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The Muay Kaad Chuak
by Scott Mallon (Thai Boxing Gear)
Photos by Jason Doze / Photos of "The Eyes" and Kit Cope with his opponent at the weigh-in were shot by me.
For more information on Scott Mallon and ThaiBoxingGear.com
( please click on the above banner.)
Every year in April there’s a relatively unknown martial arts event unlike any other in the world. Bare-knuckled Muay Thai or Muay Kaad Chuak as it’s known in Thai, uses brutally simple rules abandoned over a thousand years ago. In addition to the elbows, knees, punches and kicks used in Muay Thai, head-butts and throws are also allowed.
Fighters don’t use gloves but instead wrap their hands with a hemp rope. These wraps cause frequent cuts and abrasions and provide little padding. There are five, three minute rounds, and the contests are often wild and bloody. Victory comes by surrender or knockout and if both participants are still standing at the end of the bout, the fight is declared a draw.
The Muay Kaad Chuak takes place in Mae Sot, Thailand, at the peak of the hot season, on the border of Myanmar (formerly Burma). It’s held during the Songkran Water Festival which celebrates the Thai New Year and also the coming of the rainy season.
This marked the first time ever American fighters have competed in the Muay Kaad Chuak. Renowned Muay Thai trainer Master Toddy prepared four of his top fighters for the event; Kit Cope, Ben Garcia, Anthony Brown and Saul Mitchell. The show was to be broadcast on Thai television and CMX Sportsvision.com. MTV followed the fighters from start to finish for their True Life documentary series, titled I’m a Muay Thai Boxer and the event was larger than ever before.
There were a total of eight fights including the matches with the four Americans. Of the four Thai vs. Burmese fights, two ended in draws and two ended in knockout victories for the Thais. In this sort of bout it’s extremely rare for any fighter to go the full five rounds and remain unscathed. Most combatants end up with fat lips, a lumpy head and eyes that are either swollen shut, or at the very least, surrounded by a deep purple mask.
I
n the end, three of the Americans won their fights by knockout and the fourth was knocked out. However, upon closer inspection it was no real miracle the Americans pulled off what some might consider an upset. The Burmese fighters have nowhere near the resources that the Americans have and the U.S. has started producing true world class fighters. However, there was one redeeming factor for the Burmese when Ton Ton Yangoon knocked out Saul Mitchell in the last fight. This gave the Burmese their lone win and salvaged a small portion of their honor.
It seems though that very little comes easy for the Burmese. They came into Thailand on a one day border pass and were required to be out of the country by 5 PM the same day. When one of the boxers missed the deadline because he was still fighting, Thai immigration promptly locked him up in the border jail. Fortunately, the promoter Surisak and Master Toddy were able to clear up the matter and help him on his way. With $25 dollars in his pocket and a few hours after being knocked out, the fighter began his long journey home.
© Scott Mallon
* Article by Scott Mallon (Thai Boxing Gear)
Photos by Jason Doze / Photos of "The Eyes" and Kit Cope with his opponent at the weigh-in were.
* Back to This Issue's Frontpage
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