I went to Thailand, and all I got was a Muay Thai session

By Zaleha Kr
Photos By Esther Chung and Amanda Sangeetha Thomas

Muay Thai is the ancient battlefield art of Thailand that was first used by Siamese warriors. Known as the “Science of Eight Limbs”, it views the human body as a powerful fighting machine where the basic maneuvers include the use of knees, elbows, hands and feet. Fighters of this sport are challenged physically by the intense training and dedication they put into their performance, not to mention the potential irreversible scars and bruises. To a Muay Thai fighter, a fight isn’t only a physical contest, but also a mental one as it involves a lot of strategic thinking in order to overcome his opponent. To a newbie (like me), it did involve a way-too-early morning, sleep deprivation, and the thoughts of having potential bragging rights – that was my drive! Although I was constantly telling myself “Waking up tomorrow is going to be great…”, I didn’t really know that the outcome of a training session with professional Muay Thai fighters at Jitti Gym would be one of the most intense work-out sessions of my life.

The best work out in your life will begin at, JittiGym

I was feeling pumped and ready to rumble as soon as I saw the fighting ring. From the tying of the hemp romp, to the warming up routine, I knew that I was already running on adrenaline and I could not wait to start my first training session. According to preliminary research, traditional Muay Thai fighters used to wear hemp on their hands, and were known to apply resin to the hemp and then dip their hands in broken glass – luckily, a custom that is no longer practiced!

These trainers from Jitti Gym meant business. As I was observing their fast punches and swift kicks, it was already clear that these techniques could potentially leave a person with a concussion when full force is applied. In real fights between two boxers, the injuries suffered are real and lethal…so this sport is definitely not for the faint hearted (even though it was so awesome to watch a live match).

Warming up, before the kick-ass session starts

When my turn came, I didn’t expect to feel an overwhelming sense of nervousness and aggression. So, I punched as fast as I could and kicked as hard as I could…and it felt great! I couldn’t believe the burst of adrenaline that I was getting as I was swinging my body to maximize my impact on the training pads held by a trainer. The only thing that was distracting me from pushing myself to the limit was the feeling of dehydration and fatigue. Perhaps kicking the trainer onto the ground went a little too far (yeaaah, kinda got a little carried away there…) but I can honestly say the feeling of empowerment during those 15 minutes of intense training was on another level. All I could think of at the time was how I could utilize my limbs to my advantage and take that trainer down. Perhaps I am influenced by too many martial art movies and video games, but one thing I am certain of is that I am definitely going to be feeling this tomorrow…

Overconfidence will eventually, bring a girl down.

Zaleha Kr, 22, is in her final year in Bachelor of Arts majoring in International Studies and Communications. At 22, she still enjoys piggy-backs, Heinz Farley rusks and engaging in philosophical debates with 1 year olds. Currently looking for Waldo

Diary Entry for Day One - Muay Thai & Chatuchak Market

The thing that I realized after today’s session is some people wanted to do Muay Thai in order to get fit, some people just want to learn how to fight, and some people want to be professional Muay Thai fighters. So which category are we? The answer is none of them. We completely did a great job at today’s Muay Thai session.

We started our first activity with a 2-hour morning workout starting at 8 a.m in Jitti Gym. We spent a lot of time on the basic techniques and it was awesome as everyone got so enthusiastic. Most importantly, everyone had a smile on their face. The thing that we liked the most about our first day of training was the trainers who were so helpful and friendly.

Ladies in action

The training was so much fun

Following the tiring Muay Thai workout, we headed to watch a Muay Thai match at 2 p.m. It was so crowded and it did not seem to be an event that many females would attend as it was majority of the population there were men. All of us were enthusiastic at as the match started kicking in.

Standing amongst the locals in the crowd as a spectator was a fun experience as they were rather friendly to us. An interesting point to note is that the galleries, which were the rather rowdy sections, where most locals sit and start betting on the match. The thing that I personally found interesting was the gestures used by gamblers to communicate about their bets.

At the back of the Channel 7 stadium with the crowd

After watching a rather interesting Muay Thai match, all of us went to Chatuchak Market, also known as the JJ Market.  A lot of cheap stuff were sold in JJ Market and this showcased the difference in the attitudes towards shopping between male and female, as the girls got really excited towards shopping. This was evident with girls turning up with their hands full of shopping bags after spendign 2 hours shopping.  Shopping in Thailand equipped us with much bargaining skills as eventhough the price may feel ridiculousy low,one should not feel guilty to bargain. Bargaining means lesser money spent, so yay you!

A common practice amongst sellers who cannot converse in English is the communication through the calculator where they key in the price and they expect you to key in how much you are willing to pay. This little fight for the final price is one that is quite a fun and awesome experience. Lastly, don’t forget the power of your beautiful smile in Thailand. Catharina even got a discount for her stuff just because she smile at the merchant. So, please do not forgot to bargain in Thailand  as it is a must, especially in  Chatuchak Market, as it is a paradise for bargain hunters.

After walking around Chatuchak Market, we decided to fuel our body with some food. With much options for dinner, some of us decided to try the best boat noodles in Thailand. Surprisingly, the bowl was so tiny and all of us gobbled down three bowls. It was so cheap,  priced at 10 baht each, allowing us to eat as much as we want.  If possible, make sure that you have a strong knowledge about the menu or a little bit of Thai to help you along as people there cannot speak English fluently. So you might have to resort to using body language to communicate with them. It can be complicated but it is pretty fun. All of  us enjoyed today’s session as it ended off on a rather pleasant note with heavier luggage and lighter wallets. L All, in all, it was such an adventurous day. Big thanks to Dr Joel!

Nova Wijayanty, 20 is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication and International Studies 

Muay Thai Training Session

By Leena Khalifa
Photos by Esther Chung, Amanda Sangeetha Thomas and Bonnie Teh

Muay Thai, a combat sport that can be traced back a thousand years, still thrives in Thailand, and its popularity has spread across the globe. Muay Thai gyms are featured prominently across Bangkok; one such gym is the Jitti Gym, where we were hosted for a rigorous two-hour training session.

The original Jitti Gym was founded by Jitti Damriram in 1991, near Khao San Road. Jitti Damriram was born in Buriram, an area about 410 km northeast of Bangkok. After becoming a champion in Buriram, he moved to Bangkok, where he ranked in the top 5 for three consecutive years. Recording over 80 fights, some of which fought at the prestigious Rajadamnoen Boxing Stadium, Jitti finally retired and began to train internationally in places as far as Switzerland and England. Now based in the ‘new’ Jitti Gym in Ratchadapisek Road, Jitti personally welcomed us for our first experience with Muay Thai.

Arriving for the 9am training session, we were first brought in to the boxing ring for a ten-minute stretch by ‘Yhodept’ Serm – “Yhodept” being his fighting title. Afterwards Tanongsak Jitti trained one of his young fighters to showcase the basic Muay Thai techniques. Some quick jabs (mat nueng), elbow slashes (sok ti), straight knee strikes (khao trong) and the real kicker (pun unintended), the Roundhouse kick (te tat): a kick so forceful its impact is often compared to that of a baseball bat. The te tat can be directed to target the thigh, ribs, liver, neck, or head depending on the angle of the kick. With the swift turning of the hip, the slight lift off the balls of one’s feet, and the use of the shin to deliver 

contact, one can perform the correct and distinctive kick of Muay Thai.

Pre-training stretch

When the demonstration was over, we were all allocated our own trainers. With wrist wraps and boxing gloves, we looked and somewhat mistakenly felt like real fighters. The illusion duly dissipated however when the te tats came around, which at times had to be performed five consecutive times. If anything, the training produced a vivacity that spread across the group like wildfire; if some sok ti cannot give your morning a boost, nothing will.

Dr. Moore doing a te tat.

When we had exhausted our strength, and had cooled down with the fighter Kun Kaolanlem (Million Sam), he took to the center of the ring to showcase the Wai Khru, a warm-up dance performed prior to every Muay Thai fight. ‘Wai’ in Thai means a gesture that shows respect to others, while ‘Khru’ means teacher, and so the Wai Khru is a custom that pays respect to teachers – be they parents, trainers, kings, or deities. Kun Kaolanlem first circled the ring three times and then kneeled and bowed, a move to pay respect to God and man. What came after was a display of physical agility so strangely comforting and confusing that it left us all but speechless; the dance transpired from menacing to mischievous and feminine – one particular move where Million Sam padded his cheeks as if he were applying blusher while looking into a hand mirror was particularly artful. Throughout its run, the Wai Khru felt like a narration of a life, an experience, and a purpose. A purpose to win, to agitate the opponent, and to thank all those that have led this sole dancer to the right path.

Leena Khalifa, 21 is currently pursuing a purpose in life, but also hopes to hold a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies by the end of 2013. If you're nice, she might mention you when she accepts her Oscar.

Thai Advertising: A Genre of its Own

Commercials and advertisements have always been a great source of intrigue and enjoyment for me. They reveal a lot about the society we live in through signifiers in advertisements, be it television, online or print. And when it comes to foreign advertising, no other country does it like Thailand.

I remember a few years ago, there was a slew of really gripping Thai commercials that surfaced on YouTube. And I do mean gripping. It’s the kind of ads you don’t mind watching over and over again, no matter how much it might annoy your friends, like listening to ‘Rolling in the Deep’ by Adele. It’s the kind of commercial where you wish the starchy soap opera would quickly reveal who the real father is just so it’ll jump to commercials (hint: it’s usually the brother). I’m sure we all have at least one such ad in mind. Well in the case of Thailand, they really outdid themselves when in comes to the advertisement department. They’ve managed to make 30 seconds to a minute (sometimes two) of airtime more engaging than a two hour-long Michael Bay film. Although to be fair, a baby rattle is usually more engaging than most of his films (and considerably less expensive too).

Despite not being able to understand Thai (with the exception of hello and thank you), the kinds of work that comes out in Thai television airways is quite universal, like this Pantene ad: 

I know what you’re thinking. What does a deaf girl playing the violin have to do with shampoo? Quite frankly, nothing. As far as stretches go, this one was really reaching for it. Still, one can’t deny that it was an absolutely enthralling piece that pulled at your heartstrings. Who’d want to watch yet another ad of a pretty girl with unbelievably smooth, silky hair tells us that a RM20 bottle of shampoo is her secret (I’m not sure how much a bottle of shampoo costs in Thailand). Not me, for sure. While the story might be a little contrived following in the vein of television dramas (complete with the archetypal jealous rival), it was a stroke of creative genius to use a genre that appeals to the female as means of hitting the mark with their target demography.

Let’s not forget his little gem as well: 

A little closer to home with the story than the Pantene one and still a very watchable ad. These tear jerkers are very reminiscent of Malaysia’s own late creative genius, Yasmin Ahmad. While she was still alive, around major festive seasons (Hari Raya, Chinese New Year and Deepavali) I’d wait with bated breath for her newest Petronas ad. While the cynics in us might not see Malaysia as a truly united nation, her optimism in her ads offer a contrary to the view, often done in the most delightful and poignant way.  

But I digress.

Thailand has no shortage of creative juices when in the advertising department, judging from the ads I’ve seen on the trains and on the local television. But much like how others fail at capturing our hearts with 60 seconds of air time when compared to Yasmin Ahmad’s ads, Thai commercials thus far have been a let down compared to the great stuff it’s churned out previously.

I wonder what happened.




Low Jia Wei, 24 is majoring in Writing and International Studies and enjoys the simple things in life, like 6x6 Sudoku puzzles and beginners level Minesweeper