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- May 23, 2013
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Wow... awesome!
I'd rather see kids in underdeveloped countries engage in combat sports then get hooked on drugs or become canon fodder for warlords.
This is Phetjee Jaa O. Meekhun. She's now 13. I've trained with her almost everyday for the last year here in Pattaya, Thailand. She is not only an amazing fighter, a great girl.
If you'd like to read more about her I've written maybe 15 articles: 8limbs.us - Phetjee Jaa O. Meekhun - Archive
For those that have pointed out how insane her clinch is, as a clinch fighter myself who outweighs her by 8-9 kg (almost 20 lbs) and has clinched with her countless times, she is incredibly strong and skilled - extremely difficult to get down and a complete handful. She is an overwhelming talent. Not only in terms of technique and physical strength, but also in drive. This level of clinch is very rare for even a Thai girl. She probably the best clinching female Thai fighter on the planet, pound for pound. She has probably over 150 fights.
She's right now in an in between place in terms of opponents. Thai governing bodies have banned her from fighting boys any longer about a year and a half ago which really cut off the family's income. She was beating boys regularly on national TV. She isn't big enough to fight the top Thai female fighters (that starts at about 46 kg/101 lb). So she's slowly taking on opponents much, much bigger than her (there are a few fights at that link), the gym is struggling, as everyone waits for her to get from her current weight of 39 kg to maybe 42 kg. Then she can start taking on top female talent.
This is her as my corner actually giving me my blessing and taking off my mongkol for a fight, something I've never seen a female do in Thailand, let alone a girl. She is very special in how she breaks boundaries:
in Thailand, how big are the biggest stars of MT? I dont mena physically, but by rather how are they viewed by the public? Are they big heroes? Or famous people like celebs from movies/music entertainment? Or just known by name?
That's a hard question to answer because there is no easy way to scale it. They certainly aren't as big in fame as they were in the 1990s when Muay Thai was in it's heyday, and purses have fallen. Though there is national pride, it's looked down upon as a lower-class sport, and generally not in keeping with modern Thailand. The biggest fans are older, often from rural areas, gamblers, have a kind of "red neck" reputation, if I can put it that way. Some shows like Thai Fight attempt to grow stars by having their best beat western fighters with lots of high production value, and it is now starting to be marketed more as a middle class exercise, but it has a LONG way to go in that. It is struggling demographically. Thais complain that it is more appreciated by westerners than by the Thai people.
She's right now in an in between place in terms of opponents. Thai governing bodies have banned her from fighting boys any longer about a year and a half ago which really cut off the family's income. She was beating boys regularly on national TV. She isn't big enough to fight the top Thai female fighters (that starts at about 46 kg/101 lb). So she's slowly taking on opponents much, much bigger than her (there are a few fights at that link), the gym is struggling, as everyone waits for her to get from her current weight of 39 kg to maybe 42 kg. Then she can start taking on top female talent.
We're you involved in the production of "Buffalo Girls" at all?
Also, I trained with you briefly a few years back in Chiang Mai. It's great to see that you are still going strong! What made you change gyms?
This is Phetjee Jaa O. Meekhun. She's now 13. I've trained with her almost everyday for the last year here in Pattaya, Thailand. She is not only an amazing fighter, a great girl.
If you'd like to read more about her I've written maybe 15 articles: 8limbs.us - Phetjee Jaa O. Meekhun - Archive
For those that have pointed out how insane her clinch is, as a clinch fighter myself who outweighs her by 8-9 kg (almost 20 lbs) and has clinched with her countless times, she is incredibly strong and skilled - extremely difficult to get down and a complete handful. She is an overwhelming talent. Not only in terms of technique and physical strength, but also in drive. This level of clinch is very rare for even a Thai girl. She probably the best clinching female Thai fighter on the planet, pound for pound. She has probably over 150 fights.
She's right now in an in between place in terms of opponents. Thai governing bodies have banned her from fighting boys any longer about a year and a half ago which really cut off the family's income. She was beating boys regularly on national TV. She isn't big enough to fight the top Thai female fighters (that starts at about 46 kg/101 lb). So she's slowly taking on opponents much, much bigger than her (there are a few fights at that link), the gym is struggling, as everyone waits for her to get from her current weight of 39 kg to maybe 42 kg. Then she can start taking on top female talent.
This is her as my corner actually giving me my blessing and taking off my mongkol for a fight, something I've never seen a female do in Thailand, let alone a girl. She is very special in how she breaks boundaries: