Lessons from a muay thai master

Though muay thai is not an Olympic sport, its growth throughout Asia assures that it will be one quite soon. Unknown to many, its growth in Asia and the settling of many political issues, is largely due to a Filipino, Muaythai Association of the Philippines (MAP) president Robert Valdez.

Valdez, a realtor by profession, has managed to spur the growth of the sport by fostering very close ties with Thai sporting associations, and has raised the level of the sport in the Philippines to the point that, at least in the lower weight classes, the Filipino fighter is respected.

“When we had our last international meeting, there were 55 countries represented,” Valdez recalls. “The demand for muay thai is great internationally, because in places like Europe, boxing is going down.”

In fact, Sweden, which banned professional boxing in 1970, is now rethinking the prohibition, because of the tremendous rise of sports led by Thai boxing, which is very popular among more progressive European nations. Since 2006, the Swedish government is now mulling various proposals for the regulation of boxing.

Valdez, for his part, has risen to the position of secretary-general of the Asian Muay Federation (AMF), a new group of muay thai sports associations throughout the continent. The AMF is recognized by the Olympic Council of Asia, and the recognition has helped two politically-opposed groups from tearing the sport apart. A lot of that was due to the respect given to MAP.

“There are many big events coming up, since the IOC realizes the significance of martial arts now,” Valdez says. “There are the World Martial Arts Games, different Asian competitions, Asian Indoor Games, and our individual world championships. The growth of the sport will really be big, especially in 2009.”

Thanks to Valdez’s efforts and the interest generated by MAP chairman, actor Robin Padilla’s active promotion of the sport, political unity led to the inclusion of muay thai in the 2005 SEA Games in Manila.

Filipinos have also become good enough to beat the Thai progenitors of the sport, and lose close matches with world champion fighters from around the world. This progress is due in large part to MAP’s constant talent identification in the provinces.

“I usually look for four things,” Valdez elaborates. “First, of course, is the talent. You have to have that, and that is the easiest to spot. Secondly, the physical make-up to be a champion. The bones, room for muscle development. Third, of course, is the fighting heart. There are many talented fighters out there, but they change when they get hit. They get scared. And fourth, is the smarts. Once he’s in the ring, the coach can’t help him. He has to know how to use his training.”

Once an athlete is recognized to have great potential, he or she is given training and logistical support at the MAP gym at the PhilSports compound. Then, they are included in national competitions, until they are good enough to be sent abroad.

“If we find them when they are 16 to 19 years old, they can be ready for international competition in a year or two,” Valdez explains. “By around age 28, they will still have the skill and strength, but their speed will start to go. By that time, we just make them instructors.”

With this in mind, Valdez explained why sending a 31-year-old boxer like Harry Tañamor to Beijing would naturally not have been successful, because he would have literally been beaten to the punch by younger boxers.

Muay thai is one of the sports benefitting from the Philippine Olympic Festival project of Philippine Olympic Committee chairman Robert Aventajado. Through the constant exposure and discovery of new talent, the national pool is naturally replenished, and we will not lack for talent. As a result of the competition provided by the Festival, MAP will now be successful in staging a “best of the best” competition to determine the candidates for the 2009 SEA Games in Laos. After that, MAP will be able to arrange matches against foreign opposition.