Morakot Sor. Tammarangsi - Master of the Lead Knee (64 min)

I truly enjoyed working with Morakot, for a number of reasons, but mainly I'm always impressed (in the true sense of imprinting) by the way he eats space, stands in, and punishes. There are a handful of small bodied fighters who are scary as hell because of how they aren't afraid and just own space: Burklerk, Lakhin, Rambaa, and absolutely what Morakot demonstrates for me in this lesson checks that box.

Morakot filmed with me at the gym that he grew up in, the Sor. Tammarangsi - Sit Tongsak gym in Bak Chong, Khorat. This is the same gym that Charnchai "Pud 2" hails from, also in the Muay Thai Library as a teep specialist of the Golden Age. Morakot was a Femeu stylist with what Karuhat described to me as "a really painful knee," and sure enough I can see and truly appreciate the truth of Karuhat's memory of suffering against that knee. You'll see just how explosive that knee is. Morakot defeated Hippy Singmanee, the "105 lb Legend of the South" four times... 4 times! He fought for the Lumpinee belt in 3 weight classes in the Golden Age (105, 108 and 118 lbs), but never quite came way with the strap. It vwas just beautiful to film in this Old School gym, the home of some of the best fighters who ever fought, down alleyways in a place I would have a very hard time finding. It's sessions like this that the Muay Thai Library is all about, archiving the muay of Thailand still in these remarkable fighters. I learned a lot from him in this session, I hope you do too!

Kevin adds this note: "This film session is one of my favorites photographically. It was a real special place, and with the rain coming down it had such a feel being there. I hope it comes through. We're always working to raise the aesthetic level of our archive of these greats, so thank you for your support which has allowed us the upgrades in equipment that help my captures like this possible."

What to Look Out For:

1) Standing Leg Strength: the most basic, first and foremost lesson Morakot addresses is being able to handle having your kick caught. Drilling this involves someone holding your caught leg while you hop and balance, increasing strength, confidence, flexibility to move with an opponent trying to off-balance you, etc. It's not easy. Morakot keeps angling my shin into him, which closes my hip and allows me to bar the shin (keeping him back), bend the knee (pulling him in), or just hop and balance without being lifted and thrown.

2) Turn the Hip on a Knee: I have only had one other teacher really emphasize turning the hip on a knee - not angling the leg, which is pretty universal, but actually twisting on the standing foot - and that's Dieselnoi. Morakot says a few times that the turn of the hip and twist of the standing foot is exactly the same as a kick and I can feel that. Silapathai also said a knee is the same movement as a kick, but his knees are kind of a knee/shin blend; so, almost 3 teachers. The turn on the knee adds incredible power with no extra effort on your part, but it makes them sharp. I struggle with my right knee, as it just kept wanting to come upward instead of bending around, and I ended up hurting myself on Morakot's elbows. This, again, has to do with the standing leg, not the kneeing leg.

3) Jabs Forever: Most Femeu fighters have a very active teep game, as a way to juggle an opponent before landing a more powerful or high scoring shot. Morakot does almost everything the same as that, but with a jab instead of the teep. Because he likes to be much closer than a teep would allow. It's incredibly quick and he fakes it a lot as well.

4) Block to Close Distance: Morakot is a prime example of "ning," the Thai concept of being unmoved, unperturbed, unbothered. He just blocks and then eats the empty space. Guard and attack. Pivot if needed.

5) Rook, Rap: this is a Thai phrase for being able to fight both forward and backward, and Morakot spends time working with me on this. It's the same pace, the same distance, but you're either eating space or closely reeling your opponent in. These side pivots and angles are super important as the retreating fighter - rap. The faking and blocking is super important for the approaching fighter - rook.

6) Arm Control and Pushing in Clinch: the non-clinching clinch of the Golden Age is beautiful. In Thai they say "lai kaen," which means to control the arms and shoulders, it was a way to anti-clinch but it's also clinching. It's just not locking. So Morakot works with me on catching an opponent's arms as they're trying to grab, then turning and scoring; pushing and scoring.

7) No Meaningless Movement: Morakot scolds me a few times for meaningless "dancing" about with my footwork. No. Don't move for the sake of moving, it has to be within the context of a feeling, tracking, paced rhythm. That's part of ning as well, you can't be flitting around, but you're also not stuck to the ground. Just watch him and watch me, you'll see the difference. Be like him.

Edited Stills and Photos from the Session

After the session we asked Morakot to name the 5 greatest Muay Thai fighters of all time, these were his answers:

watch it here  

Other Library Sessions Mentioned in My Commentary:

#82 Chanchai Sor. Tummarungsri - The King of Teeps (54 min) watch it here

Perhaps in all the Library there is no session more devoted to, and detailing of the art of the teep. Chanchai is a Golden Age legend known for his undefeatable teep, and clearly has spent many years dissecting all the small parts that make his teep so incredible, so students can learn it for themselves. Dive into the art of the teep in this one!

#75 Lakhin Wasantasit - Boxing & Muay Thai Organized Destruction (76 min) watch it here

Lakhin was a beast, to stand in front of him was to invite disaster. Perhaps no fighter of the Golden Age was more feared for his hands. In this session he shows just what made him so intimidating, and how he developed a style predicated on inflicting maximum damage.

#39  Khorat Saknarin - Precise Tensions (97 min) watch it here

The muay of Kru Khorat is kind of incredible. I've been in front of a lot of legends and krus but this hidden gem kru was just bristling with techniques and a dynamic, violent Muay Thai. And it felt like it could go on for hours. He's a kru who has thought a lot about his Muay Thai and probably sharpened it even after his retirement from fighting. This session is a treasure trove.

Lots of Karuhat - listed here 

#76 Dieselnoi Chor Thanasukarn 4 - How to Fight Tall (69 min) watch it here

There several sessions with the King of Knees in the Muay Thai Library, this is the fourth, but this is the first one where he gets the chance to teach a tall, long fighter like he was. If you are a tall fighter this is the session you don't want to miss. He is arguably the GOAT, an in this session he unfolds his entire fighting system of knee fighting pressure and distance control.

#49 Chamuakpet Hapalang - Devastating Knee in Combination  (66 min) watch it here

The most decorated fighter of the Golden Age with 4 Lumpinee Belts and 5 Rajadamnern Belts, and the Fighter of the Year award (1985), Chamuakpet, a gym-mate of Dieselnoi, teaches his beautiful and devastating Southpaw knee to the open side, in combination. His fast, powerful knee was practically unstoppable and in this session you can see why.

#81 Chamuakpet Hapalang 2 - Muay Khao Internal Attacks (65 min) watch it here

One of the all time greats gives his 2nd session of the Library. 9x Lumpinee and Rajadamnern champion, 1985 Fighter of the Year, a man who took belts from both Samart and his brother Kongtoranee, his Muay Thai has been lauded as one of the best that have ever been. In this session he teaches his rising KO out knee, straight up the center, his philosophy of grips, pulls and elbows in the clinch, and just in punching range. Not to be missed.

#5 Hippy Singmanee - Developing Power (69 min) - watch it here

Two-time Lumpinee champion Golden Age legend Hippy Singmanee takes me though one of the most unique and valuable hours I've spent with a top trainer. He is building ground up how power and relaxation are related to each other. This session has been highly influential upon my own training. Learn how spacing+timing+relaxation produces dynamic power.

#90 Arjan Surat 2 - His Old School Tough & Defensive Style (94 min) watch it here

A legend of Bangkok and coach of the Thai National Team, Arjan Surat has a toughened, defense oriented, forward style. In this session he builds it from the ground up, starting with his old school arm swing on the kick (no swing, instead using it to simultaneously block), emphasizing balance and solid framing. Watch and learn!