#133 Bangsaen Tor. Kotsan - Central Core, Boxing & Muay Thai (85 min) (Patreon)

[new edit: with intro restored]

Bangsaen was a Muay Thai fighter with more than 100 fights in the provinces, moved down to Bangkok and faced high level competition at his age/weight, but after winning 11 fights by KO in a row, promoter OneSongchai decided to put him in to Western Boxing. Bangsaen boxed for the Thai National Team and then professionally for about 4 years, finishing with 19 boxing fights. He is now one of the head trainers at the Chor. Hapayak Gym, North of Bangkok. A gym that has many fighters in its stable, all active on the Bangkok stadium circuit, as well as THAI FIGHT, ONE, and sending them abroad to fight in China, Japan and Europe. He is a true kru of the sport with deep roots in its history.

I only was introduced to Bangsaen through the legend Wangchannoi; the two have known each other since they were both (occasionally) training at the Muangsurin Gym in Bangkok - so, 30 years ago. I didn't know what to expect from Bangsaen but I'm happy that I went in with no expectations, because I could have been given a million guesses and never arrived anywhere near what he ultimately had to offer in this session. We liked him so much, his muay so unique and personal, we stayed another night and filmed with him again the next morning (that session will be up in later months). It was important to document this for later generations. His boxing is beautiful, his Muay looks effortless, but he is like an impenetrable fortress of bamboo, flexible rather than solid; strong but not reaching for power.

He has strong connections to Dejrat Gym and Arjan Surat who is in the MTL, having trained with him for 2 years as a boxer. He told us that he is the one who actually taught the Cartwheel kick to the Golden Age fighter Rotnarang, who also was a Derjat fighter. Rotnarang is sometimes credited as the first to use Saenchai's cartwheel kick in fights.

Be sure to stay til the end of the session where I interview him, and the gorgeous slow motion capture of his shadow boxing we were able to get.

What to Look Out For:

1) Centered - Not Wide: Everything Bangsaen does is right down the center, right around the trunk of the middle. His hooks are stuck to his ribs, his kicks come up and then chop. It's incredibly efficient, requires minimal effort, and has surprising impact.

2) Counter While Guarding: this is a big thing, Bangsaen's guard is engaged while he's striking. He prefers to be "jangwa song" or the "2nd rhythm," which means he's a counter striker. Let your opponent go first, parry or block, but then the counter is right on top of it, behind by barely even a beat. Often it appears simultaneous.

3) Footwork: as a boxer, you'd expect for Bangsaen's footwork to be beautiful, and he does not disappoint at all. But he insists that his footwork is efficient and practical for both Muay Thai and Boxing, without any changes required between the two disciplines.

4) Snake Head Jab: his jab is so nice. The secret, to me, lies in the lineup of his elbow right under his fist, so it pumps up and out like a piston; the wrist is slightly bent at the top so the knuckles grind down the target as the elbow straightens.

5) Watch the Center of the Body: Bangsaen sees everything, his reactions, reflexes and sight are phenomenal. He swears it comes from watching the center of the body, because you can't fake there. I interpreted, or intuited, as I was working with him, that it's also a matter of responding only to the first movement - which often is just weight transfer - so you don't have to know what strike is coming, you just have to know that a strike is coming and use a more or less skeleton key solve, rather than dealing with a specific strike. So, for example, when my weight starts to come forward to fake a right kick and then throw a punch, it doesn't matter which strike is real, because both can be solved with the same counter teep. Super fast, super efficient.

6) Look at the Softness of His Hands: This is key to understanding the principle of Ning, and his particular Ning in all things. Because he's controlling the center of attack he can be at ease. This ease in the hands is very Golden Age and he has his unique quality of it.

Other Sessions Referenced in this Entry:

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

#103 Metprik Silachai - Lost Techniques of Old School Muay Maat Lowkick Pressure (81 min) watch it here

#104 Yodkhunpon Sittraipum 4 - The Art of Shadowboxing (64 min) watch it here

#11 Karuhat Sor. Supawan 2 - Float and Shock (82 min) watch it here

#119 Burklerk Pinsinchai 2 - Mastering Space with a Legend (106 mins) watch it here

#34 Samart Payakaroon - Balance, Balance, Balance! (81 min) watch it here

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

#64 Chatchai Sasakul 2 - Elements of Boxing (72 min) watch it here

#36 General Tunwakom 1 - Lertrit Military Muay (46 min) watch it here

#56 Tanadet Tor. Pran49 - Mastering Long Clinch (63 min) watch it here

#108 Jampatong Na Nonthachai - The Master of the Head Kick (63 min) watch it here

Photos from Bangsaen's life and career:

Muay Siam magazine story on Bangsaen.

Khaopong holding pads for Bangsaen (promoter Klaew in the background) (boxing).

Arjan Surat holding he bag for Bangsaen, ahead of a Junior Featherweight title fight versus a Columbian fighter (boxing).

School Class Photo, Bangsaen marked by yellow.

Bangsaen following through on a left hook, winning by KO in round 2 (Muay Thai)

Bangsaen throwing a left cross versus a Pilipino opponent, winning by decision after 10 rounds (boxing).

From Left: Bangsaen, Hippy, Wangchannoi (ordaining), Nampon, Kaisuwit.

Stadium Fighter portrait (Muay Thai).

Group Photo from Dejrat Academy (Bangsaen marked by yellow).

Bangsaen refereeing a fight, following his father's footsteps. Bangsaen said when he was a kid, his father was a referee and he would sneak to watch him, which led to him wanting to be a fighter. Here he is referring looks to be a festival fight.

Kevin's photographs from the session. See all of them here.

If you enjoyed this session you may like to study these sessions on a similar theme in the Library:

#103 Metprik Silachai - Lost Techniques of Old School Muay Maat Lowkick Pressure (81 min) watch it here

Wow what a session. Arjan Metprik was not only a great fighter of the Silver Age of Muay Thai, he created the relentless fighting style of 2001 Fighter of the Year Thongchai Tor. Silachai. It's just an amazing lowkick, knee and Muay Maat style full of pressure and toughness. See how he trains his fighters in this Old School Khorat gym.

#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.

#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.

#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.

#116 Samson Isaan 3 - Dern Pressure Fighting & Defense (44 min) watch it here

There was nobody tougher and more relentless than Samson Isaan in the Golden Age. Winner of the 1991 Muay Thai Fighter of the Year, undefeated as a World Champion boxer, he was famed for his pressure fighting. But beneath all that heart were the techniques that make it happen. Here he shows how he likes to pressure, his footwork, the keys to balance, and how hands and knees work together. This is his 3rd session in the Library.

#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.

#41 Samson Isaan 1 - The Art of Dern Fighting (64 min) watch it here

To "dern" in Thai is to "walk", which means basically to just come forward no matter what, to create a relentlessness. Voted Fighter of the Year in 1991, Samson Isaan was one of the great Dern Fighters of the Golden Age, and in this session he shows his forward pulsing techniques which are meant to just overwhelm his opponent. Also a great session for pressure Southpaw fighters.

#130 Sagat Petchyindee #5 - The Coil and the Uppercut (70 min) watch it here

Sagat has got to be the most popular legend in the entire Library, and this session shows why. Incredibly precise in correction and full of that intensity which made him one of the most feared fighters of his era. Here he unlocks the secrets of his uppercut and the overall coiling that marked his renown, explosive style.

#69 Sagat Petchyindee 4 - 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.

#60 Sagat Petchindee 3 - 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.

#124 Kru San Sitmonchai #2 - Muay Maat At The Right Pace (62 min) watch it here

Pace is one of the most important, but not always taught aspects of Thailand's Muay Thai, and features heavily in its scoring. Through pace you set your narrative, you dictate the fight. Kru San is expert at teaching pace, and he brings forth his Muay Maat style. Learn the rhythm and distance which can take your Muay Thai to the next level.

#120 Kaisuwit "Kru Pern" - Muay Maat Centrifugal Power (104 mins) watch it here

Kru Pern teaches the keys of Muay Maat (hands heavy) power, developing centered balance and gaining a feel for a whipping, side to side centrifugal power. He builds up from the basics but brings it all to a higher level. I learned a lot in this session. Learn with me as I learn from him.

#120 Kaisuwit "Kru Pern" - Muay Maat Centrifugal Power (104 mins) watch it here

Kru Pern teaches the keys of Muay Maat (hands heavy) power, developing centered balance and gaining a feel for a whipping, side to side centrifugal power. He builds up from the basics but brings it all to a higher level. I learned a lot in this session. Learn with me as I learn from him.