The Future of Muay Thai

   By Bryan Dobler

As we look around and try to picture the future of Muay Thai we must first look at the present. Here in the United States who is primarily interested in Muay Thai anyway? Not just as a spectator but as a serious Muay Thai participant, competitor or instructor. The people that I see around me that are training in Muay Thai or are fighting or teaching Muay Thai are all different ages and from different martial arts backgrounds etc.

As a matter of fact it seems that (although the arena is changing) a lot of the people involved in the sport have trained in different martial arts for several years until they finally discover Muay Thai and decide that this is what they have been looking for all along.

Well then, what about in Thailand? Who is primarily interested in the sport over there? Adults our age that have been studying different martial arts for years or…that’s right you got it! KIDS! Children in Thailand love Muay Thai they begin their training at a very early age and continue if they are capable and serious until it becomes their career and beyond. So, why not here? Why not????

I truly believe the future of Muay Thai lies directly in the hands of children. Yes it is our responsibility to teach them but trust me if kids get interested in Muay Thai the sport will grow. Look at soccer or many other sports that children participate in that have grown so much in last few years. As kids get involved at an early age as they grow some will stick to it and they will become much better than we are and increase the level of competition of the sport.

Let’s face it we are getting much more competitive here in the US but we still don’t compete with the Thais. Why you ask? Well by the time I have the experience that a lot of 20-year-old Thai fighters have, I will be collecting Social Security (well maybe not). But if we start teaching and training the kids not only to become good at Muay Thai but also good at teaching Muay Thai, in a few years down the road we will be competing internationally!

So, how many of you have children’s Muay Thai classes? Why not? I was afraid that kids couldn’t do this or they would think it was too hard or they would lack the discipline. Not! That was just an excuse. The real reason beneath is that I didn’t know if I had the patience and capability to teach kids, make it fun and keep the discipline and hard work that make Muay Thai what it is. I doubted my own ability to teach kids. Maybe many of you don’t doubt yourselves but just don’t know where to begin.

Well since my son Bradley became of age to begin to teach Muay Thai I have learned to overcome my own doubts and as Nike says “Just Do It!” You start the same place you would with any adult student, the basics, stance, footwork, form etc.      

I have now been teaching kids for more than 2 years and I am always amazed how easy they are to teach, how anxious they are to learn and how much passion they can have for the art! Just ask your kids to begin stretching and if you aren’t extremely flexible, please don’t give them an example because they are so naturally limber that they will embarrass you!

I love to teach Muay Thai. I love to train and I love to fight. But the most rewarding thing I can do is to transfer some of the love I have for Muay Thai to a child who eventually will surpass my capabilities and could potentially be the future of Muay Thai! In 100 years it will not matter what my bank account looked like, what type of car I drove or where I lived but whether or not I made a difference in the life of a child!

Invest in the future of Muay Thai!

Invest in the children!

Chok Dee!   Sawasdee Krub!