Wangchannoi Sor Palangchai #1 - Deadly Step Counter Fighting (72 min) (Patreon)

Wangchannoi was known as "Little Chivas," a nickname he got for his tendency to party after his fights. The year he became Fighter of the Year in 1993, his nickname changed to "Mr. 33 Second Punch," for his 33 second KO of Namkabuan Nongkheepahuyut in the opening round of their fight. Wangchannoi was Lumpinee Stadium Champion at 2 weights, but a 5x Champion, at 118 lb and 4x at 122 lb. That 122 lb category was stacked and Wangchannoi fought everybody and beat most. He is, famously, the very last man in the ring with Samart Payakaroon's retirement fight.

I get excited to learn from most of the Legends we film with in the Muay Thai Library, but there are a handful that I get downright nervous to even meet. Wangchannoi is one of them. He's one of the most-requested persons from patrons asking me to film with so-and-so for the Library and there is a hardcore, STAN-level group of fans (including myself) who are stoked to finally have this footage. I've been trying for a few years, years, to get Wangchannoi in the Library and he had proven difficult to arrange. He's like the "snow leopard" of the Legends. And the wait was worth it. And my nervousness was simultaneously qualmed by how sweet he is, and absolutely warranted by how scary he is at moments. 

After I filmed with him I was trying to describe to my mom why Wangchannoi's particular flavor of masculinity makes me so nervous. It's kinda like this: some men are very scary because they've learned how to mask their own fear with intimidation; they do it really well. They're very intimidating. We have some of those in the Library, and they are truly scary. Wangchannoi doesn't threaten or intimidate as a mode of dominating an opponent; he doesn't mask his fear by hurting his opponent. Instead, to me, it's more like that intensely confident man who strides into the saloon and slaps a loaded gun onto the center of the table and just stares at you. Violence is happening; pain is happening; death is probably happening... and it can be either of us. Let's dance.

Things to Look Out For:

1) Step: step on every. single. strike. All of them. The way Wangchannoi steps forward is like stepping off a curb, his whole weight coming forward - sometimes quite long - but his balance of his head stays over his hip and shoulder. He never dives his head beyond his foot, he always has total control. 

2) The head comes forward: on a jab or a cross, your head is coming forward (although not ever beyond the foot) but it's straight. He's like a f***ing Rail Gun, or a Speed Train on a single track. He shows me how not to let your head go side to side and break your frame - that kills your power - and don't squat into your legs - that also kills your power. From my own physical experience of it, the times he seemed happiest with my cross (which is the one I bend my arm on the most) were when my right shoulder touched my right jaw and my head stayed straight, straight, straight.

Kevin made this graphic of Wangchannoi's step, as to points 1 and 2.

3) Block with your elbows: I like this. A few others have taught it in the Library, including Samson Isaan, Sagat, and Yodkhunpon. 

4) Off-Balance or Sia Lak: this is Wangchannoi's whole tactic boiled down to one, over-simplified but never over-valued strategy: ruin your opponent's balance. He does this with power, for instance punching through someone so that their counter kick is spoiled and so that his second attack is ensured. He also does this beautifully when he catches a teep and pushes, pulls, pushes again to knock you back and then kicks your head off.

5) Target the Neck: this was my favorite thing he taught me. Several Library sessions have knee fighters explaining why you target the ribs with knees: because the center of the body has abs, and muscles are protective. Wangchannoi takes this to the head. The top of the head is bone, it hurts, don't bother hitting that. The jaw has nerves which can cause a knock out if you hit it "on the button," but you can tuck the chin and clench the jaw. The neck... the neck has all the nerves and all the weakness of a slack jaw. Punch the hell out of that, target that all the time. Jesus, he's so scary.

6) Counter, or Jang-wa Song: Wangchannoi is very well-rounded, fought beautifully, was scary and had beautiful technique... but he would slap you if you classified him as a "Femeu" fighter. He comes forward, he's pressuring and knocking his opponents back. He stays close. But he emphasized to me that you let your opponent go first and you wait. "Be slow, jai yen yen, but hit hard," he said. Watch the times he shows me this. There are a few on the pads, but mostly it's the bag and shadow segments.

7) The Order of Things: according to Wangchannoi's fight narrative, rounds 1 and 2 are for lower strikes: body punches, leg kicks. Stuff to hurt your opponent and tire them out. Make them slow. Rounds 3-5 are for scoring.

Edited stills from the session:

Fighters of the Year

This is the 13th Fighter of the Year who has been documented in the Muay Thai Library Project. Check out the others:

Singdam  (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 

Wangchannoi (1993):  #93 Wangchannoi Palangchai - Deadly Step Counter Fighting (72 min) - this post

Jaroensap (1992): #91 Jaroensap Kiatbanchong - Silky Power (63 min) watch it here 

Samson (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 

If you enjoyed this session, here are related sessions either mentioned in the commentary or were on similar themes:

 #88 Samransak Muangsurin - Muay Maat Legend Keys to Powerful Hands (61 min) watch it here 

Samransak was nothing if not thunderous as a fighter in the Golden Age. He threw with serious, heavy hands and just brutalized his opponents. He teaches the basics of his Muay Maat style, how he brought boxing into the ring to massive effect. One of the all time legends of the sport.

#74 Samson Isaan 2 - Muay Khao & Western Boxing Excellence (59 min) watch it here 

In 1991 there was no fighter more of a force than Samson Isaan, who took Fighter of the Year then. His relentless style combining Muay Maat punching aggression with Knee Fighting pressure and clinch made him a wrecking ball. In this session discover what made this little fighter so impossible to handle.

#29 Pornsanae Sitmonchai - The Power of Hooks & Low Kicks (74 min) watch it here 

A whole system of low kick and hook attacks is taught in this one session. Rajadamnren and 2x Lumpinee Champion Pornsanae is known for his brutal power fighting and this is how he gets it done. Cutting angles, lead arm control, invading space. Pornsanae teaches his philosophy. 

#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. 

#33 Kru San Sitmonchai - Control of Pace & Distance when Advancing  (56 min) watch it here 

Kru San is a big man but has incredible muay, a lightness to his movement that he transforms into a jai yen advancing Muay Thai style. In this session it's all about. Creating pressure without rushing, using the teep to set up combinations to the body and head, raising ring awareness, and using weapons at the appropriate time in your opponent's fatigue.

#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.

Photos taken by Kevin while filming: