TO THE uninitiated, combat sports may appear barbaric due to the violent culture they seem to cultivate. The premise is the same in nearly all of these sports: Two fighters head into a ring and, depending on the sport, throw a variation of kicks, punches, knees, and elbows. Although there are safety precautions to limit the risks, the fact that fighters go into the ring with the intent of beating up their opponent creates a dangerous environment for the average martial artist.
More than a vicious fight
As the kru (coach) of the Ateneo Muay Thai team, Andre Puertollano thinks that muay thai goes beyond the blows fighters throw at each other inside the ring. Whenever a fighter is set to compete, he advises them to “focus more [on] how you’re going to showcase what you’ve learned as a fighter. If you’ve really developed as a person as well, it should flow inside that ring.”
Before each contest, there is a ritual that both fighters practice called the wai kru. In this short period, fighters perform a ceremonious dance that pays homage and respect to their teachers, beliefs, trainers, and even their opponent. Performing the wai kru shows how muay thai is not about the violence; rather, it is a showcase of respect and technique between two fighters.
Ivan Alngog, captain of the Men’s Muteam, values respect above all other components of muay thai. “’Yun yung irony sa martial arts kasi. You want to beat up the opponent as much as you can so that you can show him respect. Ibig sabihin, you’re not underestimating him (That is the irony in martial arts. You want to beat up the opponent as much as you can so that you can show him respect. What that means is you’re not underestimating him).”
Alngog recently represented the men’s team in the Philippine Thaiboxing Association Muay Thai Tournament in the Amoranto Theater along with fighter Mico Mallillin last July 26. Both of them won their respective fights, with the former narrowly securing the victory via judge’s scorecards while giving credit to the training that he underwent through the guidance of his kru. What was remarkable about his victory was how he fought throughout the tournament despite having had sustained two injuries during his preparations, a period which is usually just as rigorous as the fights themselves.
Pre-fight preparations
In muay thai, it is the kru that handpicks the fighters who will compete in upcoming tournaments. For Puertollano, his selection process revolves around one key component: Fundamentals. “It all goes back to the basics,” he says. “If I don’t see that their basics are on point and they don’t question their technique anymore, [they are ready].”
One fighter that Puertollano was confident in choosing was Women’s Team Captain Inna Ong. Puertollano spotted the fighter in one of his muay thai physical education classes in the Ateneo and quickly saw the potential she had. Although Ong acknowledges that the training regimen she goes through with the team is rather strenuous, it is her passion for the sport that keeps her going. “When you prepare for a fight, you should love what you do. Nothing will help you through training except for the love and respect for the art,” she explains.
To help Ong and her team fine-tune their skills before a competition, the group performs numerous mini-contests called “sparring sessions”. During these bouts, the team competes against one another to simulate a real fight and accustom each fighter to different kinds of opponents and fighting styles. In these exercises, everyone–including Puertollano himself–competes against each another.
Having constant sparring sessions has been the key ingredient to the powerhouse that is Ateneo Muay Thai. It prepares the fighters physically, through the blows they will expect to receive from a real fight, and mentally, through the mindset they need to go through a grueling match.
In the end, muay thai goes beyond the rigorous preparation, injury risks, and pain that inevitably come with the sport. Ong stresses that she and her team “don’t just fight to win.” She says, “It’s about giving justice to the art.”
