Sityodtong Muay Thai Legacy

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