#159 Lakhin Wassantasit # 2 | The Art of Close Power Fighting - Muay Maat (1 hr, 23 mins)

The Muay Maat style has so many fans and an aura about it and Thailand has had some remarkable hands heavy fighters, especially of small stature. We visiting again with Lakhin one of the most fierce lighter weight Muay Maat's in Thailand's history, a truly fiercesome puncher. It's been almost 6 years since our first session and there is so much more to show of his insight into how effective hands can be in Muay Thai. This session is full of advanced details on how to control spacing and how to win fights with big handed power.

Lakhin had an amazing career. He was the prestigeous winner of the 3rd Isuzu Cup Tournament, beating the very successfull Burklerk Pinsinchai in the finale. He had already become the Rajadamnern Champion at 115 lb (a very competitive weight at that time), and Kevin and I reckon was probably very close to being choosen the Fighter of the Year in 1992, but missed out to Jaroensap after losing the rubber match fight to the 1991 Fighter of the Year, Samson Isaan, in a trilogy that is one of the greatest sets of fights in history (watch all three, they're on Youtube, links below). He moved into Boxing in 1993 and became PABA and OPBF champion, finishing with an undefeated record of 27-0-2, with 18 KOs. But, something few fighters do after being 10 years away, he came back to Muay Thai after a full career in Boxing - at the age of 31 - and fought some of the top names in that next gen. He even defeated the reigning Rajadamnern 135 lb champion for a WMC title at 140 lbs, and took the 140 lb Omnoi Belt as well, fighting well above the 126 lbs he could still make in 2005.

You can see his Wikipedia here, and his Box Rec here. Read a detailed summary of Lakhin's career here, over at Siamfightmag.

What to Look Out For:

1) Distance Control: everything about Lakhin's style is controlling distance. Mainly, he wants to be eating the space in front of him, and he has many fantastic ways of doing that, but he's also brilliant at rubber-band step-backs and pivots. He takes angles instead of moving backwards and keeps a slight distance at his closest range so that he can still see his opponent - he wants to see how much he's hurting them, or affecting them, but also be able to counter their movements and weapons.

2) Close is Best: as a smaller fighter and Muay Maat, Lakhin wants to be in close. There is such a thing as "too close," (see above) where you're snuffing your own power and unable to see anything. He doesn't want to blind himself by getting in too close, so he has to have a very solid defense. Strategically, at this close range, he can eliminate the longer weapons of fighters who like to kick or teep, and with his defense and ability to see, he can close off knees and clinch grabs.

3) No Single Strikes: there are several reasons for this. First is that just lobbing single shots means you're not controlling distance - you're either too far and leaping over space to land one thing, or you are at the right distance and can't capitalize on a good shot. Always train sets of 4, even if you can't get all of them off. More important than anything, it keeps your feet moving.

4) Your Legs Carry Every Shot: this is the main takeaway for me. Everything Lakhin teaches about which weapons to use, how to use correct technique in strikes, strategic control of space... everything is about being over your legs at all times. His balance is gorgeous and it allows him to have full power at all different ranges. Every moment of this session, even if he's not pointing it out, he's showing me how to maintain balance and movement with the legs. Only throwing one shot? You're not moving your legs or you've leaned too far and are off balance. Not ready to defend? You're not over your legs. Not hitting your target? Legs. Not enough power? Legs. Being intimidating and eating up space? Legs. Getting out of the way so you can rubber-band back into someone's face? Legs.

5) Pain and Space: I learned in our first session together that Lakhin wants to hurt his opponent. But this time I really understood how that works. Not only is he always taking up the space - "get off my spot," as he pushes them or hits them and then takes their space - but he uses pain to take up mental space as well. He makes opponents not want to stand there. He uses gep awut more than defense (meaning he intercepts weapons instead of simply stopping them from landing) to make his opponent hurt, to not want to throw that strike again. It's part of his confidence, which is essential to both his offense and defense.

Other Sessions Referenced in my commentary:

#130 Sagat Petchyindee #5 - The Coil and the Uppercut (70 min) watch it here

#94 Wangchannoi Palangchai #1 - Deadly Step Counter Fighting (70 min) - watch it here

#64 Chatchai Sasakul 2 - Elements of Boxing (72 min) watch it here

#41 Samson Isaan 1 - The Art of Dern Fighting (64 min) watch it here

#47 Silapathai Jockygym - Master of Teep Distance (64 min) watch it here

Chamuakpet Hapalang 2 - Muay Khao Internal Attacks (65 min) watch it here

Photos from Lakhin's Career

Lakhin in the 3rd Isuzu Cup Tournament, he would become the overall winner

With his 115 lb Rajadamnern title belt

Lakhin boxing vs Arman Malina

Classic

Lakhin came back to Muay Thai after 10 years in Boxing; he faced Yodsaenklai (then Petchyindee) 2x

Lakhin vs Silapathai, on the cover

Kevin's Photographs from the Session:

Fights to Watch from Lakhin

Watch the whole trilogy with Samson Isaan, two of the greatest of the Golden Age, but this is the middle fight where Lakhin took out the 1991 FOTY:

watch the Samson vs Lakhin Trilogy fight 2 here.

This is a remarkable fight in 2005, Lakhin coming back to Muay Thai after 10 years off and facing the young much bigger Yodsanklai, trying to punch his way to a victory. You see his philosophy from the session in a pure, mature, simplified form:

watch this fight vs Yodsanklai here

This Run Up to the 1992 FOTY voting is just insane, including the 1992 Isuzu Cup (involving 3 KOs), 4 Rajadamnern Belt fights, the battle vs Samson, and two wins vs Dokmaipaa.

Lakhin vs great Burklerk for the Isuzu Cup Championship and the Rajadamnern Title (1992), watch here

If you enjoyed this session these are sessions with similar themes:

#75 Lakhin Wasantasit - Boxing & Muay Thai Organized Destruction (76 min) watch it here

Lakhin was a beast, to stand in front of him was to invite disaster. Perhaps no fighter of the Golden Age was more feared for his hands. In this session he shows just what made him so intimidating, and how he developed a style predicated on inflicting maximum damage.

#74 Samson Isaan 2 - Muay Khao & Western Boxing Excellence (59 min) watch it here

In 1991 there was no fighter more of a force than Samson Isaan, who took Fighter of the Year then. His relentless style combining Muay Maat punching aggression with Knee Fighting pressure and clinch made him a wrecking ball. In this session discover what made this little fighter so impossible to handle.

#88 Samransak Muangsurin - Muay Maat Legend Keys to Powerful Hands (61 min) watch it here

Samransak was nothing if not thunderous as a fighter in the Golden Age. He threw with serious, heavy hands and just brutalized his opponents. He teaches the basics of his Muay Maat style, how he brought boxing into the ring to massive effect. One of the all time legends of the sport.

#140 Weerapol Sahaprom - Symmetry and Power in Boxing & Muay Thai (1 hr, 40 min) watch it here or podcast here 

The absolute legend Weerapol shares the principles behind his amazing career. 3 times he was the Rajadamern Champion in the Golden Age, and then he went onto become a WBC and WBA World Boxing Champion. 15 years of Muay Thai, 15 years as a boxer. Discover the beauty and power of his style, one of the best Thai fighters in history.

#152 Bangsaen Tor. Kotsan #2 | High Level Ruup & Control Over Space (Boxing & Muay Thai) (57 min) watch it here

Western boxing has had a century long influence on Thailand's Muay Thai, but from the outside it is sometimes hard to see how they come together, and support each other. In our second session with Bangsaen he lays it all out, how beautiful boxing principles when fused with Muay Thai allow a potent control over space, with emphasis on Ruup.

#148 Anantasak Panyuthapum | Boxing, Elbows and The Feet (80 min) watch it here

One of the great elbow and great hands fighters of Muay Thai's Golden Era has been the boxing coach of the Thai National Boxing team for years. We learn from him the foundations of how boxing & elbow attacks go together in Thailand's Muay Thai, and his secrets to his dynamic, aggressive fighting style.

#147 Nungubon Sitlertchai - Explosive Striking & Control Over Space (1 hr, 40 min) watch it here

Visiting Nungubon's gym way out in Ubon Ratchathani Isaan we are able to document his absolutely beautiful muay, both explosive and full of the control over space. Learn his secrets to a fluid, punishing Muay Thai, bringing together the arts of boxing and muay, built on a devotion to shadowboxing. True Golden Age excellence.

#109 Chatchai Sasakul 3 - Developing Rhythm & Precision (1 hr, 46 min) watch it here

The best boxing coach in Thailand, former WBC World Champions Chatchai Sasakul, teaches the importance of rhythm and precision. Chatchai's instruction brings western boxing technique to Thailand's Muay Thai, as he was also a Golden Age stadium fighter.

#130 Sagat Petchyindee #5 - The Coil and the Uppercut (70 min) watch it here

Sagat has got to be the most popular legend in the entire Library, and this session shows why. Incredibly precise in correction and full of that intensity which made him one of the most feared fighters of his era. Here he unlocks the secrets of his uppercut and the overall coiling that marked his renown, explosive style.

We filmed with Lakhin at Chakrit Muay Thai, where he's training students and giving privates right now. But its best to contact in advance because he can move between the South and Bangkok. You can always ask me here and I can help arrange if you would like to take a much recommended private with him. Google Map Link to Chakrit Muay Thai.