Introducing: Khun Songchai Ratanasuban of OneSongchai Promotions

Songchai Ratanasuban is the largest muay thai promoter in Thailand.  OneSongchai Promotions include but are not limited to the King’s Cup, Queen’s Cup,the weekly fights at MBK, the Thailand vs Challenger series, fights at Rajadamnern Stadium, Lumpinee Stadium, Baan Klang Stadium…the list goes on.  I suspect a number of you have fought under his promotions.

I was fortunate enough to be welcomed by his office in Bangkok.  I want to thank his son Siraphop for interpreting during the interview.

LDF:  What is your opinion of the current state of muay thai in Thailand?

Khun Songchai:  Twenty-two years ago I went overseas, in France, in England….now all over the world, the development of muay thai is good. In the past, muay thai was not a business, but now it is a profession.  Muay thai is growing in many countries overseas now.  In Thailand, muay thai used to be at its peak twenty years ago but now it’s going to its lowest.  Before, two hundred and fifty tourists from Japan would come to see muay thai, every promotion, but now in Japan, they have many muay thai promoters there, so they just watch muay thai in Japan.  They don’t have to come to Thailand now.  So now, muay thai in Thailand doesn’t grow.  It is not the same as it was in the past.

LDF:  How would you like to see it grow?  What changes to be made?

Khun Songchai:  I would like to see Thailand’s government to come support muay thai.  To make international promotions/relationships.   To make it a foreign relationship affair.

LDF:  Like a cultural heritage…?

Khun Songchai:  Yes.

LDF:  Do you think because it’s a predominately working class sport, that it is held back within the country?

Khun Songchai:  Yes.

LDF:  Where do you think the future of muay thai is?

Khun Songchai:  As muay thai grows, I think it will not be Thais fighting with Thais anymore.  The leader of muay thai must have the vision to grow.  Muay thai has to work more internationally, with many countries.

LDF:  I think there is a large misunderstanding, particularly in North America about what muay thai is.  Coming from Canada, it was almost impossible to fight in my province.  Currently there are no fights, even at the amateur level.  Do you have an opinion on why muay thai may not be growing at the same rate in North America as opposed to other parts of the world?

Khun Songchai:  Why does the Canadian government not allow fights even at the amateur level?

LDF:  I believe it’s because they misunderstand what it is.  It’s difficult for Thai trainers to immigrate, to be able to work there.  My opinion too, is that I think in Canada and in the U.S., because MMA is becoming so large…if I can use it … the heart of it is different, so I think there is a misunderstanding of what muay thai is, and that it’s just a brutal sport.  Less of an art and more of a street fight…and unlike the U.S., Canada just doesn’t have a lot of Thai trainers.

If muay thai continues to grow internationally, and the business aspect grows, and there are more opportunities in foreign markets, would it affect what happens in Thailand, in respect to the lighter fighters…I’m asking because, my favourite fighters are around 50 to 52 kg, and it’s very small for a Western market. Do you think that would have an impact in Thailand?  For opportunities for lower weight classes?

Khun Songchai:  Because Thai boxers start training when they are very young, because they start fighting very young, they lose weight.  That is why their weight cannot go up.  When they grow up, they already have had too many fights.  Losing weight. Losing weight.  When they grow up, they don’t grow taller.

LDF:  So you think there would still be opportunities in Thailand…my question is, that, will the money affect opportunity due to size?

Khun Songchai:  Right now most of the audience in Thailand are gamblers.  They like the smaller weight.

LDF:  With muay thai growing internationally, with more business people coming into it, do you think this may affect the integrity and tradition of the art of muay thai…I know there are a lot of people who might want to get rid of the wai kru, and the ram muay to make it more accessible. To make more money.

Khun Songchai:  Twenty-five years ago, when a Thai boxer lost to a Foreigner, Thai people didn’t like it.  They didn’t like me at the time, but now they understand more.  It is the sport.  It’s not necessary for the Thai boxer to win, so I agreed to make muay thai spread all over the world.  It’s okay to change.  I was the pioneer to invite Ramon Dekkers.  Many audiences didn’t like Ramon Dekkers because he beat Thai boxers.  I agree and support foreigner boxers to become good, to be strong, so it can be magnetic.  Masato, in Japan, if he comes to learn muay thai in Thailand, if he becomes champion in Thailand, he will make muay thai in Japan famous.  Same as the King’s Birthday, this is a big event and the best boxers from all over the world come to fight in the promotion.  So I support the foreigners.

More about Laura

I’m a Canadian who decided to quit my job, sell most of what I own, pack a suitcase, and skip continents to pursue a martial art I’m not particularly efficient in. A minimalist. A modern nomad. A kid who just likes having a good time.

My attraction to muay thai is that it’s an art with no wasted motion. It has been the greatest vehicle for my continual education. It’s incredibly challenging to me – both the physical and the mental game. The latter probably more so than the former.

Currently I’m in Bangkok training muay thai fulltime. The plan is to be here for a few years, but realistically, I have no idea where this path is leading, or what the timeline is. I like change and pushing my comfort zone. A lot. Nevertheless, muay thai will be the constant among the variables.

Be prepared for updates, rambling, video content and anything I’ve learned that I think may of use to you.

This hasn’t been easy, but so far, its been a pretty sick ride.