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Despite the continuing rain the Training sessions have pick up momentum and as I have now sorted out the schedule for my Radiation Treatment I am able to take charge of the morning training. So each morning the fighters and those who enjoy the hard training are putting in some good work, making use of the quiet fight period to build on their fitness and technique. We have several big fights coming up in August and September, some of which I will mention later and others as we get confirmation of them.
First though back on the 9th July, on a rainy night in Hang Dong, a small village just south of Chiangmai, Sompong and JR, our two fifteen year olds took on opponents from Lampang and Sankanpeng. The ring had a tarpaulin strung over it and most of the audience were under umbrellas as a steady drizzle fell all evening. Sompong was first up and he had his work cut out for him as his opponent was half a head taller and 2 kg heavier. The first two rounds were fairly even but in the third Sompong turned on the technique and outclassed his opponent so much so that though he took some heavy blows in the last two rounds he won the fight by decision on the strength of that third round.
JR followed immediately after Sompong and had an almost identical fight, with the first two rounds being equal and then in the third round produced some excellent combinations of kicks, punches, and knees to totally dominate his opponent and gain a decision at the end of five rounds.
The next fight night was on Friday the 13th, unlucky for some, but in our case a very good night! Gawilla Stadium in Chiangmai was the venue and Leroy Beck, one of Nico Henriksens' students from Kung Fu Toa in Arhus, Denmark took on his first fight in Thailand against Yutapoom, a tall lanky Thai fighter who last fought against Joey Grier back in June. The match up was very good and with a large contingent of Danes in the audience there was plenty support for both fighters. From the first bell the fight was all action with Leroy using low kicks and punches to great effect and Yutapoom delivering hard accurate knees every time Leroy got in too close. In the third round Leroy landed two powerful elbows but Yutapoom weathered the storm and came back with more strong knees and he controlled the clinch very effectively, not allowing Leroy to use his best weapons, his knees. At the end of five rounds the fight could have gone either way but the judges gave Leroy the decision, much to the delight of Leroy and the Danes in the crowd.
Our next confirmed fights are on the 3th August with Sompong fighting in Lamphun and JR fighting at Gawilla Stadium here in Chiangmai on the 10th August. Boon and Seemok, who are both training in Bangkok have fights at Rajchadamnern stadium on the 26th July and the 6th August respectively. We are looking forward to seeing these fights on television and both Lads are looking to improve on the losses they had last month in Bangkok. Later on in August, exact date still to be confirmed, both Samatha and Carla will be fighting on an all women fight card in Bangkok, more on this one later.
The overseas news this time comes from Mak in Argentina. Mak works with Mike who teaches Muay Thai at three gyms in Buenos Aries, at Acassusso, Belgrano, and Palmero. Both Mak and Mike have visited us several times over the last few years and they have taken the Lanna Muay Thai name and techniques to Argentina and been very successful both in their training and in the ring. On the 14th July they had two Muay Thai fighters taking part in a large Kickboxing and Muay Thai Promotion. Lucas Garcia, trained by Mike and Mak, fought Francisco Mendez in the 71 kg weight catagory. Lucas won the bout with strong clinch work and powerful low kicks. Mikes' second fighter Maximiliano Villanueva fought against Paul Marlfort in the 74 kg weight catagory. Although Paul won by TKO with a great kick to the head Maximiliano showed great courage and heart and will be back again soon. If you would like to know more about Mike and Mak in Argentina check their web site <www.muaythaiargentina.com>. In the meantime, Mak and Mike, we will look forward to hearing more from Argentina, Good luck to you both!
In another piece of news from overseas, a part of Lanna Muay Thai/Kiat Busaba has gone to North Eastern England. Our camp Mong Khon, now very old and worn, has gone, along with a pair of old Pratchia which belonged to Chun, to be used in a display at the Seaham Carnival, Co Durham and in the long term, to find a home in the Oriental Museum at Durham University. Bill Griffiths had contacted me expressing an interest in an original Mong Khon from our camp and by pure coincidence a week or so later our head trainer decided it was time to retire the old Mong Khon we were had been using over the past five years. This is a very fitting end to a Mong Khon which has seen many fights and even a couple of champions belts! Many thanks Bill for the timely email!
Some training news now, a new record has been set for our weekly Mountain run! Dave Tew from England, on his last run up the mountain before returning to the UK after 3 months with us, set a time of 32 minutes 58 seconds from the gates of the Institute of Technology to the view point finish, 6.5 km up the mountain. It is a tough run as many will testify and Daves' achievement looks set to stand for a quite while yet! Zane, you will have to come back and put these youngsters in their place! And Ahmed will be making a run at this record when he returns from his holiday in Phuket next month!
Continuing with training news, we will be soon offering certification to those students who are interested in earning a Certificate of Achievement for their time here at our camp. These certificates will be issued in conjunction with the Northern Muay Thai Association, who will be setting the standards. A Beginners, Intermediate, and Advanced Certificate will be offered to all who train with us and a special Fighters Certificate will be offered to those who have fought here. Instructors Certification will also be available but only upon meeting of a very strict criteria. We are still working on the details of this program but within two months will have all the details worked out and will post the relevant information on the website. Do not expect to see courses being offered as this is contray to the way Muay Thai should be taught, it is an individual sport that allows each person to develop and advance at their own pace and certification will be done in the same manner, on an individual basis.
Finally news of my fight with the big C. I have still not started the radiation treatment as I had to have an impacted tooth removed and am now waiting for this to heal before treatment can begin. In the meantime I am continuing to grow stronger each day, my weight has leveled off at 75-76 kg, a good ten kilo under what it was before but probably a good indication of what my real weight should be and the strength and mobility of my left shoulder is almost back to normal. I have picked up the kick pads again in the mornings and the focus mitts in the afternoons, though I do not train quite as many people each day as before, I am getting there slowly but surely!
To be honest I am now feeling as good as I have ever done in my life and much of it has to do with the fact that I feel I am being given a second chance at life and being lucky enough to be doing something I love on a full time basis there really is nothing to complain about. I still have some trepidation about the Radiation Treatment but my Radiologist thinks that aside from some possible pain during each treatment and a very dry mouth over the next five to six weeks of the course I should be able to get on with my life as normal and most importantly to kill off any lingering cancer cells.
I continue to look at this whole episode of my life as a "blessing in disguise" and count myself lucky that I have been able to beat this disease without much of the difficulty and pain that so many others have had to or are now enduring in their fights with the big C. I wish all the luck and strength in the world to those people who have not been as lucky as myself.
Stay positive, no matter what assails you in life, a positive attitude will help you gather strength and resiliance to fight off even the worst enemy. Take Care, Good Luck........Andy
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