:

#12 Andy Thomson - Mad Scientist of Muay Thai  (56 min) watch it here 

Andy is absolutely unique in the lore of Thailand Muay Thai. An instructor for more than 2 decades, a mentor to so many, he innovatively teaches a Muay Thai emphasizing symmetry, strength, balance and explosiveness, expanding what the body can do under duress, holding pads like no others do.

#35 Yodsanan Sityodtong - Southpaw Tactics & Power (86 min) watch it here 

One of the biggest Knock Out artists Thailand has ever produced (46 KOs in 57 boxing wins), PABA and WBA World Champion Yodsanan teaches both the secrets to his devastating hook and a slick Muay Thai style from the left side.

#54 The Late Sirimongkol and Lertrit Master General Tunwakom (81 min) watch it here 

This session is a big part of what the Muay Thai Library project is all about. It's likely the last substantive video of the 1972 Fighter of the Year Sirimonkol Looksiripat, including a lengthy interview telling of his remarkable career. He also goes through the basics of his southpaw fighting approach. As an added bonus, Muay Lertrit (military Muay Thai) master General Tunwakom jumps in and teaches the unique strikes of his art. 

#36 General Tunwakom - Lertrit Military Muay (46 min) watch it here 

General Tunwakom is the last living direct student of the grandmaster who developed this Lertrit/Muay Khorat military style of fighting, designed to end exchanges quickly. Much can be learned from the foundations of these techniques, and these are definitely techniques that could be effective in the ring with proper timing.

#32 Visiting with Arjan Prahmod and Golden Age Nongkipahuyut Gym  (26 min) watch it here 

Not the usual Muay Thai Library session, but a treat for those who love historic Muay Thai. Arjan Prahmod created the 2nd most champions in the Golden Age after Arjan Yodtong, and all of them came out of the famed Nongkipahuyut gym in Nongki, Thailand. In this session Arjan along with a prized student shows techniques that not only won big stadium belt, but are more more rare these days. I also walk through the gym's Hall of Fame room. 

#37 Kongtoranee Payakaroon - Power In The Hands (89 min) watch it here 

5x Lumpinee Champion, 2x Fighter of the Year, Kongtoranee teaches the fundamental grounding of strikes that made him one of the most feared heavy-handed fighters in Thailand. Such economy of movement expresses the true beauty in his style, quite different than - but no less admirable - that of his young brother Samart. 

#43  Kongsamut Sor. Thanikul - Muay Mat Style (74 min) watch it here

This Lumpinee champion is perhaps most notable for when he lost a fight for the 102 lb Lumpinee belt, against famed Samart. Samart winning his first belt of many. Kongsamut has a beautiful Muay Mat (punchers) style that he mixes with low kicks, very differently than the Pornsanae style. He fights in close, and is constantly twisting, hitting high and low. Any Muay Thai puncher would benefit from the principles in his style.  

#6 Namkabuan Nongkipahuyut - Explosive Attack (28 min) watch it here 

 266 wins, 15 losses, 2 draws.  Namkabuan may be the best fighter I've ever seen, and it was an intense privledge to train with him. I can honestly say that it changed me as a fighter, inspiring to become more. He combines Muay Khao fighting with technical precision and explosive energy. The knee he teaches in this session is really like no other I've seen, like it is shot out of a cannon.