Ajaran Paul Whitrod receives 9th Grade gold sash from the Buddhai Sawan school of Krabi Krabong and Muay Boran. One of the most famous school of thai weapons in the world. There are only a few people who have received 9th grade
Paul Whitrod trains with Grandmaster Ajarn Pramote at the Buddhai Sawan Centre. Here sword and shield is one of the highly sought weapons of krabi Krabong and was used by the army. Later the krabi was added and adapted, which is similar to the Western Rapier, that weapon became associated with the Thai generals and a status symbol.
Ayuttya The Buddhai Sawan of Thailand organised a visit to the Ancient city of Thailand. The Once city of Thailand boasted a training hall dedicated to the art of weapons training etc, known as Krabi Krabong. The temple can still be seen as well as the training grounds. Including the famous well that many went into to escape with their lives to reach the river... click here for daap lor photo gallery.
This art comes under many different names according to the area in Thailand. Boran meaning old or ancient is the most commom name, but not the offical name. It has many skills that modern thai boxing have banned. Its impossible to see Muay Boran as just one art. as each school emphaises differents aspects.
Muay Thai is referred to as "The Art of the Eight Limbs", as the hands, shins, elbows, and knees are all used extensively in this art. A practitioner of Muay Thai ("nak muay") thus has the ability to execute strikes using eight "points of contact," as opposed to "two points" (fists) in Western boxing and "four points" (fists, feet) used in the primarily sport-oriented forms of martial arts.
Recently Paul Whitrod recieved the Mongkol Thong in Muay Boran (Ancient Thai Boxing). This was said to bestow special powers in ancient time and according to tradition
There are two basic shields in Krabi Krabong the long rectangle and the round. The round is known as Lor (daap lor) meaning sword and shield. The round shield although protects you more being a larger area, has its limitations as a striking implement, because only a back hand strike or a pushing motion can be done with it at most. The rectangle shield with its Buddhist symbols (as in the pictures) on it, can be used as a striking tool much more widely, because you only hold it with the hand. Where as the round shield is held with hand and forearm in a secondary strap to support.