By Mike Huber
Having spent over four months in Thailand I was well overdue to experience a live Muy Thai fight event in a local stadium. Last Saturday with no real plans I decided I would do just that. Rather than purchasing online I went to the local stadium, and with the help of a friend, I chatted up the stadium owner (who loved Americans). Within a few minutes we had two ringside tickets for under half the price. This was probably the only time where I received an actual “American Discount.” In all my past travels the “American Discount” resulted in a 20% price increase. Either way, I was excited to witness one of these events live.
On the way to the stadium that evening my plan was to get dinner somewhere along the way. I noticed a nice Irish Pub. I’m not one to pass up an Irish Pub, especially in Thailand where I was well overdue for a change in cuisine. Corned beef, potatoes, and a couple Chang beers was a perfect change indeed. The pub would also be a great place to hang out, eat, and talk with some locals who were also attending the event. To add even more perfection to this scene they had Moto GP on the TVs in the bar. It was the perfect environment and just a short walk to the stadium for the fights after.
As we entered the stadium and sat in our seats I began chatting up the people to my left. They were from Australia, a country I was very fond of and had traveled extensively. It didn’t take long before we were engrossed in conversations of travel, Muy Thai (which I really knew nothing about), motorcycles, and pretty much everything under the sun. I made a comment to one of the Aussies wearing a NY Yankees hat (I hate the Yankees, obviously). I gave him a hard time about the hat as we continued to joke back and forth. It turned out the Aussie with the Yankee hat was fighting that evening so it’s probably good I didn’t go too far with the berating of the stupid Yankees.
As the fights were about to begin everyone stood for the Thailand National Anthem. Instinctively I faced towards the Flag of Thailand with my hands clasped in front of me in a respectful manner. It was at this moment I noticed everyone was facing towards me and not the Flag. I quickly turned 90 degrees to face the same way as the others when I noticed why this was. In Thailand you face the giant portrait of the King during the Anthem and not the Flag. The Aussies knew this and had a good laugh as they made the same mistake during their first attendance of one of these events.
The fights were a blast to watch. The fighters were very respectful of each other and the customs of their country. We watched maybe 15 fights or so throughout the evening. Sadly, our new friend didn’t win his match, but it was cool to hear the word “Australia” mentioned over the loudspeaker amongst all the other words in Thai which I couldn’t understand. It was a pretty solid Saturday evening and I was able to check seeing a Muy Thai fight off my Thailand to do list.
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If I recall correctly, Muy Thai is similar to kick boxing but includes strikes from the knees and elbows. Something about using the four points of something or other.
Yes. Decent synopsis of it. 😀
As a life long yankee fan I am not sure how to respond to this blog.
Since I no longer really follow any pro team sport except for an occasional check at the New York Post sport pages
Suppose I should just let it go.
Having been into martial arts and American boxing , I still am interested enuff in Muy Thai to where I would have enjoyed ringside seating at those match’s. Nothing like a knee to the throat to make one’s day!
For whatever reason even with the box checked , I never get notified get “notified of new responses thru email “
I don’t even know if my original response to this blog has been reviewed.
But that’s life!