AAAAAAAASince going to live in the States over thirty years ago, I have had a mission - - if I can call it that - - to promote not only Muay Thai but also the country of my birth. Throughout those three decades, I have seen Muay Thai develop in the international arena from an almost unknown martial art to the well-established phenomenon which it is today, and I am happy to have been able to have played some small part in that growth.

AAAAAAAAI am often asked, “What are the benefits, what are the essential points of Thai boxing?” All the martial arts - - not just Muay Thai - - are not only about learning how to fight: they are also about self-discipline and self-awareness. My late father used to say that a Thai boxer should be “as soft as silk but as tough as a diamond”. In other words, he should be outwardly humble and gracious but maintain an unshakable inner resolve and strict discipline: the two contrasting elements are, in fact, inseparable. So practicing Thai boxing skills is not just about physical exercise: it is also about mental training and getting to know who you really are as a person.

AAAAAAAAThe training methods for Muay Thai differ from camp to camp, from gym to gym, and people often comment that this particular camp is especially strong on kicking techniques, that camp for punching and so on. There may well be some truth in this, but I also believe that your proficiency in using any particular Muay Thai weapon depends on yourself as much as anything else. To those of you who want to become really strong in Muay Thai, I would really like to recommend that you try to emulate the great boxers of a slightly earlier age. For dhe (kicking) look at Apidaet Sit-hilan; try to use kow (knees) like Diesel Noi; take Daenchai Yondaragit as your model for sork (elbows); and Samart Payak-arun, who also was great at movement and famed for his keen observation of his opponent, is the best possible teacher of shok (punching). Finally, for the general way of holding your body, of dodging and avoiding your opponent, take Adun Srisotorn and Sirimongkon Luksiripat as your role models. Learning from these great, great past masters is, I’m convinced, the best way to polish your own skills.

AAAAAAAANowadays, all kinds of people for all kinds of reasons are turning to Muay Thai. Just to give a few examples from my own experience: sportsmen from other fields practice Thai boxing to polish their skills - - the Dallas Cowboys, for instance, use it for conditioning, especially for footwork; more and more women are coming to the gym to learn Muay Thai for self-defense, when, in the event of an actual attack, its elbow and knee techniques would be particularly useful; officers from the armed forces and government agencies do Muay Thai training to improve their physique and reflexes; even movie stunt men realize the benefits of Muay Thai to increase their overall toughness! So, as you can see, it really is a martial art for everyone.

AAAAAAAAI have always been more than willing to help anyone involved in Thai boxing and its promotion in any way I can. I was particularly glad, therefore, I was asked to assess and comment on this book before it went to press. For me, any book that helps to spread Thai boxing is a good book, but this one, I have to say, is really pretty special. It is strong both on photos and text: lots of pictures make it easy to understand and the explanations not only about the different techniques but also the cultural background are detailed and clearly presented. It is instructional and contains all anyone could wish to know about the basics of Thai boxing. In other words, it is a pretty good book for anyone interested in Muay Thai.

AAAAAAAAEnjoy reading and practicing…and good luck!

Surachai Sirisute, “Ajarn Chai” President Thai Boxing Association of U.S.A. 3rd May 2001 Bangkok, Thailand