After many trips to Thailand, I finally visited the world famous Sitmonchai Gym! Sitmonchai Gym is in a small town close to Bangkok called Thamaka. The main reason for my visit was to train alongside three great fighters from the gym: Pornsanae, Yodkunpon, and Thepnimit. Unfortunately upon arrival, I realised that Yodkunpon was not training at the time. He was studying in Bangkok. Also Pornsanae just had a fight and was resting. Why Sitmonchai Gym? How It Started I had met some of the Sitmonchai fighters and trainers with foreign manager Abigail at Rajadamnern Stadium when I went to watch Pornsanae fight. From our first contact we all just clicked and I … [Read more...]
Mongkol (Mongkon) and Prajioud (Prajeet) Set Handmade by Thepnimit Sitmonchai
Sitmonchai fighter Thepnimit is now offering beautifully handcrafted mongkols (Muay Thai headpieces) and prajiouds (armbands) made of traditional Thai textiles. The cloth is hand-woven by his mother in Isaan and by other local artisans. It takes Thepnimit a couple of days to pour his passion into crafting a set which he then passes on to a local seamstress who sews it all together. Thepnimit fights regularly at both Rajadamnern and Lumpinee stadiums, in addition to other Thai stadiums. He also fights internationally. Utilizing what has become the signature Sitmonchai style of devastating low kicks and strong hands, Thepnimit has earned the … [Read more...]
Muay Thai Mexico: An Interview With Carlos Singto Navarro
Carlos Singto Navarro is a Muay Thai fighter, teacher and owner of Baan Singto in Guadalajara, Mexico. You can read his guest post on MBSB discussing Muay Thai, rebellion, self realization and the art of life here. Carlos Singto Navarro's stats: Record: 15-3 Fight Weight: 61.200 kg / 135 lbs, lightweight Legal Name: Carlos Arturo Navarro Macías Fight Name: Singto Sitmonchai Date Of Birth: 26. 04. 78 Please tell us about your Muay Thai history. My first contact with Muay Thai was in the year 1998 in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand. Before my initial encounter I used to practice other martial arts such as Hap Ki … [Read more...]
Muay Thai – An Essay By Carlos Navarro Of Baan Singto
The following is a guest post by Carlos Navarro of Baan Singto Muay Thai gym in Guadalajara, Mexico. Note: I met Carlos while training at Sitmonchai Gym in 2011. I noticed Carlos upon my arrival to Sitmonchai amongst the other Foreign nak muays but what perhaps marks the moment that he truly stood out to me was the following: Carlos was sitting one the edge of one of the two rings at Sitmonchai watching a Foreigner shadow box. He stood up and showed the boxer how to follow through on a left hook. That was it. That was the initial defining moment for me. It was in that moment that I realized I could see myself train under … [Read more...]
Upcoming Documentary With Pornsane Sitmonchai And Yodkhunpon Sitmonchai
The existence of MBSB is in part due to the support of Michael Galvin of Muay Thai Training Camps. It was Michael who introduced me to the specifics of creating a website, both educating me of the technical side and giving me resources to make it happen. In addition, answering my panicked texts while I was trying to build this baby on a slow net connection. Over the course of the past year, I've watched Michael's video production skills flourish. Currently Michael is in the process of creating his first full length documentary following Pornsaneh Sitmonchai in preparation for his first international fight in the Netherlands at Slamm VII. … [Read more...]
Sitmonchai Gym Review
Within a few days of arriving at Sitmonchai Gym, I was out of commission. If you're interested in reading about it, you can do so here. Otherwise, to keep it brief, a wonky mattress + an old injury + allergies to the meds for the old injury and wonky mattress combo = no training. Too sick to return to Buriram, but cognizant enough to hang out at Sitmonchai for two weeks and pay attention to all it is that makes Sitmonchai a family style gym. If you're looking for a review on training, unfortunately, this isn't the post. I'm not going to write on that which I couldn't fully get into. If you're looking for all that surrounds your training, for that which is meant to … [Read more...]
KO’d At Sitmonchai
The intent was to make the seven plus hour trip to Sitmonchai Gym, Thamaka, Kanchanaburi to hook up with friends, write a review of the gym and pick up on Sitmonchai's style of delivering devastating punches and low kicks. Low kicks score minimal points in Thailand. As a result a number of gyms pay them little mind. For example, I had the habit of annoying a past trainer by delivering low kicks during our pad sessions. He kept telling me they were ugly. Not mine particularly, just in general. Sitmonchai fighters in contrast are known to utilize low kicks to disable their opponents by KO. Ironically, one sentence into this post and I received a text that … [Read more...]