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"When most people see a Muay Thai Boxing match they only see the brutal flurry of fists, knees, elbows, and shins. Only those who reach high levels of training or take the time to research the history know that beneath it all lies an ancient ring sport, rich in wisdom, honor, and philosophy.
During my training with Suwat Sidthilaw of Thailand, I would hear the phrase "Parong Jit". Loosely translated it means "Mind Power". As my training got more intense, my instructor would tell me stories of famous Thai Boxers who were known for their almost "Super Hero" powers. Some were famous for the ability to break the leg of their opponents with one kick, some for never losing a match, some for sending out the competition on stretchers, but the ones who impressed me the most, were the fighters who were able to continue fighting with incredible injuries.
Mohammed Ali fought a fifteen round match against Kenny Norton in the 1970's. Even though he lost the decision to Norton, it was later learned that Ali's jaw was broken in the third round! It is amazing what you can do with this ability to put mind over matter.
Recently, I had an opportunity to experience my own "Parong Jit". After a few weeks in California, we decided to begin our journey back to Tennessee. We had left Santa Rosa, California in our Motor home around 6:00pm that evening, not knowing that less than three hours later disaster would strike. Out of nowhere, a pick-up truck ran a stop sign and hit us broadside going sixty miles an hour. The spinning and twisting of the massive metal that had been our RV is something I will never forget but what happened in the next few minutes traumatized me forever. When the dust settled, my wife and I were still in the cab but the entire cabin portion was demolished and laying partially on the ground and partially on the chassis. What horrified us was that our five-year-old son had been asleep in the back at the time of impact, but was now nowhere to be found!
We frantically searched the area, crying out his name in screams of panic. Our biggest fear was that he was trapped in the wreckage, which now looked as if someone had tossed a hand grenade into the RV. Even the floor had been ripped out!
I immediately began to beg those who had now stopped to watch, to help me lift the walls that had crumbled. We strained to move the wreckage so that my wife could climb under and look for our son but we were unsuccessful. As we stood on the chassis, a lady came to the side of the broken walls on the ground and I heard her say softly, "Come on out, Sweetheart". From one of the ends of the wreckage, my precious son came crawling out, not a scratch on him, not even crying. Somehow, a small cubbyhole had formed in the middle of the debris. Wrapped in the futon he had been sleeping on, my little boy had been spared.
The relief and excitement that followed cannot be put into words. I promptly took him to his mother who was hysterically crying, fearing the worst had happened. After reuniting my family, I knew that I could not take another step. I collapsed on the ground beside them where I remained until taken to the hospital by ambulance. As my collar bone swelled to three times it's size and my various other injuries making themselves known in a big way, I wondered how I was able to move so vigorously minutes ago but now I could not even lift my head.
While I drifted in and out of consciousness, my only answer was the love of my son. Even though my body was damaged, my mind was focused on one thing, the safety of my little boy. Once he was in the arms of his mother, my body shut down, knowing the mission had been completed.
So the next time you feel like quitting, remember the fighter's creed, "never give up, never give in, and never say die". You must learn to tap into your "inner strength". It is there for a reason; survival!
Since the accident, I have attributed this to many things, both psychological and spiritual, but in its basic form, this was truly "Parong Jit", or Mind Power." Rick Claude.
During my training with Suwat Sidthilaw of Thailand, I would hear the phrase "Parong Jit". Loosely translated it means "Mind Power". As my training got more intense, my instructor would tell me stories of famous Thai Boxers who were known for their almost "Super Hero" powers. Some were famous for the ability to break the leg of their opponents with one kick, some for never losing a match, some for sending out the competition on stretchers, but the ones who impressed me the most, were the fighters who were able to continue fighting with incredible injuries.
Mohammed Ali fought a fifteen round match against Kenny Norton in the 1970's. Even though he lost the decision to Norton, it was later learned that Ali's jaw was broken in the third round! It is amazing what you can do with this ability to put mind over matter.
Recently, I had an opportunity to experience my own "Parong Jit". After a few weeks in California, we decided to begin our journey back to Tennessee. We had left Santa Rosa, California in our Motor home around 6:00pm that evening, not knowing that less than three hours later disaster would strike. Out of nowhere, a pick-up truck ran a stop sign and hit us broadside going sixty miles an hour. The spinning and twisting of the massive metal that had been our RV is something I will never forget but what happened in the next few minutes traumatized me forever. When the dust settled, my wife and I were still in the cab but the entire cabin portion was demolished and laying partially on the ground and partially on the chassis. What horrified us was that our five-year-old son had been asleep in the back at the time of impact, but was now nowhere to be found!
We frantically searched the area, crying out his name in screams of panic. Our biggest fear was that he was trapped in the wreckage, which now looked as if someone had tossed a hand grenade into the RV. Even the floor had been ripped out!
I immediately began to beg those who had now stopped to watch, to help me lift the walls that had crumbled. We strained to move the wreckage so that my wife could climb under and look for our son but we were unsuccessful. As we stood on the chassis, a lady came to the side of the broken walls on the ground and I heard her say softly, "Come on out, Sweetheart". From one of the ends of the wreckage, my precious son came crawling out, not a scratch on him, not even crying. Somehow, a small cubbyhole had formed in the middle of the debris. Wrapped in the futon he had been sleeping on, my little boy had been spared.
The relief and excitement that followed cannot be put into words. I promptly took him to his mother who was hysterically crying, fearing the worst had happened. After reuniting my family, I knew that I could not take another step. I collapsed on the ground beside them where I remained until taken to the hospital by ambulance. As my collar bone swelled to three times it's size and my various other injuries making themselves known in a big way, I wondered how I was able to move so vigorously minutes ago but now I could not even lift my head.
While I drifted in and out of consciousness, my only answer was the love of my son. Even though my body was damaged, my mind was focused on one thing, the safety of my little boy. Once he was in the arms of his mother, my body shut down, knowing the mission had been completed.
So the next time you feel like quitting, remember the fighter's creed, "never give up, never give in, and never say die". You must learn to tap into your "inner strength". It is there for a reason; survival!
Since the accident, I have attributed this to many things, both psychological and spiritual, but in its basic form, this was truly "Parong Jit", or Mind Power." Rick Claude.
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