| Kru Yodtong Senanan's place in Muay Thai | | | | from China. Whether indigenous or |
| history is legendary. That's why just | | | | introduced by immigrants, all agree that |
| two Muay Thai academies in the United | | | | while much of the history of Thailand - |
| States qualify as recognized affiliates | | | | and hence the origins of Muay Thai - |
| of the Thailand camp that bears his | | | | were destroyed during the Burmese |
| name. | | | | invasions, the emergence of Thailand and |
| The significance of Muay Thai's Kru | | | | the national sport of Muay Thai go hand |
| Yodtong Senanan's recent U.S. visit may | | | | in hand. |
| have been lost to those unfamiliar with | | | | The effectiveness and popularity of Muay |
| his celebrated contributions to the | | | | Thai as a combat skill was further |
| ancient art. But for students and | | | | reinforced during the reign of King |
| trainers devoted to the art and sport of | | | | Naresuan, who required all Thai soldiers |
| Muay Thai, his presence was treated with | | | | to train in the fighting art. Later, |
| the kind of reverence usually reserved | | | | Phra Chao Seua, "The Tiger King," also |
| for dignitaries of international | | | | played a role in the development of Muay |
| distinction. | | | | Thai as the national sport of Thailand, |
| So important is Kru Yodtong's role in | | | | through his support of prizefights and |
| preserving the history culture that the | | | | the creation of early 18th-century |
| Kingdom of Thailand recognized him as a | | | | training camps. In the 2,000 years that |
| "Superior Teacher of Muay Thai." With | | | | have transpired since the earliest known |
| the proclamation issued directly from | | | | occurrence of Muay Thai, the popularity |
| the Royal Family, Yodtong's place of | | | | of the close-combat art has exploded |
| honor as a master, teacher and | | | | beyond Thailand's borders, making Muay |
| conservator of the sport will be forever | | | | Thai an internationally recognized |
| documented in the annals of Thai | | | | sport. |
| history. | | | | Two Schools, One Name |
| On a recent U.S. trip, Kru Yodtong | | | | As the art of Muay Thai is interweaved |
| accompanied Yodsanan 3k Battery, a WBA | | | | in the Culture of the Thai people, so |
| super featherweight world boxing | | | | too are the champions of the Sityodtong |
| champion and just one of many | | | | camp steeped in traditions of the camp |
| titleholders from Yodtong's namesake | | | | founder's fighting techniques. As the |
| camp - Sityodtong Muay Thai Training | | | | sport continues to gain in popularity |
| Camp. | | | | among Westerners, Muay Thai gyms in the |
| Along with producing number of skilled | | | | United States are increasing in numbers. |
| Muay Thai champions, the camp also turns | | | | However, of the many gyms that can be |
| out an equally impressive number of | | | | found throughout the country, Yodtong |
| Western-style boxing champs, all of whom | | | | has bestowed only two with the distinct |
| are students of the master himself, Kru | | | | honor of being recognized as affiliates |
| Yodtong Senanan. | | | | of his legendary camp: Sityodtong |
| Muay Thai Master | | | | USA-Boston and Sityodtong USA-Los |
| Born 68 years ago as Erawan Sriwaralak, | | | | Angeles. As Yodtong explains, "The name |
| Yodtong's study of Muay Thai began at a | | | | Sityodtong refers to students of Kru |
| distance, as the sport was then | | | | (teacher) Yodtong, my family name. Yod |
| considered too dangerous for boys under | | | | in Thai means above all else and tong |
| the age of 15. Still, from the time he | | | | means flag (i.e., a flag that flies |
| was four, Erawan observed and studied | | | | above all)." Fighters from Sityodtong |
| until he was old enough to begin formal | | | | USA in Boston and Los Angeles represent |
| training. That training began in earnest | | | | a long line of champions who |
| at Detrprasit Muay Thai camp when | | | | collectively are a force with which to |
| Yodtong was 14. His natural proclivity | | | | be reckoned. |
| for the art became evident early on. | | | | Sityodtong USA-Boston is the East Coast |
| Fighting under the moniker "Erawan | | | | affiliate of Sityodtong Thailand. Owner |
| Detrprasit" to honor his camp, he had | | | | and operator Mark DellaGrotte lived and |
| his first bout just one year later. At | | | | trained at Sityodtong Muay Thai Training |
| 17, Yodtong moved to the Senanan Muay | | | | Camp. A current Muay Thai champion, Yod |
| Thai camp and competed for six years | | | | Mark's fight record includes a |
| before becoming a trainer to a string of | | | | second-round KO at the famous |
| Muay Thai champions. Though there are | | | | Rajadamnern Stadium in Bangkok. He was |
| many camps throughout Thailand that | | | | also ranked tenth at Rajadamnern. Yod |
| specialize in any number of techniques, | | | | Mark's trainer is Kru Toy, Kru Yodtong's |
| the heralded success of the champions | | | | son. Kru Toy is also the manager of |
| hailing from the Sityodtong Payakaroon | | | | Sityodtong Thailand, and has traveled to |
| Camp comes down to teaching refined | | | | several countries to promote and |
| basics. | | | | preserve his father's teachings in the |
| "Sityodtong is best known for our | | | | art and sport of Muay Thai. |
| comprehensive instruction in all basic | | | | DellaGrotte's martial arts training |
| Muay Thai techniques," Yodtong said, | | | | includes Jeet Kune Do Concepts, Kali, |
| adding that his camp is especially known | | | | Silat and Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. "Kru Yod |
| for teaching the proper techniques for | | | | Mark" has been personally appointed by |
| the use of elbows, kicks and knees. The | | | | Kru Yodtong to teach and promote Muay |
| age restriction placed on young fighters | | | | Thai around the world. His school, |
| back when Yodtong was a boy have since | | | | located in the Somerville area of |
| been removed, allowing training to begin | | | | Boston, has been in operation for seven |
| much earlier. | | | | years and has turned out a number of |
| In fact, many of the young fighters at | | | | champions. |
| Yodtong's camp are orphans, some even | | | | The other school in the United States |
| juvenile delinquents. Not only are they | | | | that has the honor of being recognized |
| trained in the fighting arts, they are | | | | as an affiliate of his Thailand camp is |
| also given food and shelter and attend | | | | Sityodtong USA-Los Angeles (Sityodtong |
| school as well, allowing Yodtong to | | | | LA). The school is owned and operated by |
| train the whole person. In addition to | | | | Walter "Sleeper" Michalowski and his |
| his rigorous training regimen, Yodtong | | | | wife, world-renowned martial artist, |
| offers sage advice to young fighters: | | | | June Castro-Michalowski. Walter, a |
| "Be a good student, become a good | | | | former Junior Middleweight Muay Thai |
| teacher and stay away from a path of | | | | champion, also trains and has fought for |
| cigarettes, alcohol and drugs. To be a | | | | Kru Gongtalanee Payakaroon representing |
| good person is the most important | | | | Sityodtong Thailand. |
| thing." | | | | Michalowski's training began as a young |
| Sityodtong Muay Thai Training Camp is | | | | boy in the sport of boxing. He also |
| located near the resort town of Pattaya | | | | trained in traditional martial arts and |
| Beach, about a 90-minute drive from | | | | later in the Jeet Kune Do Concepts under |
| Bangkok. In operation for over four | | | | Sifu Richard Bustillo. In fact, |
| decades, the camp has turned out a long | | | | Michalowski met his first Muay Thai |
| list of champions that include Daotong | | | | trainer, Nanfa Serchadeco, an Olympic |
| Sityodtong, Gongtalanee Payakaroon, | | | | silver medalist in Boxing and |
| Samart Payakaroon, Yoddamrung, Khaosai | | | | Rajadamnern Stadium champion, while |
| Galaxy and a host of others. | | | | training at the well-known IMB Academy |
| The Payakaroon brothers are the two | | | | (International Martial Arts and Boxing) |
| most-celebrated champions from | | | | in Torrance, California. |
| Sityodtong. In fact, it was the | | | | Michalowski's impressive list of |
| Payakaroon name and reputation that | | | | accomplishments includes a kickboxing |
| literally put Sityodtong Muay Thai | | | | title and six Muay Thai belts. At his |
| Training Camp on the map, thus the Camp | | | | last professional fight he was featured |
| name, Sityodtong Payakaroon. To be a | | | | on Thai television as the Main Event at |
| stadium champion is an incredible feat. | | | | the newly built Pattaya Stadium in |
| When you consider that Muay Thai is the | | | | Thailand. Michalowski ended the fight |
| national sport of Thailand, becoming a | | | | with an exciting first-round knockout |
| stadium champion can be likened to | | | | over a formidable opponent, Phothong Sor |
| winning the Super Bowl, the World | | | | Preapan. |
| Series, being NBA champs or winning the | | | | Thanks to his mastery of the art and |
| Boston Marathon. As a result, it's easy | | | | respect for the Thai culture, when he |
| to see how an icon like Samart | | | | and his wife opened their Pasadena |
| Payakaroon, a four-time Lumpinee Stadium | | | | location (Pro Training, Inc.) in |
| champion plus a WBC champion and his | | | | September 2003, Michalowski, a certified |
| older brother Gongtalanee Payakaroon, a | | | | senior instructor in Muay Thai, was |
| five-time Lumpinee Stadium champion, are | | | | approached by Kru Yodtong and was asked |
| held in the highest regard. | | | | to be the U.S. West Coast affiliate. The |
| To appreciate the significance of Muay | | | | facility was officially anointed the |
| Thai and Kru Yodtong's place of | | | | West Coast affiliate of the Sityodtong |
| prominence in bring the fighting skill | | | | Muay Thai Training Camp. |
| to its current level of notoriety, you | | | | Not only have DellaGrotte and |
| must first appreciate Thai culture and | | | | Michalowski honed their craft at the |
| history. Yodtong sums up the unique | | | | namesake bearing Kru Yodtong's name, |
| entwining of Muay Thai and Thai culture | | | | both men understand that the art of Muay |
| this way: "As anyone familiar in Muay | | | | Thai is one with the Thai culture. To |
| Thai will tell you, one can benefit from | | | | separate one from the other is to |
| improved health, develop a sense a | | | | denigrate the art. Both Michalowski and |
| personal safety while also enjoying the | | | | DellaGrotte speak Thai, which comes in |
| pleasures of out culture." | | | | handy for the regular trips they make to |
| Heart of the People, Sport of Kings | | | | Thailand with their students. And, by |
| There are two schools of thoughts about | | | | earning the honor of becoming affiliates |
| how Muay Thai became a national sport of | | | | and conservators of Muay Thai in their |
| Thailand. Some say that during the time | | | | own right, both continue a lasting |
| of the Burmese invasions of Siam | | | | relationship with master trainer, Kru |
| (Thailand), warriors indigenous to the | | | | Yodtong. Most important is the humility |
| land fought off their would-be invaders | | | | and respect that every level of student |
| using their bodies as weapons, thus the | | | | from both camps have for the Muay Thai |
| legend of the most-famous and revered | | | | master whose traditions and techniques |
| Thai boxes, Nai Khanom Tom. | | | | are taught under the banner of |
| In the 1700s during the fall of the | | | | Sityodtong USA. Pro Training, Inc. - |
| ancient capital, Burmese soldiers | | | | Sityodtong LA (USA) Muay Thai Academy, |
| captured and imprisoned many Thai | | | | located in Pasadena, California (Los |
| citizens. Among the imprisoned populace | | | | Angeles area), is a fully equipped |
| were Thai boxers. However, the King of | | | | fighter's gym and the only one of its |
| Burma granted Nai Khanom Yom his freedom | | | | kind in the entire San Gabriel Valley, |
| and the freedom of the other Thai boxers | | | | California. It is also the West Coast |
| after he defeated nine Burmese boxers. | | | | Affiliate of the legendary SITYODTONG |
| Not only did Nai Khanom Tom destroy his | | | | Muay Thai Training Camp in Thailand, |
| capturer's elite warriors in a | | | | known world wide for producing many |
| spectacular fight to the finish, he also | | | | legendary champions. Sityodtong LA |
| defeated a boxing instructor from a | | | | specializes in the art and sport of Muay |
| neighboring city. | | | | Thai and feature classes in Boxing, |
| The other school of thought holds that | | | | Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and MMA. |
| Muay Thai developed as Thai people moved | | | | |