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Saturday, November 21, 2009 2:49 PM

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Who's game?

World Muay Thai Council invites J'can martial artists on board

BY HORACE HINES, Observer West reporter

Thursday, July 02, 2009

ROSE HALL, St James -
The World Muay Thai Council (WMC) has invited two local martial artistes to Thailand for seven months training in the ancient martial art in preparation for the Caribbean Classic Golf Invitational Foundation's 'Champions of Champions Three' Muay Thai tournament in Jamaica next year.

Canadian-born Clifton Brown, who is of Jamaican parentage, defeated Thailand's Kaoklai Kaennorsing by way of a unanimous decision to capture the World Muay Thai Council Super Lightheavyweight championship belt Friday night in a fight card dubbed 'Champions of Champions Two' at the Aqueduct.

According to Richard Stephenson, president of CCGI, the WMC has also extended an offer to prepare two local martial art fighters to fight as amateurs in its massive Kings Cup tournament which attracts over 300,000 patrons, in November.

"They(WMC) said 'Richard get me two of your amateurs to come in and fight over here'. So what we would look to do at a social level is to start developing Muay Thai at the grass roots here in Jamaica," Stephenson told the Observer West.

Muay Thai, the national sport of Thailand, is known as the art of the eight limbs as competitors are allowed to use the hands, shins, elbows and knees in a fight that takes place in a ring similar to that used in western boxing.

At the beginning of each fight the fighters are involved in a custom known as Wai Khru Ram Muay - usually called Ram Muay or Wai Khru in short by the Thais - in which homage is paid to Thai warriors.

Andrei Kulebin (right) backs Mosab Amrani against ropes during Muay Thai WMC 'Champions of Champions Two' fight at the Aqueduct Friday night.

"Traditionally it (Ram Muay) would let you know what part of the country the fighter was from, nowadays we keep it as a tradition to pay respect to our teachers and the people who were before us and our family and to get the fighters into the frame of mind before they fight. We also do it to seal off the ring from evil spirits," explained Muay Thai fighter Canadian-born Clifton Brown, who is of Jamaican parentage.

The fighters tie bandanas around their arms and heads to denote the gyms they represent.

It is widely surmised by the people of Thailand that their country was able to resist colonisation as a result of the skill of Muay Thai warriors.

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