It looks like the Slamm folks put on another successful show the other night. These guys have a knack at getting talent on their cards. I can’t wait to catch some of their shows. Many Thanks to Payap of the K-1 Forums for posting these pics. You can view the rest of the pictures and results here.
This last event was “One Night in Bangkok” The Line ups included the likes of Attachai Fairtex, Lamsongkram Chuwattana, Anuwat Kaewsamrit, Tyrone Spong, just to name a few.
As Always I’m waiting to get some clips of the fights. One of the results that caught my eye was Nicky Holzken and Lamsongkram K-1 rules.
Based on what I’ve read from the forums. Holzken was active early with his hands while Chai was busy with his kicks and knees. Payap wrote that Chai looked confused at times by the K-1 rules. (I’m not surprised). In the end Holzken connected with his hands and knocked Chai down for an 8 count.
It was said to be close, with Holzken winning on points. In retrospect the results don’t really surprise me at all. Lamsongkram’s greatest weapons are his elbows and his clinch. A lot of folks believe that these “new” K-1 rules were put in place to neutralize some of Buakaw’s weapons.
I know most Thai trainers really aren’t down with K-1 rules at all. They feel like it’s watering down the sport. I had a trainer in Thailand go so far as to call it discrimination. I can sort of see his point I guess.
What do you guys think of K-1 Rules?
16 responses so far ↓
1 Dan from Madison // Oct 31, 2007 at 3:02 am
I think personally that the K-1 rules are just that - K-1 rules. It really isn’t Muay Thai anymore when you eliminate elbows and much of the very hard work that is done in the clench. We worked on barn doors (side knees) in class last night and I actually thought that this move would probably never happen in K-1 since they break the clinch so quickly.
That said, I find K-1 entertaining, just not as entertaining as true MT fights.
2 burnt1tofu // Oct 31, 2007 at 3:08 am
I’m a fan of K-1 rules, I think they limit head butts and of course elbows. I don’t like it when fights are stopped due to cuts.
3 Kamatari // Oct 31, 2007 at 3:17 am
I don’t like K-1 rules. A problem it brings with it is that people think K-1 rules are representative of the Japanese kick scene. While we know it’s basically as Muay Thai as it gets. Masato, Kohiruimaki, Sato all came from circuits where elbows and clinching were allowed.
It’s hilarious how a fight with the most clinching (TATSUJI/Ologun) happened AFTER they enforced the rule, although it’s hard for either of them to do much if they can’t throw anything while in the clinch. The 2006 and 2007 K-1 MAX tournaments show it can be done right, but some of the fights tend to look one-dimensional thanks to the emphasis on punching.
4 strongboy // Oct 31, 2007 at 4:55 am
K1 rules = Muaythai without clinching knees and elbows.
basically water down muaythai.
I was ok with the no elbows but the no knees while cliching was a horrible rule change.
5 Paul PP // Oct 31, 2007 at 5:49 am
I agree with the guy that said it was discrimination. But if its your country then you make the rules, just as long as Thailand never uses them. K-1 rules might as well turn into Western kickboxing rules.
6 Kamatari // Oct 31, 2007 at 6:17 am
Good point, strongboy. I didn’t have a problem with no elbows either and in the early days (both K-1 HW and MAX) you could throw knees in the clinch. But now I’m waiting for it to turn into full-contact kickboxing.
7 Stack // Oct 31, 2007 at 7:31 am
That’s what’s next
8 Santiago // Oct 31, 2007 at 7:35 am
I think your trainer friend may have a point about discrimination. They obviously don’t want to get Thai-domainated.
9 Stack // Oct 31, 2007 at 9:02 am
I second Kamatari’s statements. And would add the illogical sequence of techniques one is made to throw in K-1 with a single clinch knee and release. I honestly don’t take K-1 all that seriously though. It’s entertainment and not representative of Muay Thai or even normal kickboxing rules any longer.
10 Kamatari // Oct 31, 2007 at 9:11 am
Yeah, it’s definitely entertainment and some people have issues with it. But if it wasn’t presented like that no one would be watching. You can’t put these uncharismatic drones in the ring because the public won’t care.
That has little to do with the rules, but it wouldn’t surprise me if they honestly felt that the way the rules are organized now will produce better fights. And if every event ended up looking like the MAX GPs I would agree.
It’s just not Buakaw that suffers. Currently Kohiruimaki is USELESS without the clinch and Sato is expected to adapt somehow. Lamsongkram had expressed interest in K-1 MAX before, but he appeared confused. The new crop of Japanese welter and super-welters will face the same problems, because the K-1 system is so dramatically different.
But hey, we’ll always have AJKF and other quality events.
11 Stack // Oct 31, 2007 at 9:20 am
100% agreed. AJKF while harder to get a hold of in the west is far more interesting and exciting to my likes.
12 Dustin // Oct 31, 2007 at 10:25 am
Maybe this could be a trend over in Japan, doubtful because I don’t keep up with much kickboxing. Pride ruled out elbows to the head early on, but kept knees even on the ground. Although, elbows to the body were allowed.
Elbows to the body wouldn’t make much sense at all for a K-1 fight, or for any stand up fight at all. It could be because of cuts, but I would prefer to see elbows allowed across the board.
13 RR // Oct 31, 2007 at 2:29 pm
“K-1 is a combat sport that combines stand up techniques from Muay Thai, Karate, Taekwondo, Savate, San shou, Kickboxing and traditional Boxing to determine the single best stand-up fighter in the world (the “1″).”
Anyone witness a mixture of these sports anymore?
Although I’m not a big fan of K1, mainly because it isn’t 100% Muay Thai, we all have to remember that all this talk of K1 trying to favour Japanese fighters is either incorrect or its blatantly not working to their advantage.
If you look at the champions of the world Grand Prix and champions of the MAX you will see one or two Japanese. The rest are either European or Thai.
That being said, the fact that the rules keep changing means K1 is either built on weak foundations or it is slowly evolving into a decent sport for the future. But as everyone else has said, take it with a grain of salt and enjoy it with a beer in hand.
14 Tong Po // Nov 1, 2007 at 3:11 pm
I find it waterdown Muay Thai as most on here, but I see it as being more accepted internationally than pure MT.
15 fight geek // Nov 1, 2007 at 6:35 pm
Muay Thai offers more ways for a fighter to win than K1. And that’s why I think it’s better.
That being said, I can see how a fight with ‘excessive’ grappling could be perceived as boring by promoters. And a freshly elbowed face—with a two inch cut pulsating with blood—could also be perceived as bad PR.
Not that I think these are the reasons for the changes in K1 rules—like others have commented, I think it’s a deliberate attempt to disadvantage Muay Thai fighters).
It wouldn’t surprise me if eventually K1 fighters aren’t allowed to grapple or kick below the waist, and are made to wear long pants.
16 Blackwidow // Nov 1, 2007 at 9:54 pm
Check out that cowboy theme trunks.
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