I have long hoped that Muay Thai in America would greatly improve over the many years that I have been involved, but it has been deminishing overall. There are some very good gyms in the US as well as in my home state of Georgia and some outstanding fighters, however the number of gyms with no business teaching Muay Thai has skyrocketed. Many are owned by karate or kickboxing coaches who include leg kicks and holding to pass for the clinch. They have no understanding of even the basic concepts of real Muay Thai.
Promoters hold so-called Muay Thai fights that do not allow the full use of elbows or knees and very limited clinch work. They use referees and judges with no understanding of MT and are officiated by State Boxing commissions who are equally ignorant. Gyms owners hide their lack of knowledge by over selecting matches and refuse the "dangerous parts" of MT. Everyone who fights seems to have a championship belts many given by promoters as a reward for high ticket sales. I wish this complaint was limited to the amateur divisions, but the professional ranks are equally guilty. In the past the MT community was smaller and there was a respect between the gyms and fighters, but now it is becoming thugish with absolutely no class.
New people who are interested in Muay Thai should carefully research the gyms in their area to ensure that they are properly trained by qualified coaches who love and respect this Great Art.
Amen brother
ReplyDelete