Watch an episode of Ultimate Fighting Championships on Spike TV, and you might notice that those fighters incorporate Muay Thai techniques. You might already know that Muay Thai stylist Tony Jaa, the star of Ong-Bak and more recently, The Protector, is very cool. More evidence of the growing popularity of Muay Thai was seen and heard April 20, when the San Jose Civic Auditorium was filled with loud fans who had come to watch the Strikeforce Kickboxing Championship.
One of the loudest sections in the crowd was filled with supporters of San Francisco-based World Team USA, which had three fighters competing, including Michael Mananquil, who brought home the world title last October and easily won the last match of the night against Ben Yelle. In the cheering section was also North American champion Keri Taylor, whose fight was cancelled just days before when her opponent dropped out.
“Everyone loves Michael. He teaches everyone,” says Taylor. “So when we see him, we support him completely.”
Mananquil is confident, but not cocky, even though he has only lost once and his Strikeforce match was filmed for a documentary by the people behind Babel. Neither he nor trainer Kru Sam Phimsoutham wants to hog the limelight, each saying that the documentary focuses on the other person.
“Kru teaches me life lessons. Be good. Be kind and generous,” says Mananquil. “If you get some instructor that’s just feeding you junk and telling you to beat up people, it’s going to reflect on yourself as well.”
Mananquil started Muay Thai ten years ago at the suggestion of a family friend. At 15, he was Phimsoutham’s youngest student at the time.
“I don’t know what I was expecting, so I did my first class, and immediately I was hitting things, which I liked,” says Mananquil. “I guess at the age I was, I needed some direction. I played soccer but this was a lot more fun.”
Although the only women who stepped into the ring during the championship were miniskirt-clad Bud Light girls, not all championships are as testosterone-filled. Taylor started only three years ago in a cardio-kickboxing class, but once she tried Muay Thai, she knew she wanted to compete in the ring.
“I’ve always been a little firecracker,” says Taylor. A City College student, and a babysitter for Primsoutham’s son, she appears anything but a champion fighter. “I like the fact that I’m girly, but I also like to get in there and kick butt.”
Now that is even cooler than watching Tony Jaa bend elbows the wrong way.