#158 Chatpon Dejrat - The Art of Relentless Mid-Clinch & Muay Khao Persistence (62 min)

Chatpon is the only fighter from the Dejrat Gym to fight on the OneSongchai promotion. In this session he teaches a pure, unadulterated Muay Khao, which is expressed in his ethic, aesthetic, and fortitude. When we met with him, he hadn't been involved in Muay Thai for 30 years; after he won the Song Samai Shark tournament at Lumpinee, he took his winnings and bought some land, then married the daughter of the owner of a very famous, tiny Som Dum restaurant near the Dejrat Gym. This is a Som Dum shop where the Dejrat and fighters from other gyms would come to eat after their battles in the National Stadia. He and his wife took over the business and have been doing so ever since. And yet, Chatpon tells me he still runs when he goes to buy groceries for the shop; he does pullups, pushups and situps every day. When locals see him running past with groceries under each arm, they proclaim, "nakmuay," in recognition. His forearm strength is still, quite frankly, unbelievable. He feels vital and fight ready, even after all these years, and his muay in the clinch which he was known for is sharp as ever somehow.

Kevin and I love these kinds of sessions, and this one was a favorite even within the first moments of filming. It's Chatpon's style as he came to be known for even though a well rounded fighter, his pure Muay Khao, the way his relentless "persistance hunting" style is expressed in every single movement. From his guard, to his footwork, to his grip on the bag as he turns and knees... I don't know; you can see the wirey little kid within the man, a collapsed image, as he works the bag. What's interesting is that Takrowlek says numerous times while sitting in the ring, watching us, that Chatpon was unbeatable when he grabbed and locked, but would lose if he couldn't; that's interesting because when you watch the handful of fights that are available from his career on video, he has control over many distances and doesn't seem dependant on clinching and kneeing at all. This can sometimes be the case with fighters who have only a small portion of their fights available - what we think is their style is perhaps only a small sample; on the other hand, peers or fans from their careers, who have memories of their fights and don't watch the footage, have an impression that's maybe the result of even fewer samples, but they were so profoundly impactful. (A western example of something like this is Roberto Duran being reduced to saying "No Mas," when he didn't ever even utter those words. Moments frame careers.) In any case, I love what Chatpon is teaching here, whether it's distilled from a greater arsenal or more what he feels expresses his deepest ethic. It feels very special, and a piece of history coming to us from the past.

The mid-clinch was a very potent weapon in the Golden Age, but it fell out of favor. Fighters like Namkabuan would go to it in the 4th round of close fights and use it to blow open a lead. It's fallen out of favor for a few reasons probably. One is that its a downgrade in scoring to lower your head and "goom" (crotch), because ruup (posture) is important. So you have to execute this with a high level of skill, you have to become dominant. As gamblers became more powerful in the sport in the 2000s many techniques became more problematic because if you used them and lost you would be blamed for taking a risking path. As it fell out of favor then the skill levels to pull it off also dropped (you can see Seksan using it effectively still towards the end of his stadium career though). It still can be very effective if you became proficient with it as a throwback technique, in part because fighters now are less developed in their ability to defend it. You just have to be exact and relentless with it. It can win rounds and win fights if well executed. Here in this session we have the mid-clinch resurrected, along with the ethic of continuous persistence.

In general the Muay Khao style is at risk as rule changes move against prolonged clinching, and then these little sub styles of techniques and arts are vanishing at an even faster rate. This is what Preserve The Legacy is about.

Here Kevin put together two different rounds from two fights to show how continuous mid-clinch played out:

watch (7 min) Chatpon Dejrat and The Lost Art of Extended Clinch - Muay Thai's Mid-Clinch Battles

This fight is a good example of Chatpon using the mid-clinch to win:

Phichai Wo Walaphon Vs Chatphon Dejrat

What to Look Out For:

1) Over vs Under Grip: Chatpon shows how to grip the neck, pinching and locking, for earlier rounds, versus how to go under the armpits and sqeeze the ribs in the later rounds, when your opponent is tired. Body locks and throws in round 4 are as classic as it gets.

2) Get in and STAY IN: the rules for how to get in are pretty similar across the board for most dern styles: have a strong defense and don't be jumpy about getting hit. But how you stay in is an artform to itself. The Bulldog grip that Chatpon has with his locks are meant to be unbreakable, and feeling them for even a few seconds at a time allowed me to understand that, I could fight them for a little while, but definitely not over several rounds. It's exhausting; constricting; patient.

3) Dracula Guard and Harpoons: Chatpon has a very beautiful, illustrative Dracula Guard that he uses when closing in. But he also folds the long arm at times, like when Dracula is about to turn fully into a bat, and he kind of frames this around himself as he closes in and then snatches thea rm out like a harpoon and grabs the neck.

4) Importance of Forearm Strength: everything is locked into place, with "designated tension," by the strength of the forearms. It's a "set it and forget it" kind of lock, not active strength work but passive strength. He says pushups and pullups are the most important exercises, although his demonstrations on the bag allowed me to appreciate how much you actually have to lock onto something and move around it to be able to find and fill all the gaps, making it air-tight.

5) Turns are Dominance: Chatpon reiterates his point that clinching is often a 50/50 exchange. You're so close and both striking back and forth, so it's hard to score and not be scored on unless you have a foil. For him, that's the footwork of deep turns and throws. Being from the Dejrat school, this makes sense. If you watch Arjan Surat, he emphasizes the importance of never losing balance. So, while some might be in the "hit and don't be hit" game, Chatpon is in the throw and don't be thrown game.

Other Sessions Referenced:

#90 Arjan Surat 2 - His Old School Tough & Defensive Style (94 min) watch it here

(Chatpon's reference for perfect Muay Khao) #131 Panomtuanlek Hapalang - The Secret of Tidal Knees (100 min) watch it here

Dieselnoi Chor Thanasukarn 4 - How to Fight Tall (69 min) watch it here

#135 Petchdam Lukborai "Mr. Cannibal Knees" - Golden Age Muay Khao Padwork (70 min) watch it here, or podcast here

#31 Kru Daeng Kiatbusaba - Southpaw Dracula Guard  (64 min) watch it here

#143 Takrowlek Dejrat - Master of the Low Kick (90 min) watch it here 

#121 Learning from Namkabuan (public) - Explosive Off-Beat Rhythms (70 min) watch it here

#8 Sangtiennoi Sor Rungroj - Advanced Clinch (52 min) watch it here

#4 Yodwicha Por Boonsit 1 - Clinch and Muay Khao (Knee) Specialist (35 min) - watch it here

 #45 Langsuan Panyutapum - Monster Muay Khao Training (66 min) watch it here

#15 Yodkhunpon Sittraipum "The Elbow Hunter" 2 - Escapes  (48 min) watch it here

(Chatpon says for Muay Mat watch #88 Samransak Muangsurin - Muay Maat Legend Keys to Powerful Hands (61 min) watch it here for Femeu watch #5 Hippy Singmanee 1 - Developing Power (69 min) - watch it here, Bonus Session 1:  Karuhat Sor. Supawan | Advanced Switching Footwork | 60 min  - watch it here , and #34 Samart Payakaroon - Balance, Balance, Balance! (81 min) watch it here)

watch Chatpon pick his 5 greatest Muay Thai fighters of all time (1 min)

Photos from his days as a fighter. The first is the old school Dejrat gym. Arjan Surate middle left.

Back row, third from right.

Winner of the Shark tournament at Lumpinee, "Song Samai"

Outside the restaurant he runs with his wife.

You can find the little Somdum and Isaan Larb restarant. Rhan Larb Chatpon, yourself and say hello to this wonderful Dejrat fighter. It opens at 5 pm: Google Map Link

Here is a Playlist of Chatpon's fights: here

Kevin's Photographs

If you enjoyed this session these are other sessions in the Library with similiar themes:

#108 Jampatong Na Nonthachai - The Master of the Head Kick (63 min) watch it here

One of the greatest head kickers in Thai history, someone who beat Samart 2x, teaches his philosophy on the head kick. This is a really special session as we are archiving a technique and man who had not been in a gym in 30 years, but once he gets going it all comes back. His headkick is lethal.

The above is another session with a fighter who hadn't been in a gym for 30 years, it really is beautiful.

#131 Panomtuanlek Hapalang - The Secret of Tidal Knees (100 min) watch it here

Called Mr. Tidal Knees, Panomtuanlek completes the trinity of Muay Khao greatness documented from the famed Hapalang gym. This is such a rare and beautiful session, perhaps Top 10 in the entire Library. Panomtuanlek teaches his base of movement and postures which allowed him to become one of the most dominant Muay Khao fighters of the Golden Age.

#129 Cherry Sor Wanich - Unbreakable Lock Muay Thai (50 min) watch it here

This session captures the disappearing locking and Muay Khao techniques of the Golden Age legend Cherry Sor Wanich. As Muay Thai changes these beautiful, incredibly effective techniques do not get passed down to future generations, and we were incredibly lucky to film with Cherry. His constrictor-like lock and chokes are part of a heavy, draping style of Muay Thai from the greatest era.

#123 Samson Isaan 4 - Secrets Of His Pressure Fighting (122 min) watch it here

Our most extensive documentation yet of one of the most relentless pressure fighters of the Golden Age of Muay Thai. 2 hours of work on all the small things, the weight transfers, angles, tempos and techniques that made the 1991 Fighter of the Year such a wrecking ball with heavy hands and endless clinch.

#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.

#145 Thongchai Tor Silachai - Muay Maat & Low Kick Legend (96 min) watch it here

Rare and hard to find we finally get to film this incredible session with one of the very best who ever fight, the 2001 FOTY legend Thongchai. His is a prime example of extremely high level fighting out of a pressure low kick and heavy hands, clinch style. Just some of the most beautiful pressure muay ever. Study to see how this incredible fighter fought way up in such a victorious manner.

#56 Tanadet Tor. Pran49 - Mastering Long Clinch (63 min) watch it here

This is one of the most interesting and, if mastered, dominant clinch positions one can use, and the entire session is devoted to it. I filmed with young Long Clinch master Tanadet, and discover all the small refinements he created that turned what for many fighters is just a transitional position, into an entire system of attack. This is a rare session, capturing a little known and used clinch system.

Muay Thai LIbrary Sessions from the Dejrat Gym Family of Fighters

Arjan Surat is an absolute legend of the sport and still training top stadium fighters out of his house gym in Bangkok, in his 70s. He is a pillar of Muay Thai. We happen to have documented many fighters from his gym, including of his own technique, check them out here. The gym known for its toughness and close pressed intensity.

#90 Arjan Surat 2 - His Old School Tough & Defensive Style (94 min) watch it here

A legend of Bangkok and coach of the Thai National Team, Arjan Surat has a toughened, defense oriented, forward style. In this session he builds it from the ground up, starting with his old school arm swing on the kick (no swing, instead using it to simultaneously block), emphasizing balance and solid framing. Watch and learn!

#143 Takrowlek Dejrat - Master of the Low Kick (90 min) watch it here 

One of the great low kicking fighters of the Golden Age teaches his squared up, pressuring, Muay Beuk fight philosophy which uses an extremely fast, vertical low kicking technique that keeps the opponent exactly where you want them. This punishing style, built on defense and ring control is extremely effective, using techniques that are not often taught. Study the low kick in a way you haven't seen before.

#154 Hemrat Chaoraioi at TDet99 | Infinite Training, How To Train in Thailand (1 hr, 24 min) watch it here

One of the remaining gambler's kaimuay gyms in Bangkok without many Westerners sits on the roof looking over the city. Training is guided by Kru Hem, the trainer of Lamnamoonlek one of the current top fighters in Thailand. Take a deep dive into the core trianing ethic of Bangkok training, honing the details that bring out the most of you in the Thai style.

#112 Chatchainoi Chaoraioi - The Best Padman in Thailand (64 min) watch it here

Called The Man of Stone when he was a Golden Age fighter at the Derjat Gym, today he is the best padman in Thailand, as far as we have experienced. Learn what makes his padwork so effective, and the forward, hardnosed Muay Thai style that he teaches.

#61 Arjan Surat 1 - Old School Master (37 min) watch it here

Arjan Surat stands as a tower in the pantheon of great coaches of Thailand. Coach of the Thai National Team, Kru of legends since the Golden Age, there is nobody like him. Learn the basics of his technique, but what is more look into the eyes of the one of the great coaches ever, training legends in his garage for decades.

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