Muay Thai Legend Saenchai Breakdown
Saenchai (formerly known as) Sor. Kingstar has won the Lumpinee Championship title in four different weight classes, mostly above his weight. He is considered by many to be the best pound for pound Muay Thai fighters in the world, now and/or ever. Against non-Thai’s the gap in skill is so great he will go up as high as 147 pounds, which is about 15 lbs above his weight class. He retired from serious competition in 2014, and now solely competes against foreign fighters sometimes called Nak Muay Farang, meaning “foreign boxer. For myself, and other
He retired from serious competition in 2014, and now solely competes against foreign fighters sometimes called Nak Muay Farang, meaning “foreign boxer. For myself, and other Western combat sports enthusiasts it is hard to get a mental grasp on his professional Muay Thai record with 300 Wins, 52 Losses (with most if not all of them being by decision), and 3 Draws at the age of 36 years old.
Saenchai is a southpaw or left-handed / stance fighter. The southpaw is dangerous, the different stance creating power from different angles. The majority of training an orthodox striker has done in sparring and/or competition is normally and predominantly against other orthodox strikers, while the southpaw has the same disparity work in their favour.
Left-handedness in Sports
Left-handedness is far from a prerequisite for learning to fight southpaw though. In striking arts, there is a common thread that in the “Far East”; Thailand and Japan particularly, southpaws are much more common, as is left-handedness in general. However many of the more successful southpaws in the world are simply southpaws because they chose to be; Anderson Silva, Mirko Cro Cop, and the Diaz brothers are all right-handed, while Marvin Hagler and Manny Pacquiao are apparently ambidextrous.
He is known for having an off the chart fight IQ, dramatic footwork; often in the form of drastic centre-line manipulation, kick catching abilities, powerful sweeps, varietal attacks, and cat-like reflexes that aid him defensively, such as his ‘lean back’ high kick evasion.
Saenchai is an interesting dichotomy of Thai traditionalist and quixotic pugilist, using both fundamentally sound and exotic and/or uncommon techniques traditionally seen in modern-era Muay Thai. Many of his attacks/techniques are rooted more in Muay Boran, which loosely means ‘Ancient Boxing’ dates back to Siam in the 18th century as a form of militaristic, hand to hand combat. It was not until the 1930’s that equipment, structure and rule set changed the form to sport.
Music:
- Bassvomit – Past Regrets [Bass Boosted] (HD)
- ÉWN – Feels [NCS Release]
- Anikdote – Life Is Over [NCS Release]
- Video Footage Courtest of: Saenchai Highlights Muay Thai and Saenchai Highlights
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