[lomonel]

i wish when i went to college, they offered this as a major....haha.

now....i wonder if you can minor in muay thai. but then i guess no one would want to have a trainer or "kru" who minored in muay thai. if you wanna teach it, you gotta go all the way! haha

[TOD4wDTQ]

And why do people need a degree to do this?

Smells like just a money spinner to me.

It's easy to get work permits for any country to teach muay thai without a degree if you have a letter from your employer or a sponsor.

I'd much rather learn from someone who has had 200+ fights then just has a piece of paper to their name.

It's a well known fact that great athletes don't necessarily become great coaches and trainers.

In fact many of the best coaches in the world, no matter which sport, had a very modest active career themselves

Not to mention experiences from ordinary schools seems to indicate a teacher need to know more then the actual subject he teachers to be a good teacher.

[JacomoR]

Muay Thai studies proving successful for graduates, postgraduates

Muay Thai, or Thai boxing, has become increasingly popular overseas. As a degree is required for those who want to become a Muay Thai trainer abroad, the ‘Muay Thai Study’ programme was set up in Ratchaburi province west of Bangkok, ranging from undergraduate to postgraduate level.

Muay Thai Study and Thai Traditional Medicine College, Muban Chombueng Rajabhat University is the first in Thailand to offer Muay Thai Study courses, from a Bachelor’s degree to PhD levels.

The successful programmes have drawn much attention from foreigners. Current Pakistani ambassador to Thailand, Ahmed Amjad Ali, and his family recently visited the College to check out the programme.

The College has passed on the knowledge of Thai boxing to people in many countries, in order to promote and preserve this cultural heritage.

“We usually send our students to intern abroad. Now, we’ve managed to allocate scholarships for a certain number of students. They’ll make a reputation for our country, and the value in themselves will be added,” said Asst. Prof. Charnchai Yomdit, Director of Muay Thai Study & Thai Traditional Medicine College.

Up until present, Muay Thai has been shared on almost every continent. Boxing camps worldwide have been set up for Muay Thai practice and competitions.

Former Muay Thai boxers from Thailand have travelled abroad to become trainers and many countries require them to have direct academic qualifications.

The ‘Muay Thai Study’ programmes in Ratchaburi are designed to help and promote graduates who can use their education as a credit when looking to be employed overseas.

“If you at least have a Bachelor of Arts in Muay Thai, you can become a successful coach. Like me, for example, I’m qualified with my degree as well as guaranteed by my champion awards,” said Charnchai S. Thamarangsi, a Muay Thai Student and a five-time champion.

“There are many things I’ve gained from the courses. I can pass on my knowledge anywhere where people are interested in Muay Thai,” said Jaran Noilam, a Muay Thai student.

Thai boxing is a type of martial art praised for its beautiful gestures and this is considered one of the most dangerous.

In the past, Muay Thai was deemed a sport for the underprivileged. However, many Muay Thai boxers from Thailand have nowadays graduated with degrees in all different majors.

As Thai boxing coaches are in high demand abroad, so professional boxers with a degree in Muay Thai have an advantage in securing training positions.

Source: MCOT

Muay Thai Study and Thai Traditional Medicine College, Muban Chombueng Rajabhat University (ÇÔ·ÂÒÅÑÂÁÇÂä·ÂÈÖ¡ÉÒáÅСÒÃá¾·Âìá¼¹ä·Â ÁËÒÇÔ·ÂÒÅÑÂÃÒªÀѯËÁÙèºéÒ¹¨ÍÁºÖ§) - http://muaythai.mcru.ac.th/, no English version.

[Progniusis]

Thanks for sharing. Wonderful!

I hope I can still be able to take that course.
I do also practice Muay Thai.

This news reminds me of the degree like that in Taekwondo.

Korea also did this to Taekwondo.

[TOD4wDTQ]

Actually,

One of the first contacts I had with Thailand was back in Sweden when a Thai Muay Thai trainer lived next door. Sadly he could not get a work permit to stay

[Progniusis]

Sved>

Does your neighboor Muay Thai instructor, have ever teach Muay Thai in Thailand? Or he does only teach at Sweden?

[TOD4wDTQ]

Sved>

Does your neighboor Muay Thai instructor, have ever teach Muay Thai in Thailand? Or he does only teach at Sweden?

I cant answer that

because this was long ago during the 90s and what happened was Muay Thai was becomming increasingly popular over here but there were almost no people teaching authentic Muay Thai in Sweden so the club in my city decided to go to Thailand and hire an instructor.

I have no idea what kind of credentials this guy had other then being Thai and an ex fighter. Given his age I assume that was he was. I wasn't particulary interested in Thailand or Muay Thai back then but as the Thai guy shared the appartment with one of my friends I was told a bit was happened and I also read the papers.

And basicially he was refused Work Permit because ... drumroll... the authorities said there was a enough Swedish Kickboxing instructors already.

Because at this time *I think* Muay Thai did not have their own recognized organization but was instead members of the kickboxing one so the authorities refused to recognize an difference between the two

So the guy had to go back to Thailand and I havent seen him since. I remember they even tried to get him to marry a sister of one of the students but he refused

[Ekzamenov]

Wow I hope i can make it back to thailand to train there..I'm still pretty young so maybe in a few years haha I have been Kickboxing in America for 2 years now..so it has always been a goal of mine to take traditional.

[Noilemaillilm]

And why do people need a degree to do this?

Smells like just a money spinner to me.

It's easy to get work permits for any country to teach muay thai without a degree if you have a letter from your employer or a sponsor.

I'd much rather learn from someone who has had 200+ fights then just has a piece of paper to their name.