WHO SAID THAT KRU PRAENG DOES NOT

TEACH FOREIGNERS ?

In a relatively long time before Kru Preang established the Muay Chaiya Foundation and up to today, Kru Preang has been training, teaching and disseminating the art of Muay Chaiya and other fighting arts to the many in the general public.  And it could be observed that those who learnt Muay Chaiya and the fighting arts were not limited to only Thais.  There were a number of foreigners as well.  Kru Preang did not restrain from teaching foreigners simply because they are not of Thai ancestry.

• Why aren’t there many foreigners learning with Kru Preang? And why don’t he teach the art in an openly?

Firstly, it must be understood that the Foundation does not impose restrictions on foreigners from learning the fighting arts.  Rather, the Foundation is intent on preventing this martial knowledge from people with bad character.  Furthermore, the art that Kru Preang studied has a tradition of carefully selecting students and we still adhere to these traditions.    

• Can those who studied other fighting arts also study?

Yes.  However, understand that the tradition of Muay Chaiya is not intended to be mixed with other arts.  And in learning Muay Chaiya, the person should, for the moment, set aside the other fighting arts that were previously learnt.  (This tenet in learning and training is actually found in many arts as well.)  The reason for this is that, if the student brings other arts to mix with Muay Chaiya, the student would only understand the form, and would not understand the true principles of Muay Chaiya.

• Will foreigners be able to learn on the same basis as a Thai?

Definitely. Nonetheless, the challenges that the student might find is that, firstly, Muay Thai, and especially Muay Chaiya, was designed for Thai people and is immersed in Thai traditions.  It might not be easy for a foreigner to fully understand these traditions.  The Thai lifestyle and way of thinking are different from other societies.  In addition, there are also limitations imposed by the language barrier to the teaching and discussion.  Thus, it may be difficult for a teacher to assess the student’s understanding at the physical and mental levels in a short period of time.  The limitations to training time that foreigners often face also further adds to the challenges.  Thus, there are few foreigners who were able to study with Kru Preang.  But, this doesn’t mean that there weren’t any.

Now, it must be understood that the purpose of the Muay Chaiya Foundation is preserve and disseminate to people of good character.  Therefore, race is not an important criterion, rather it is character.  It could be said that we have a tradition of determining people for suitability as we are concerned about the problems a person might create for the Foundation in the future.  

• If a foreigner is interested in learning the fighting arts from Kru Preang, what should the person do?

Those who are interested may contact the Foundation directly or through our website.  Currently, we have are starting an intensive training course for foreigners.  If you are interested, you may apply for the course.  However, we are limiting the number of participants as we have limited space and trainers.  You may submit your name and application and it will be reviewed in the application process.