learn muay boran
proper muay boran training in ThailandSee their flier below:
Located near Bangkok's National Stadium, on Rama II Rd., at gate 17, this small muay thai school is actually the worldwide headquarter of I.K.M.A. (International Kruu Muay Association) and of A.I.T.M.A. (Association Institute of Martial Arts). The scope of both organizations is to divulge the correct knowledge of muay boran (practical, historical and tactical) and to regulate the various affiliated schools and federations worldwide.
The yearly gathering of all muay boran A.I.T.M.A. members from all over the world is the Nai Khanomthom Day in Ayuttaya, where the Senior Grandmaster Sidhyothong bestows the rank of proficiency to each student by putting a colored, hand-woven mongkol made of rope on the head of the student. See the pictures of 2009 Nai Kanomthom Day 13-15 March 2009
The ranking for students is divided in 10 khan, as follows:
1 white mongkol (first 1-2 years)
2 yellow
3 yellow-white
4 green
5 green-white
6 blue
7 blue-white
8 brown
9 brown-white
10 red
Each khan should take about 1 year to be achieved.
For teachers, the ranking is divided in 9 mongkol. Up to the fifth, it takes about 2 years to achieve every step. Afterwards, it's not so automatic and it may take years to advance one khan. The 9 mongkols are:
1 red-white assistant teacher (poo chuai kru)
2 red-yellow teacher (kru)
3 red-silver assistant master (kru yai)
4 silver master (ajaarn)
5 golden-silver assistant grand master
6 golden grand master
7 golden assistant senior grand master
8 golden associate senior grand master
9 golden senior grand master
For those willing to learn muay boran in their own countries, the first step is to find a school, possibly affiliated with A.I.T.M.A. to ensure a proper standard of teaching. For such schools, a good option to improve the skills of both students and teachers is to invite an ajaarn from Thailand for a 1-2 weeks muay boran stage. The best person for this job is Master Suphan Chabairam, currently teaching at the M.C.C.T. in Bangkok.
Ajaarn Suphan, a former Lumpini champion fighter and the Amateur Muay Thai World's Champion is a walking encyclopaedia of everything related to muay boran; not only he can teach various styles and long forgotten mae mai, but also the history and the strategy behind every action.
See Ajaarn Suphan page here
history of muay thai, chao sua, ayuttaya, muay boran, burmese fighters, naresuan
