Padejseuk Pitsanurachan - Old School Greatness (67 min) (Patreon)

Arjan Padejseuk is a wonderful entry into the Library, really special for me personally. He's a Silver/Golden Age fighter, won Fighter of the Year in 1979, and is one of only a few of fighters ever to defeat Dieselnoi in his prime (Wichannoi, Kaopong & Padejseuk). He was an adroit elbow fighter from that time, although as a well-rounded fighter rather than a specialist. His name means to "finish off an enemy in battle," and one of the greater things that the Preserve the Legacy Project aims to accomplish is archiving not only the fast-disappearing technique of Muay Thai's Golden Age, but also documenting these men. You get a real focused picture of who Padejseuk is in this session. He's so excited, he's laughing and eager to tell stories of the fighters he faced and the experiences he had in the ring. He's really wonderful. 

above, a photo of Dieselnoi's manager Klaew, surrounded by angry gamblers after Dieselnoi suffered a stoppage by cut at the hands of Padejseuk.

We have an interview with him coming, so that's exciting too.

Some Things to Look Out For:

1) Everything from the Front Leg: Arjan doesn't bother with his back leg for much, but rather blocks, interrupts, and off-balances with his front leg in order to set up for a power kick with his back leg. He says unless he's facing a Southpaw he rarely blocks with the back leg at all.

2) Stand Your Ground and Cut Angles: Padejseuk would move around a lot in the later rounds, if he was already winning, to evade his opponent and keep his lead. But not in a dancing-off kind of way. Most of the fight he preferred to stand his ground and watch his opponent's habits, weapons, rhythms, and spoil those. He cuts angles in a really beautiful, tight manner, to land his strikes on an approaching fighter.

3) Cut Angles and Cut the Legs: if you have to come forward, especially on tall fighters, cutting off the ring and going after the legs is a must.

4) Timing Muay Khao: to fight knee fighters, you time their knees and he shows a few techniques for throwing them, tripping them, or otherwise spoiling their clinch knees.

5) The Famous Elbow: Arjan shows the elbow he used to cut Wichannoi, Khaopong, and Dieselnoi.

6) How to Start from Nothing: Arjan spends some time detailing sets of punches, elbows and then a choreographed set of strikes that he learned when he was just starting, and how to extend and use side-to-side for power, and the legs on long uppercuts. They look like Sagat's Tiger Uppercut, but more leg dip.

There's a lot of talking in this session, but for me that's a wonderful thing because you really get to see Padejseuk's personality and excitement. Watch his movements all the time and you'll pick up a lot that's being demonstrated without directly taught. There's tons in this session that's really beautiful, even if not outright broken down all the time. And enjoy the joy for Muay Thai that lasts forever.

above, even though Padejseuk is so joyful and generous in this session, Kevin shot this portrait of his more serious side. 

Stills from the session edited by Kevin to give a feel for what it was like:

The last two photos is of Padejseuk looking at the photo of him being granted the King's Fighter of the Year by the Prince. 

If you enjoyed this session here are related sessions you may enjoy:

#78 Kru Ali Phet Kalim - Old School Forgotten Principles (64 min) watch it here 

Kru is like a time capsule. He teaches the Muay Thai of a bygone era perched on a cliff edge in his gym in Phuket. He insists that fighters and teachers of today have forgotten important principles, and he show them in this prescious session. Unique blocks and clinch tactics from his generation. 

The Muay Thai Library project has now documented the muay of 12 Fighters of the Year, you can check them all out here:

#65 Namsaknoi Yudthagarngamtorn - Sharking The Angles (67 min) watch it here 

The Emperor. Fighter of the Year in 1996 and 6 years undefeated as Lumpinee Champion, one of the greatest fighters ever teaches his incredible edge-attacking style. He shows how he is always one step ahead of his opponent, setting them up in a constantly evolving attack.

#76 Dieselnoi Chor Thanasukarn 4 - How to Fight Tall (69 min) watch it here 

There several sessions with the King of Knees in the Muay Thai Library, this is the fourth, but this is the first one where he gets the chance to teach a tall, long fighter like he was. If you are a tall fighter this is the session you don't want to miss. He is arguably the GOAT, an in this session he unfolds his entire fighting system of knee fighting pressure and distance control.

With the edition of Padejseuk there are now 12 Fighters of the Year documented in the Muay Thai Library, you can see them all here:

12 Fighters of the Year in the Library:

Singdam Kiatmoo9 (2002):  #22 Singdam Kiatmoo9 - Making the Basics Beautiful (71 min) watch it here 

Naksaknoi (1996):  #65 Namsaknoi Yudthagarngamtorn - Sharking The Angles (67 min) watch it here  and  #73  Namsaknoi Yudthagarngamtorn 2 - Overcoming Distance (61 min) watch it here 

Jaroensap (1992):  Jaroensap Kiatbanchong - Silky Power (63 min) watch it here 

Samson Isaan (1991):  #41  Samson Isaan - The Art of Dern Fighting (64 min) watch it here  and   Samson Isaan 2 - Muay Khao & Western Boxing Excellence (59 min) watch it here 

Kaensak (1989, 1990):  #24 Kaensak Sor. Ploenjit - Explosive Defense (55 min) watch it here 

Samart (1981, 1983, 1988):  #34 Samart Payakaroon - Balance, Balance, Balance! (81 min) watch it here 

Langsuan (1987):  #45 Langsuan Panyutapum - Monster Muay Khao Training (66 min) watch it here 

Chamuakphet (1985):  #49 Chamuakpet Hapalang - Devastating Knee in Combination (66 min) watch it here  #81  Chamuakpet Hapalang 2 - Muay Khao Internal Attacks (65 min) watch it here 

Kongtoranee (1978, 1984):  #37 Kongtoranee Payakaroon - Power In The Hands (89 min) watch it here 

Dieselnoi (1982):  #48 Dieselnoi Chor. Thanasukarn - Jam Session (80 min) watch it here  AND  #30 Dieselnoi Chor Thanasukarn 2 - Muay Khao Craft  (42 min) watch it here  AND  #3 Dieselnoi  Chor Thanasukarn  - The King of Knees (54 min) - watch it here #76 Dieselnoi Chor Thanasukarn 4 - How to Fight Tall (69 min) watch it here 

Padejseuk (1979): Padejseuk Pitsanurachan - Old School Greatness (67 min) watch it here 

Sirimongkol (1972):  #54 The Late Sirimongkol and Lertrit Master General Tunwakom (81 min) watch it here