Metprik Silachai - Lost Techniques of Old School Muay Maat Lowkick Pressure (81 min) (Patreon)

This is a very special entry to the Muay Thai Library and so, so much what the Preserve the Legacy Project is about. I've been saying that a few times lately, but this is really amazing.  All over Thailand there are pockets of great styles and fight wisdom that are simply cut off from a rich future. Arjan Medprik was Bantamweight Lumpinee Champion in 1970, he's 71 years old in this session, and he's responsible for raising Tongchai Tor Silachai (Fighter of the Year, 2001). We didn't know this gym existed and happened upon it somewhat by accident, but this is the thing: there are gems hidden all over Thailand... everywhere. The gym is a gem; Arjan Medprik is a gem; his style is Old School and wonderful and disappearing. And when he was holding pads for me, I could see and feel his decades of experience raising fighters. And his low kicks are scary as sh*t and hurt twice as much as that.

FOCUS : This entry into the Library includes nearly 20 minutes of slow-motion footage, both of me being instructed on the low kick (incidentally, Karuhat is also advising me off-camera, so you get both Arjan's input as well as Karuhat's), and then the utter perfection of Arjan Medprik, in slow motion, shins and elbows and all. Slow motion is "cool," as an effect, but it's also really instructive. Watching how weight transfers, when weight transfers, angles and rotations, returns and adjustments - you can see every detail and it's so, so informative. And on a more aesthetic point, it's just beautiful. This is an old school style of kicking, often combined with punches. You'll find it in fighters like Kongsamut (who is in the Library, linked below). Dieselnoi used a version of this close kick, stealing it from the legend before him Wichannoi. The 20 minutes of slow motion may not be entertaining to all, but it means that we have detailed a style of kick, meant for close range fighting styles that include punching and elbows. If you look up the legend Thongchai, Arjan Metprik's student, you can see how it was deployed in the Golden Age. It means a lot to document this kicking style.

And, we get to see the historic Tor. Silachai gym, which is still producing fighters.

What to Look Out For:

1) Low Kick as Punishment: Metprik catches you with a leg kick as you're coming off of a strike. It's a Pavlovian Dog type deal where you start to hate your own strikes because you're being punished for them. But aside from that, it's also a brilliant time to be throwing them because the weight is coming back down right as you strike, so the opponent can't really protect himself at all.

2) Pivots and Shins: the low kick is a strong pivot around the standing leg, the ball of the foot on the standing leg swivels. But the kicking leg is all one piece, with just a bend at the knee and no "hinging." You dig into the IT Band and around the back of the thigh with your shin. Goddamn, it hurts.

3) Standing In and Dern: Metprik, when asked whether it's better to stand your ground or come forward, insists all his fighters come forward. But the main point here is just that they don't ever go backwards, There are definitely times he's intercepting me and punishing me with those leg kicks in order to stay where he's at, but he is angling off, rather than standing still.

4) The Purpose of a Reverse Elbow: at one point, he uses the overturn from a slip in the clinch to just spin all the way around for an elbow, He even kind of acts like he's being defeated and then SLAM! hits with the elbow.

5) Using Confidence Against You: Metprik likes to let a few strong teeps land before melting off of the third one and countering with a leg kick. This is great because the first two landing allow the opponent to feel confident and really lean into the strike; then you melt off and they're yours.

6) Pushing Forward for Leg Kicks: this was brutal. Metprik pushed me backwards, kind of gently, kind of just how you'd be marching an opponent back and then landed kicks to my legs as I was in reverse. Death.

7) Set Up and Follow Up: throughout the whole session you'll see how he sets up leg kicks, how he follows up after. Punches to close up an opponent in their guard; counters; as the leg comes back down from their own kick or block. Watch him in slow motion on the bag and you'll see how they all flow into and out of each other.

8) Stopping a Kick or Knee with the Heel of Your Hand: I thought this might be a Khorat thing because it's what General Tunwakom does, but Arjan didn't think it was unique in any way. Still awesome. You basically just stop an opponent's kick or knee at close range by patting it with your hand and pivoting off. It's not even strong or powerful, but it's effective and you can hurt their thigh if you dig in a bit.

Edited photos from the session:

Arjan Metprik as a 1970 Lumpinee Champion:

Arjan Metprik Picks His Top 5 Thai Fighters of All Time

watch Arjan Metprik pick his 5 best Thai fighters of all time here 

The Close Range Old School Kick

Dieselnoi taught me a version of this kick, but using a bent leg, to be used IN the clinch. He was just watching me on the bag and suddenly was inspired that this would be good for me to know:

watch it here on YouTube, above 

Other Entries Referenced in this Session:

#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.

#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.

#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.

#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.

#61 Arjan Surat at Dejrat Gym - Old School Master (37 min) watch it here

Arjan Surat stands as a tower in the pantheon of great coaches of Thailand. Coach of the Thai National Team, Kru of legends since the Golden Age, there is nobody like him. Learn the basics of his technique, but what is more look into the eyes of the one of the great coaches ever, training legends in his garage for decades.

#90 Arjan Surat 2 - His Old School Tough & Defensive Style (94 min) watch it here

A legend of Bangkok and coach of the Thai National Team, Arjan Surat has a toughened, defense oriented, forward style. In this session he builds it from the ground up, starting with his old school arm swing on the kick (no swing, instead using it to simultaneously block), emphasizing balance and solid framing. Watch and learn!

More photos from the session and the gym, you can follow Kevin's Muay Thai photography on Instagram: