[Mambattedge]

Youngest Thai kick-boxing teacher
Daily Xpress

Chon Buri

A six-year-old girl yesterday wowed all visitors to her kindergarten with her adept Thai kick-boxing movements.

Dubbed "Jeeja Noi" (The Young Jeeja) after action star "Jeeja" Yanin Vismitananda, Angkana Sampaongern is so skilled in the martial art that she has taught it on a regular basis.

The girl is believed to be the youngest Thai kick-boxing teacher in the world.

"Kick-boxing is a self-defence art. It's an outstanding activity at our school," Ban Tao Tan Kindergarten director Kosit Setajit said.

The kindergarten yesterday received a visit from education officials who were assigned to guide this lab school before an evaluation panel visits on October 1.

The evaluation results will determine which lab schools will be named the "great schools in your neighbourhood".

Angkana and nine-year-old Sahassawas Lengjamnong were on hand to impress the visiting officials. The young pair demonstrated 15 traditional postures of Thai kick-boxing.

"We expect the kick-boxing demonstration to win the hearts of the evaluation panel," Kosit said.

Angkana started learning the martial art from her father Somchai at the age of four.

"I have run a Thai kick-boxing camp and I am a teacher myself," Somchai said, "As my daughter has mastered the art too, I let her teach the new beginners at my camp."

Angkana has also taught younger students how to box and kick-box. She is also often on tour to demonstrate the martial art.

"I love Thai kick-boxing," Angkana said. "And I am very proud and glad that Jeeja Noi is my alias. I liked Jeeja's actions in the 'Chocolate' movie a lot."

The young girl is aiming high. "I want to become Thai kick-boxing champion one day," she said.