Tepniramit Sitsamnao | Defend and Punish: Old School Pattaya Muay (75 min) (Patreon)

Tepniramit is a very cool entry to the Library, and sessions like this are a big part of what our documentary project is about. We have entries with absolute Legends, the best of the best fighters of all time (the legends tag is here), but we also find it really important to include the "local legacy" and pedagogy of Krus who have spent their entire lives in Muay Thai, developing their muay, training kids into champions. Arjan Tepniramit is just such a man. He's part of the Klinmee family progeny, including famous champions like Tappaya Sit Or., Yokthai Sit Or. , Somdet Sit Or. (Rambaa Somdet M-16), and Sudsakorn Sor. Klinmee. Pattaya has a (well-earned) reputation as a party spot for westerners, but it's also an old-town fishing village carved out of the jungle of Chonburi and the elite Muay Thai roots of Pattaya muay go way, way back. Two of the most famous fighters of all time are the "Tiger Brothers," Samart and Kongthoranee Payakaroon, who grew up fighting and training in Pattaya. Because Pattaya was such a small town back then, almost anyone from that Golden Age grew up together, fighting at the local stadia before fighting at the Bangkok stadia and on TV. There's a wonderful "bonus track" to this session which is Rambaa and Tepniramit telling me about this legacy of Muay Thai local to Pattaya. It's incredible. It's what Preserve the Legacy is all about. This stuff is easily lost, even though it's just reminiscing about growing up for the men who lived it. And here in this session we have a least a broad outline of his muay, which impacted so many fighters in the family tree, documented. 

Tepniramit is 59 years old at the time we shot this video. He's Rambaa's uncle (younger brother to Rambaa's father) and was Rambaa's teacher from the time he was 6 years old until he moved to Japan in his 20s (to become Thailand's first MMA world champion, after a successful stadium career in Bangkok). You can definitely see where Rambaa got much of his style, and because Tepniramit also trained Tappaya and Yokthai, other great fighters of the family, his insistence that everyone at his gym had good boxing and elbows is proven in their ringcraft and careers. I loved, loved, how Arjan emphasized the importance of "dong glaa," being brave, but also puts a lot of effort into showing me how you train this. The way he smashes back into my strikes with his pads is something many, many coaches and padholders will tell you is verboten, but it serves a purpose and he's been achieving its end for 40 years. Your forcing your fighter to stay in, to be brave, to have confidence even when they're being snuffed and pounded. Defense first, then destroy on the counter. To this day young fighters coming out of Rambaa's gym are known for their toughness.

To get even more out of this session, in the voiceover I reference a few other sessions, so you can find these in the Muay Thai Library (they are linked at bottom):

Wangchannoi Sor. Palangchai was Fighter of the Year in 1993 and 4x Lumpinee Champion. He had many "alias" nicknames in his career, but the "Mr. 33 Second Punch" moniker was earned by knocking out fellow Legend, Namkabuan Nongkeepahuyut in just 33 seconds of round 1. Wangchannoi's sessions focus a great deal on stepping on every strike to deliver power, as well as off-balancing an opponent before striking in order to ensure greatest impact. I reference him in this session because of his padholding style, which accomplishes the same stay-in-and-have-no-fear power that Arjan Tepniramit is after as well. They both have a "chon" ethic in training fighters.

"Rambaa" Somdet Sit Or. or Rambaa M-16 was Thailand's first MMA World Champion, but he was also a very memorable late-Golden Age fighter. His fight name was Somdet and he's local to Pattaya, but the "alias" Rambaa was given to him for reasons that any footage of him from that time, at all, explains for itself. The name literally translates to "lunatic," and that's his personality and style in the ring. He's Tepniramit's nephew and was Arjan's student since the age of 6, so it makes sense to see Rambaa's style in Kru Tepniramit.  Rambaa developed the stinging, tempo-setting low kicks and elbow counters in his own personal style.

Sagat Petchyindee and Samson Isaan are both referenced as Legends who use elbows to block punches. It's a passing reference just to give examples to corroborate the use of elbows as guards, but you can see this being taught in their sessions in the Muay Thai Library as well. Sagat was known as the "King of KO" in his day, a heavy handed puncher who got a world title shot after only 3 (three!) professional Western Boxing fights. He's the name and inspiration for the Street Fighter character and is probably the best private session in all of Thailand. Samson Isaan was also a great puncher, although his style was Muay Khao. He went on to have a career in Western Boxing, where he was undefeated 40 or so professional fights with almost all KOs. He was Fighter of the Year in 1991.

 Chamuakpet Hapalang is referenced for the super high, vertical knees. Chamuakpet's "alias" was "Mr. Computer Knee" and "Evergreen," the latter of which was his last nickname because he fought for so long with so much success. He was Fighter of the Year in 1987 and in his two sessions in the Muay Thai Library he teaches this high knee, which is essentially an uppercut... but with your knee.

Jaroensap Kiatbanchang was Fighter of the Year in 1992. I reference him because of the punching pattern he employs on the pads, which was somewhat revelatory to me in the session we filmed with him for the Muay Thai Library. He's very well-rounded, it's a solid session for any style.

Yodwicha (3), Fighter of the Year at only 16 years old in 2012, is one of the few contemporary Muay Khao fighters. His sessions focus on clinch, locks, knees and punching and are excellent. I reference him in this session  because of the "ethic" more or less that he talks about in terms of "so long as I have good defense, I never have to be scared of anything." It's what Arjan Tepniramit keeps reiterating about staying close and being brave; if you have a solid block/guard, you can stay in and kill anyone.

What to Look Out For in this session: 

1) Front Side is 3:1 - the jab, teep, stinging leg kicks, all front side attacks are 3:1 in ratio to the power side attack. Get the opponent worried about the legs to attack the head, or guarding up top and forgetting their legs for a good ol' chop.

2) Elbow Counters - I love this. I LOVE this. Arjan Tepniramit makes a big deal about being brave or "dong glaa" as a means of staying in, blocking punches in order to return with elbows. He shows how to wait out a set of punches and return with elbows, as well as just not waiting at all and blocking or parrying a block and elbowing to the open side simultaneously. He likes that as a counter to knee fighters as well.

3) Blocking With Elbows - this isn't directly instructed but it's illustrated and then we talk about it for a while. Watch Arjan's rear arm as it covers his chin with his elbow and the middle of his face with his forearm. It's beautiful. It's effective and efficient. 

4) Psychological Warfare - this is a rule of anticipation. If you're winning in round 5, you know your opponent has to come forward and so you anticipate what their strikes are. Or, you teep their face to piss them off and then you know they're coming forward and not thinking, so you punish that. 

5) Long Punches - just like Wangchannoi, Arjan insists that boxing for Muay Thai is much longer range than boxing for Boxing. This makes sense, given the range of weapons available at each distance in Muay Thai. But Arjan also points out that Muay Thai is open up the middle, so uppercuts are a choice strike to set your opponent up for.

6) Foundation and Building Fighters - this is a conversation more than demonstration, but it's important to me and for the pedagogy of Muay Thai that has made Thais the best in the world since forever. It's building a solid foundation of both offense and defense, teaching kids to understand discipline, handicaps, and get used to both being hit and finding openings. Arjan talks about training techniques and where responsibilities lie in the outcomes of a fighter's matches, whether their fit or not, whether their accustomed to contact and brave or afraid. As a trainer, he takes responsibility for all of it.

7) Defense First, Strength Always - I love Arjan's emphasis on defense. He says if you can protect yourself, stay behind your shoulders to avoid being knocked out, then you can stay close and do whatever you want to hurt your opponent. If you're scared, then you can't focus on anticipating your opponents moves or their mental states. Defense first. Then just kill with power.

Kevin's edited stills from the session:

Kevin's portrait of Kru Tepniramit:

If you enjoyed this session, other Muay Thai Library sessions on a similar theme:

#94 Wangchannoi Palangchai #1 - Deadly Step Counter Fighting (70 min) - watch it here

One of the all-time greats, 118 lb and 4x 122 lb Lumpinee Champion, 1993 Fighter of the Year Wangchannoi was one of the most feared fighters who ever fought, patrolling the Golden Age with fierce violence. In this session he teaches the keys to his aggressive, forward pressure counter fighting style.

#95 Wangchannoi Sor. Palangchai #2 - The Secret Powers of a Cool Heart (77 min) watch it here

The first session with one of the best fighters who ever lived was so good we went back right away and filmed a 2nd. This time his fighting style is put into more context, focus on angling off, the differences between boxing and Muay Thai & Wangchannoi's beautiful jumping knees.

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

The 1992 Fighter of the Year Jaroensap had an elegant Muay Thai that was full of hidden power. He shares his unique teeping style, how he employed parries and switches and elbows to control the space in an elite Muay Femeu fighter.

#60 Sagat Petchindee Session 2 - All the Strikes Tuned and Dangerous (101 min) watch it here

One of the great, legendary names of Thailand, Sagat Petchyindee the inspiration for the Street Fighter character, goes through his entire striking philosophy with lots of technical correction and fine tuning. See the secret to his creation of smooth, efficient, explosive power, and witness the amazing man himself.

#69 Sagat Petchyindee 3 - Muay Maat Tigers & Snakes (67 min) watch it here

Sagat details his ferocious, hands-heavy style in this session, teaching perfect balance and very aggressive spacing. The secrets to his power, how everything flows out of his core and his organized stance are on full display. Nobody like him.

#99 Yodwicha Por Boonsit 3 - Spearing the Middle, Fighting With Rhythm (66 min) watch it here

Yodwicha won (co) Fighter of the year in 2012 as one of the most dominant Muay Khao fighters Thailand has seen, and then made the transition to K1 style kickboxing oriented promotions and became a powerful Muay Maat puncher. In fact he has all the tools, all the distances, and is currently the WBC World Champion at 154 lbs. He teaches how to put knees and hands together was well as some very important bagwork insights.

#81 Chamuakpet Hapalang 2 - Muay Khao Internal Attacks (65 min) watch it here

One of the all time greats gives his 2nd session of the Library. 9x Lumpinee and Rajadamnern champion, 1985 Fighter of the Year, a man who took belts from both Samart and his brother Kongtoranee, his Muay Thai has been lauded as one of the best that have ever been. In this session he teaches his rising KO out knee, straight up the center, his philosophy of grips, pulls and elbows in the clinch, and just in punching range. Not to be missed.

#49 Chamuakpet Hapalang - Devastating Knee in Combination  (66 min) watch it here

The most decorated fighter of the Golden Age with 4 Lumpinee Belts and 5 Rajadamnern Belts, and the Fighter of the Year award (1985), Chamuakpet, a gym-mate of Dieselnoi, teaches his beautiful and devastating Southpaw knee to the open side, in combination. His fast, powerful knee was practically unstoppable and in this session you can see why.

#62 Rambaa Somdet M16 - His Stinging Attack | Session 2 (83 min) watch it here

Rambaa known for his stinging attack, teaches speed and precision in this more than hour long session. Thailand's first MMA world champion, Rambaa draws from various disciplines, fusing techniques together is still a very traditional, stadium-oriented Muay Thai. Here elbows from various angles, switching attacks, and balanced energy come together to produce high-tempo pressure on an opponent.

#86  Rambaa Somdet M16 and the Art of the Stinging Attack - Session 3 (67 min) watch it here

Rambaa, whose name means "lunatic" in Thai, was one of the most colorful fighters in Thailand's history. In this session you learn the method to his madness, the way in which a constant stinging attack can lead to big shots and fight enders. This session is full of art and wisdom, from Thailand's first MMA World Champion and Golden Age Lumpinee fighter.