Video of my Thaiboxing Instructor Test...

[ryangruhn]

Hi Guys, I am still a little unsure of the purpose of this test. To be an instructor of Muay Thai i would think it unusal not to have fight experience.

While not a requirement, many instructors (myself included) have had fight experience before taking the test.

To kick the pads 60 times and knee 40 would demonstrate a good level of fitness.

Exactly so.

My biggest concern with the test is that at not time was the kicker getting a chance to demonstrate his defence. For me to kick and then check, sway away or block a kick/punch might be a more logical idea. The student could then show that he had a defence and in this case a more variety of attack by the pad holder would be needed. if he blocked the licks the pad holder would noy kick so hard once he banged hid shins a few times, so perhaps shin pads might have been a good idea?

Trust me, he was trying to defend and shin pads are now a requirement for the pad holder.

I understand that this was a tough test and a lot of heart had to be shown to get through. To me the test show that the kicker had heart and was fit but technique and defense seemed to be forgotten.

Im not sure how long the kicker had been training and perhaps this test proved that he was strong and really wanted to learn Muay Thai i am sure he felt a good sense of achievement when he passed.

Tim, (the gentlemen in this video) of Tim Mousel's Self Defense who runs this board humbily admits to not passing the first time he took the test.

The people who didnt pass? Not tough enough to learn?

I'm not sure I understand this?

Personally i believve if the trained the student properly and let him fight in the ring club or what ever he would have a better chance to illistrate his interpretion of Muay Thai or if the trainer used shin and belly pads as in Thailand for five hard rounds kicking him back it would be perhaps a better test?

As mentioned previously while this is not a requirement by the TBA many instructors like to see their instructors have some fights under their belt before they test. The belly pad is also a requirement now for the pad holder. Head gear is also manditory for the kicker.

Gruhn

[buster brown]

Gruhn, In your last post,do I understand you to say you have actual thai boxing ring experience? your quote:

While not a requirement, many instructors (myself included) have had fight experience before taking the test.

Thats awesome!!
How many fights have you had? whats your record,... and weight class? How many rounds were your fights?
Did you fight in thailand?
I would love to hear more about your thai fighting experience.
Buster

[ryangruhn]

In your last post,do I understand you to say you have actual thai boxing ring experience?

I believe I said fight experience.

Thats awesome!!
How many fights have you had? whats your record,... and weight class? How many rounds were your fights?
Did you fight in thailand?
I would love to hear more about your thai fighting experience.

Gladfully,
Here is a brief synopsis:

I ran into the problem when I started competing that I liked to have as many tools available in a fight. Boxing only limited me to my hands, kickboxing only limited me to my hands, feet and knees, . . . MMA while recently not allowed in many sanctions had allowed elbows and grappling but Kali-Silat and Krabi-Krabong have always been strong influences of mine as well. Unfortunately they don’t allow stickfighting in MMA or Thaiboxing Because of this I chose fight in Real Contact Stickfighting events where I can use all of my techniques. I did several tournaments but have since resorted to only fighting in the Dog Brothers ~ "Gathering of the Pack" every year. Here are a few video clips that I am in:

http://www.realcontactfighting.com/videos/mdopen2005/Fight.mpeg

(I'm "skin" that ends the fight with knees )

http://dogbrothersvideo.com/dbpitch.wmv

Gathering November 2005 – Reality Show (I play Ryan Gruhn the college student)


Sorry I don't have more video clips of my fights at this time, there are however a few of my fights featured in DBMA DVD’S if you wish to check them out.

Hope This Helps! Now it's your turn

Gruhn

[buster brown]

Ryan, Sorry man, I just assumed that since the thread was about thai instructership, that your fight experience was in thai kickboxing.
That being the ring experience would have aided you in giving you credability as a thai instructor. I guess I just misunderstood.

As for my turn, well I don't have any fight experience, and I guess am just more of a fan than anything else... It was actually the idea of seeing fight video that drew me to this thread.

Having said that, I will say that, at one time I thought I would learn a martial art, and happend upon the dog brothers. I bought a couple of their vhs videos.
I have the power tape and the footwork tape. I grew kind of tired of it and didn't have the money to spend on any others.

I find it awesome that your a dog brother!! How long have you been a dog brother?
You must have fought in a lot of gathering of the packs to be featured in their videos!!
What videos are you in? Is the footage of you fighting in the gathering of the pack or are you instructing?
How many dog brother gathering of the packs have you fought in?

How many stick fights have you fought at the gathering of the pack?

Have you ever been hurt at a gathering of the pack?

Would you say that fighting in a gathering of the pack is harder than fighting a thai kickboxing match?

Sorry to ask so many questions, I find it just crazy that people actually beat each other with sticks.
I could never do that........

[ryangruhn]

Ryan, Sorry man, I just assumed that since the thread was about thai instructership, that your fight experience was in thai kickboxing.
That being the ring experience would have aided you in giving you credability as a thai instructor. I guess I just misunderstood.

It's all good. Fighting is fighting, plain and simple.

In regards to all your Dog Brothers questions, . . . YES

Part of the idea of DBMA is that we don't keep track.

The MAGIC WORDS: "No judges, no referees, no trophies. One rule only: Be friends at the end of the day. This means our goal is that no one spends the night in the hospital. Our goal is that everyone leaves with the IQ with which they came. No suing no one for no reason for nothing no how no way!
Real Contact Stickfighting is Dangerous and only you are responsible for you. Protect yourself at all times. All copyright belongs to Dog Brothers Inc. CA law applies."

I would definitely check out some of the new DVD'S DBMA has put out, extremly good stuff. Check em out, see if you can pick out which ones I am in.

Gruhn

[buster brown]

Ryan, Its the internet you can be king if you want to be.
Though, I am unappreciative of you deleting my posts or having them deleted
Thats just UNCOOL!!
SB

[Hardball]

I saw Ajarn Chai test two people in New Jersey and the test was just as brutal as this one. I think it means something to pass a test of this nature. You feel like you really earned your stripes. My JJJ Black Belt exam was about 6 hours long and I was near dead to the point of an outer body experience but besides Army Life I would not trade that experience for anything. It's like once in a lifetime; then you carry your badge of Honor for the rest of your life.

It took a lot of Heart and Courage to retake that test 6 months later!!

[aikithai]

thanks for sharing

Tim,
One of my students saw your test online and was impressed with, and told me about it to view via e-mail link and I did not know it was you he was speaking of, but however, I viewed and quickly realized it was you and I just wanted to thank you for being so humble to share your test with us all.
It was a good test in terms of heart and what an instructor has to go through in Adjarn Chai's cirriculum !
This says a lot about you in my book and folks should learn from your humbleness and assertiveness.
Hope you and yours are doing well.
Thanks again,
John Sosa
International Aikido
AikiThai
Dojo

[Troll Virus]

http://dogbrothersvideo.com/dbpitch.wmv

Great stuff Ryan.
Marc needs to lose those sideburns though.

[chalambok]

We just attended Master Chai's seminar this past weekend in Portland, Oregon. A great time, just like always; even got to see two tests. Which reminded me of this little bit. I held first round for Chris Clarke. He is quite a bit taller than I, so it is no surprise (now!!) he kneed me in the balls. Not too hard, but still an 'aha' moment. We both startled giggling like second-graders, until Chris said "We better stop or he'll kill us both."

[beeran1]

We just attended Master Chai's seminar this past weekend in Portland, Oregon. A great time, just like always; even got to see two tests. Which reminded me of this little bit. I held first round for Chris Clarke. He is quite a bit taller than I, so it is no surprise (now!!) he kneed me in the balls. Not too hard, but still an 'aha' moment. We both startled giggling like second-graders, until Chris said "We better stop or he'll kill us both."

I was there as well but missed the ball-shot Way to cover it up

[StephenRay]

Hey Tim,
I saw the two videos. I am very angry at your testers. You should have sued them. Either that, or you should hire a hit man.

Especially that second round, that guy kept kicking you agressively when you were tired and he was not tired because he wasn't moving very much.

He took advantage of his higher skill and the situation to enjoy his sadism.

I saw him move in and prevent your attacks with his weight and big bones to kick and deliberately injure you.

He out weighed you at least 50 pounds. His bones were twice as big as yours.

I say he is a son-of-a-B#*#!!@

[GQchris]

I have the same reaction as Stephen about that 2nd video, that guy was a #@%&* !! what was the purpose of that...

[StephenRay]

Since the last post in that thread was almost one year ago, I figured no one would ever see my post, but I feel strongly about it, so I wanted to speak up.

I reject the old sadist logic of beating somebody up, injuring them to test their heart. It is not necessary to injure someone to test their heart. A strong and worthy heart is seen in the regular and continual and sacrificial training which improves skill.

And real heart can be seen in those rare moments of real combat, in an emergency situation where you must risk injury to protect yourself and others from harm.


Martial Arts training is to teach us how to prevent injury! And anyone of larger weight, bone size and skill who beats on somebody is just perverse.

An injury decreases your skill in martial arts by preventing you from training. So you actually lose skill and especially endurance while you are recooperating. And while recooperating, you are prevented from improving your skill and moving up in rank too.

[Guest]

Hey Tim,
I saw the two videos. I am very angry at your testers. You should have sued them. Either that, or you should hire a hit man.

Especially that second round, that guy kept kicking you agressively when you were tired and he was not tired because he wasn't moving very much.

He took advantage of his higher skill and the situation to enjoy his sadism.

I saw him move in and prevent your attacks with his weight and big bones to kick and deliberately injure you.

He out weighed you at least 50 pounds. His bones were twice as big as yours.

I say he is a son-of-a-B#*#!!@

Sifu Terry Gibson R.I.P. A superb instructor and gentleman, loved and respected by all who knew him.

This is Master Chai's Instructor Test, not figure skating. One of the mantras of the test is to overwhelm the candidate physically so it becomes a matter of heart and soul. Everyone who steps up to do this test knows that, its not supposed to be "fair", its supposed to be hell.

I have seen other people test with holders who were just as aggressive if not more so than the late Mr Gibson, they are just doing their job. And pass or fail, everyone walks off the mat as friends, and brothers.

If that isn't your thing, or you don't understand it, then OK. But don't throw offensive insults around about a man you know nothing about, and one who I'm sure Mr Mousel respected greatly.