My understanding is that K-1’s ratings are down and there is growing interest in full rules Muay Thai in Japan. Muay Loak is one of the largest muay thai promotions in the country and I was fortunate enough to conduct an interview with Mr. Imai, the promoter.
Many thanks to Takashi Ma for interpreting and Rong of Tard Pandin Gym for holding the camera and making us laugh…
LDF: Most Western people know about K-1, how is your promotion different?
Mr. Imai: Show (K-1) and real (Muay Loak). The concept is to use all of the weapons to beat the opponent.
LDF: Can you explain the structure of Muay Loak – the different stages of the competition?
Mr. Imai: Yod Muay Champions Cup 2010 main event is four Thai fighters Thai promoters decided are the best in Thailand. It is a tournament. Under 51 kg and under 60 kg. It is different than last year. Last year, there were top fighters, Yodsanklai, Kem, Sanchai, Bovvy, Nong O, but their opponents were Japanese and it was only for one fight. This year, there are two semi-finals. On January 17, Kunsuk, who is Lumpinee champion right now fought Pornsawan, former Lumpinee and ranked WBC, number six or seven and Singdam fought Nong O. Singdam was 2005 MVP Thailand. And Nong O was 2002 MVP.
The winners from January go to the next stage in August. There will be fights in April. The winners will go to the next stage in August. These fighters will fight each other in August.
LDF: Who won in January?
Mr. Imai: The main card, Nong O won by decision. And Kunsuk won by decision.
LDF: How many fighters will be fighting? I understand there will be Western and Japanese fighters as well….
Mr. Imai: In April, we will have another tryout. We want whoever wants to fight in the promotions. We will try to arrange as many fights as possible. And the MVPs will go to the bigger fights in April and August. In January 2011, we will have another fight – the best of the best. It is undecided but it’s possible that the January fight will be Western and Japanese fighters against the top of Thailand. But we are not sure.
LDF: What is your hope for the future?
Mr. Imai: Muay Loak means world fight of muay thai. I want not only fighters from Japan. I also want Western fighters. I want Muay Loak to grow. In Europe. In the United States. In Asia. If they can agree with what are we are doing, everyone can do it.
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.
March 24, 2010 at 1:53 pm
I like the sounds of this. It is such a beautiful thing to see Muay Thai starting to get the attention it deserves. And it is also great to see that Americans wont be getting the short end of the stick this time seeing that we are hardly ever invited to fight in these shows. But this sounds very promising and i hope they put as much promotion and effort it the actual show its self as they do with K1 Max.
March 24, 2010 at 2:03 pm
What is the difference between K-1 rules and full Muay Thai rules?
Also, that second image is… somewhat disturbing.
March 24, 2010 at 2:16 pm
NOt disturbing..just a lil cut from an elbow. clean it up..drink an M150 and u right as rain=).
Easy B how`s the run this morning?
March 24, 2010 at 2:38 pm
Good overview LDF! I sure hope their ambition bodes well for Muay Thai. But it has always been the case in Japan that Muay Thai has a strong following. Just about everyone else has full Thai rules AJKF, SNKA, and even shootboxing. They’ve all been treated to appearances by some of Thailand’s finest as well including Big Ben, Panjunsuk, Anuwat and others. I cannot shake the feeling that K-1 is not only diminishing but ultimately going the way of the dinosaurs with in the next 5 years.
March 24, 2010 at 3:49 pm
lol, on the bottom left of the poster it says “no elbows? NO ELBOWS? don’t make me laugh!”
March 24, 2010 at 3:49 pm
awesome! And I heard about them having K1 tryouts here in the states a few weeks ago from a friend.
March 24, 2010 at 3:55 pm
LOL yknocka that is awesome!
March 25, 2010 at 3:34 am
it will suffer from the same japanese bullshit im sure. unless japan actually for once gets a quality fighter that they dont have to bend rules for. thats doubtful though. japan is also full of itself, so i dont think any japanese organization will be promising.
March 25, 2010 at 4:35 am
SE Japan for a long time has brought more real Muay Thai than almost any where else in the west. There’s far more to Japan than K-1. In fact K-1 is the only one almost that is non Full Thai rules. Almost every other org in Japan is full Thai rules.
Japan brought more high level Thais into their events than any where else. And unlike most countires importing Thai boxers it’s most of the time at a weight that Thais are actually competitive at in Thailand too.
K-1 is just K-1 it’s not all that Japan does. I don’t know if you have just something in general against Japan but the USA sure isn’t going any where with Lin of Fairtex throwing cards, promising WBC sanction and completely failing at it. Remember all the posters Fairtex had of Naruepon coming? If it weren’t for Coke Chunawat saving the day that card would have been a complete failure. The ‘same Japanese bullshit’ isn’t accurate about Japan or 99% of the promotions going on in there.
March 25, 2010 at 4:49 am
i do have something against japan as a whole. the USA is full of idiots, i would be utterly shocked if muay thai becomes mainstream here. i hope you didnt assume i thought USA was going to be some savior for muay thai. especially when some people at muay thai fights are wearing affliction clothing and UFC gear. what are some notable fights under these japanese promoters?
March 25, 2010 at 4:50 am
all i really see from japan is a lot of people that claim they do muay thai but fight like kickboxers, and never do the wai kru.
March 25, 2010 at 5:03 am
You’re my boy SE so trust me man I like you. SE there is a big world of Muay Thai in Japan. You only see K-1 stateside but there is a very big and active Muay Thai scene there. You have to remember they were the only foreign country to have a bonafide stadium champion and no I don’t mean the K-1 guy.
Here’s the thing about critiquing what you don’t know as a country’s bullshit. The USA hasn’t done better and habitually fail despite the rhetoric of people like Lin who don’t know, like or really understand Muay Thai. In order to dismiss a countries activities in the sport as wholly bullshit the presumption is the USA is doing so much better. Using Lin and Toddy as some of the outsider’s best known examples of American MT you can easily come to the conclusion that the USA can’t or won’t do better.
For notable fights check out Big Ben against Ogata, Anuwat in AJKF retiring a Japanese Nak Muay And because I just like him Check out the Strong Arm DVD chronicling his ascent in Muay Thai. There’s tons more but it’s only a comment space.
As for the beef against Japan I wouldn’t let some nationalist bias or anything else prevent you from enjoying good Muay Thai and trust me I am not motivated in any way to lie to you when I say there is a ton of good Muay Thai to enjoy there!
March 25, 2010 at 8:26 pm
Ya SE there are some decent productions in Japan although I understand you are jaded from K1 it is such BS.
Check out on Youtube the AJKF fights
example watch Pinsiam vs ?? some little japanese guy
Wanlop Weerasakreck vs ?? same little Japanese guy
Kuhntap sp vs ??
There are a few organizations there that actually do represent muay thai quite well… in fact if you watch Samkor’s HL video it shows him kicking the crap out of the Elvis Presely look alike Japanese guy Kobayashi which I personally never get tired of watching haha.
unfortunately Japans intent will always be in question because of K1 and how we have seen Thais treated within this awful organization out to try their best to self promote Japanese fighters as appopsed to the Dominating style of most thai’s.
I feel you bro!
March 25, 2010 at 8:27 pm
sorry spelling is actually Wanlop Weerasakreck.. I think haha
March 25, 2010 at 8:31 pm
Ok, sorry for this but i could be wrong, i’m wrong often.
I don’t really know how to put this into words but i hope you will understand what i’m trying to say…
I honetly believe that if they hold a Muay Thai event but call it a different name such as Striker Event ( just an example ) , it would attract more fans or sponsorship. But of course to keep the full Muay Thai rules. Maybe it has something to do with pride, or maybe they feel they can’t compete with Thailand at their own game or whatever the reason. This is the reason why I believe Muay Thai will never be at the level of MMA…. Mixed Martial Arts, the name gives everyone hope.
Imagine if Soccer was called England Ball, would it still be as popular as it is today?
Again, I’m sorry if I’m wrong but it’s just my honest opinion.
Ok thanks.
March 25, 2010 at 8:52 pm
IMO opinion MMA in Japan is basically on life support. The boom days of Pride are long over with.
March 26, 2010 at 12:02 am
yknocka – Second one actually says “no knees?”
March 26, 2010 at 1:14 am
yo stacks,
i told you my comment has nothing to with “THE STATES”….nah that is not the fucking presumption. that irritates me. and the only reason you probably turned this into a _____ vs USA thing is probably cus you are canadian.
i never once mentioned the usa in my original post, so i have no fucking clue where you brought this comparing shit.
i appreciate your insight on japan and apparently what i dont know about, but if any of those so called japanese muay thai org’s became mainstream in japan, rest assured it would go through the same bs k1 did.
March 26, 2010 at 3:17 am
se – in regards to your last statement, from my understanding via various conversations w/japanese fighters, mr. imai, etc…there was another organization, that did exactly as you as you suspect muay loak to…as it gained popluarity, it followed the precedence set by k-1..however, my understanding is that this organization (can’t remember the name of it), is losing appeal, much like k-1. i spent a number of days with mr. imai and co. and his intent is to bring authentic, full rules muay thai to the japanese mainstream – he by no means has any intention to follow k-1. i don’t want to speak for the man, but, in my opinion, his intentions are to support bringing mt to the world stage via japan. k-1 by no means is something he wants to model his promotions after.
March 26, 2010 at 3:52 am
good info laura. im glad his intent is good. im sure what happens is that once an organization gains popularity other powerful figures[financial, mafia, political, commissions, etc] with ill intent[to make japan look good] will greatly influence the organization, which is unfortunate.
March 26, 2010 at 4:54 am
SE I’m all American all day! And Canada is in similar straits as the USA in terms of the org issues. You and I both know of the good things happening in USA MT too. I was merely illustrating what an non USA MT opinion could very easily be with just a passing look at the USA scene might lead one to believe. Much like a passing look at Japan’s MT scene may seem to you.
I know precisely what org LDF refers to and she could not be more right!
March 26, 2010 at 5:52 am
gotcha stacks…
theres good shows here, but still its just a cult following. and when you have malaipet looking for mma fights that is a pretty good indicator of how muay thai is doing here.