If I had known I could get a Masters in Muay Thai I might not have gone to business school. Any of you guys currently in school? Maybe you should see if you can transfer credits from Chombung Rajabhat University. Good luck though everyone knows Chombung’s a party school.
Ok joking aside, Chombung Rajabhat Univ. is going to be the first University to offer a Phd. in Muay Thai Studies. Just think of it you could be Dr. Muay Thai. The university also was the first to offer a Masters degree in Muay Thai.
The man behind these programs is Assoc. Professor Chanchai Yomdit. Ajarn Yomdit felt that with the burgeoning popularity of the art all over the world, there is a need to have professional and academic standards.
I get what he’s saying and I would like to see the art preserved but I smell where this is going already. A quick little side note… Thai’s love degrees and titles. The ideal of an upper middle class family is to have all their children grow up to have Masters Degrees and Doctorates. When in doubt go and get a degree…
I’m sure there are a shit load of Mc’Dojos out their teaching Muay Thai… not really sure how you go about “regulating” standards or if you even need to? There are places you can go and get your Kru Certificate… “see it says right there… I’m a Kru.” I look at it two ways, you’ve got Kru’s who are fighters… they lead through practical experience. Then you have someone who’s taken a few seminars and teacher training. Is one necessarily better at teaching then the other? I don’t know. I guess for me, I would prefer the fighter… gives me confidence to know that he’s done what he’s teaching.
Having said that I don’t think there is enough emphasis on the historical aspects of Muay Thai. I have to admit historically I don’t know that much about our art. I’ve learned what I know from books. None of that info was ever imparted to me from any of my trainers. I wouldn’t mind if part of my training required some reading.
People are always trying to create governing bodies and establish lineages… Muay Thai was never set up for that, there aren’t belts or ranks. I still find it weird when people talk about earning a green prajied or testing. There are some who’ll always try to make Muay Thai fit into a Karate or TKD mold. Muay Thai is far more akin to Boxing then to say Karate.
There’s always the business factor… I guess it’s easier to make money if you run a camp like a dojo. You make people go through levels and test and charge them at every turn.
Anyway this where I felt the article was going… It sounded to me like they wanted to roll out a franchise of Dr. so and so certified Muay Thai schools or instructors. Give another opportunity for people to call themselves “Master”.
Anyway, I’m not trying to be down on ranking etc. If any of you are in a camp where you have rankings I would love to hear your thoughts. What you like, don’t like about the system.
6 responses so far ↓
1 ercan gurgoze // Jun 11, 2008 at 2:40 am
those “khan” (or prajead” systems have been set up after 1999’s by “iamtf” …and first by the attempts of the westeners…and when i saw this bullshit frame i was surprised…currently due to regulations of national our mt-federation it seems that (as far as i remember) i am 13th khan,however never could recognise this as serious if you are interested in the competition field as trainer…however, it seems that this fashion has slowed down a bit…
i also claimed about this fact at the times where the country was in coordination with “wmf” and reclaimed “what will the standart of such an approach?…who is the grandmaster?…etc…”
furthermore, in the olympic patterns there is n’t any grading concept in sports…
however, it is also sure that the interest into “mt” in thailand is decreasing due to the “per capita income “increase…camps has focused much more on westeners in tourism manner and the number of fighters are decreasing…
2 natemuaythaimaster // Jun 11, 2008 at 8:26 am
in my school, there are a few people who get excited about testing, like it makes up for ring experience. I don’t like it but It makes those people happy so who am I to judge. I personally don’t believe in ranking either except in fight records
3 tong po // Jun 11, 2008 at 8:43 am
Agreed. At least do a few smokers here and there. I think there’s nothing like preparing for a fight and getting into the ring.
4 mmcmx // Jun 11, 2008 at 10:23 am
The only logical clasification I see is, the muya thai fans that just train (like me) or a muay thai fighter. I have no interest in fighting and have no problem acepting that their fighting experience puts them in a whole other level. I’ll still be having fun doing it even if I’m not considered a fighter.
5 Dan from Madison // Jun 11, 2008 at 10:44 am
Interesting you bring this up as I have a “test” next week.
I understand that the ranking system is wonky in a sport like MT, but I think it is good for non fighters such as myself - it gives me good goals.
I only discovered MT 16 months ago. I am 39, and with my work, family, and other things getting into the ring and risking a broken nose or whatever just isn’t in the cards. So working on my abilities and testing well is the next best thing for me.
One thing that my gym offered was certification for pad holding for the fighters - I did that right away. It was a six week course and I am glad I took it. Now I am one of the “go to” guys at the gym for people who need extra work before fights. I can’t get into the ring, but things like holding pads help my gymmates, and having a goal such as a level diploma or sash keeps me moving up.
Again, this system isn’t for everyone, but it works for me.
6 ercan gurgoze // Jun 11, 2008 at 12:54 pm
the main contra points which don’t suit mua thai concept are as follows:
-in the past there wasn’t any grading system …
-what will be then the standart?…who will be the “grandmaster”?…which style would be considered: “muay chaiyuth, muay nakorn, muay lopburi ,muay boran” ?…all of them are different concepts …
-such a grading sytem could be considered only as “eclectic form” …
however, there is also no doubt that many people liked it and hang the diploma on the wall…(frankly, i am not against, however such an approach brings the discipline to “karate or taekowndo appereance”…
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