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Latest News
This page is for news and upcoming events concerning our academy and Muay Thai in general.
I will be keeping a regular update on gradings, courses, inter-clubs and fights, in addition to other events within the academy and Muay Thai worldwide.
You can browse news articles by year or view a summary of all the news ever posted in the News Archive.
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K-STAR INTERCLUB BIRMINGHAM
On Saturday January 31st Chao Phraya Lincoln & Cambridgeshire sent a total of 18 fighters to attend K-Star’s interclub. Unfortunately due to a family bereavement I could not make this event. However Steve Logan contacted me the following day and said every one of my fighters did me and Chao Phraya proud. This was echoed by Kru Leigh Edlin and assistant Kru Samir Hidalgo. For some of you it was your first outing and from what I hear you enjoyed yourselves and the whole experience.
I would like to personally express my gratitude to Kru James Khan for organising Chao Phraya Cambridgeshire and to Kru Leigh Edlin who not only organised Chao Phraya Lincoln but also ensured the full team of 18 fighters were properly prepared and cornered at the event. This would have been an impossible task if he had not been assisted by Assistant Kru Samir Hidalgo and Ben Tull both of whom did an impeccable job. Well done to everybody on maintaining Chao Phraya’s high standards. I will be arranging more interclubs once our fight season is over.
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FIGHT NIGHT BIRMINGHAM MARCH 1ST
Chao Phraya Muay Thai’s first fights of the season kick off at Steve Logan’s promotion at the Tower Ballroom, Birmingham on Sunday 1st March. Fighters stepping out will be Leigh Edlin, James Khan and Steve Johns.
Each fighter will be stepping up a level for their respective fights.
- Leigh Edlin defends his IKF 70kg English title bout against Jeff Binns from Fight Unit.
Both Leigh and Jeff are undefeated, Jeff has a 6 win 2 draw record and Leigh has 6 wins 1 draw. Both fighters are technical and both fighters recently fought Topps from K-Star. Leigh defeated Topps with a knockout in the 3rd round winning the English title. Jeff fought Topps over 5 rounds and won on unanimous points (I was the referee for that fight!). Leigh has been training hard for this fight and is motivated knowing that Jeff stands between a shot at the British title later this year. Expect fireworks as this will be a great fight and is billed as the main event.
- James Khan returns to the ring against David Gumbley 65kg
James will be taking on David Gumbley from K-star over 5 x 2 minute rounds. David is undefeated in 3 professional fights and has KO’d his last 2 with head kicks. James lost a close decision in his professional fight debut a couple of years ago. This is a step up for James and will be a tough fight but James definitely has the tools for the job. Another exciting fight not to be missed!
- Steve Johns v Barry Mountfort 72kg
Steve returns to the ring on the back of his debut fight unanimous win in Birmingham last year. Up against another home crowd favourite from K-Star, Barry Mountfort who is 2wins 1 loss in, a step up for Steve who is ready to do the job!
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FIGHT NIGHT BEDFORD APRIL 5TH
Our second outing of the year takes us to Nigel Thompson’s promotion at the Corn Exchange Bedford on Sunday 5th April. We have Marcus Hill and James Khan on the bill and William Coonie is hoping to be matched up for his debut fight at 108kg as I write this.
- Marcus Hill returns to the ring for a 69kg ISKA title fight against Nesta Roberts from Nemesis.
Marcus is in preparation for a 5 x 2 min ISKA Midland’s area title fight against opponent Nesta. Nesta fought our very own Samir Hidalgo last year on the same bill. He fought a hard battle against Samir who won the fight on unanimous points. Nesta is tough and durable but Marcus has the skill and experience to take this fight if he works to plan. The winner will be the new ISKA Midland’s area title holder.
- James Khan v Thomas Harris 65kg
James second fight of the season is against Dragons Muay Thai’s Thomas Harris over 3 x 2min rounds. Dragons turn out some tough opponents so this should be a good fight for James.
At the writing of this we are still waiting for Will to be matched. Fighting at 108kg this is hoped to be Will’s debut fight. As with all heavyweights, this should be an explosive fight whoever he is matched up with.
So a great line up and some great fights over the coming weeks. Like I said it is time to raise the bar for Chao Phraya’s Nak Muay and all their fights will test them out for not only their skills but their courage and heart. Chock Dee guys!
- Tickets for both shows are available from Kru Shaun and Kru Leigh*
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KRU BYRON GIBSON
Kru Byron, our original founder and my first Muay Thai chief Instructor is currently in the UK. He will be returning back to Thailand at the end of February but is joining us for fighter training in Lincoln on Saturday 21st February.
Byron has been busy over the last year and has entered into the movie business and stunt-work. His first film was playing a baddie against non-other than Jean Claude Van Damme! Byron has had several offers including an audition for Wesley Snipes latest movie. (Hence the short visit to the UK, as he has been called back to Thailand to attend this!). Byron has several plans for the future including setting up a stunt and movie school here in Cambridgeshire. He was recently interviewed by the Cambridge Evening news and I have copied this below. Byron has also set up a web-site for the original Cambridge Muay Thai camp (Surprendre Muay Thai Network – SMTN) which is www.cambridgeoriginalthaiboxing.web.com and is worth checking out to see some photo’s of the past and plans for the future.
Kru Byron still plays an active part with Chao Phraya Muay Thai and it is hoped when he returns in the early summer that he will be conducting a seminar for us.
Kru Byron’s Cambridge Evening news article:
'How I got killed by the Muscles from Brussels'
By Alice Ryan – Cambridge Evening news
Byron Gibson has the kind of life story which reads like the plot for a feel-good film. A troubled teen, caught up in street fighting, he was starting to spiral out of control. But then, quite by chance, he discovered Thai boxing - and began to believe in himself.
Boxing has taken Byron on an incredible journey, spanning two decades and several continents.
And, ironically, it's just landed him a career in the movies.
About to make his big screen debut in The Eagle Path, the latest action-packed flick from Jean Claude Van Damme, Byron says it's a dream come true.
"Me and three other guys chase Jean Claude into this house and there's a big fight scene," explains the 38-year-old, with a grin. "And then Jean Claude kicks me in the head and kills me. At least, that's how it looks: the stunts are amazing."
Byron plays a gangster in the film, scheduled for release later this year. And he's already been cast in three more action movies.
"When I first went to a casting I thought 'They're never going to choose me'," remembers Byron. "But now I think 'You've got to be in it to win it' - that's something I believe 100 per cent."
Byron grew up in Cambridge.
And he's the first to admit his teenage years were turbulent. "I was getting into fights," explains Byron. "I got myself arrested: I got a criminal record as a teenager.
But then I saw an advert for a Thai boxing class, went along and started putting all my energy into training.
"When you're young and have got lots of energy I believe you can go one of two ways: either you go down the road of getting into trouble or you set your mind to something.
"I was 19 when I went to that first class and I was scared to death! But I put my mind to training. For me, Thai boxing levels my mind out. And I think it teaches you to be a better person: it teaches you respect for yourself and for other people.
"It changed my life in lots of ways. Some of those guys I hung around with as a teenager I wouldn't dream of hanging out with now."
Nowadays, Byron is more likely to be hanging out with his movie mates, including legendary "Muscles from Brussels" Van Damme (whose biopic, JCVD, recently won rave reviews). "He's a really sound guy," adds Byron.
"When I first met him I thought he was going to be full of himself, but he came over and shook my hand just like any other bloke. I got to know him and his family and they're all lovely people."
After catching the boxing bug in his late teens, Byron decided to travel to Thailand to hone his skills. Then, working in the construction industry, he saved up to fund the trip: the moment he flew home, he started saving for a return visit.
"I'd earn as much money as I could and then go back," explains Byron. "They do things on a whole different level over there." While back in England, Byron started training his fellow boxers on an ad hoc basis. And then, in 1995, he founded his own gym in Cambridge.
An immediate hit, the gym soon grew to 300 members - including Cambridge's Gerard Coville, who went on to become British Thai boxing champion. And, in partnership with boxer and TV presenter Steve Logan, Byron staged a series of sell-out boxing shows.
In 2001, suffering from "really itchy feet", he decided to quit the gym and travel to Australia. Before he left, Byron met a girl called Leigh Barwell, a graduate of the Bodywork dance school in Cambridge; when he came home, the two got together.
"I still had itchy feet," grins Byron. "We went to Thailand for nine months and travelled round: I wanted to show it all to Leigh."
The couple have divided their time between Bangkok and Cambridge ever since. While Byron set up an export business in Thailand, Leigh was determined to pursue a career in the performing arts: among many other things, she's danced with Thai star Tata Young and trained contestants on Academy Fantasia, the Thai talent show (inspired by Pop Idol).
When Leigh started to audition for movie parts, Byron went along to keep her company. "At this particular meeting, the casting director kept coming up to me, asking who I was blah, blah, blah," explains Byron. "He wanted me to audition but, at the time, I was too scared: I'd never done anything like that before in my life. I asked if I could think about it."
The audition was for a part in The Eagle Path, filmed last summer. "If it wasn't for Leigh I wouldn't be sitting here now," admits Byron. "She told me to go for it and gave me the kick up the backside I needed." Eventually agreeing to do a screen test, Byron was swiftly given a bit part in the film - as a sex tourist.
"I was running round the park one day when I got a call," he continues. "I was told that Jean Claude had seen my tape and said 'We don't want this guy as a sex tourist, we want him as a gangster' - so they'd written me in. I was amazed."
Offering to do all his own stunts, Byron spent three weeks on the film. Inspired by the whole experience, not least working with a stunt man who's doubled for Michael Caine, he is now keen to build a screen career.
"Jean Claude inspired me: he's 49 but he's so fit - and he's amazingly skilled," explains Byron.
"And he gave me a lot of advice too. He sat me down one day and said: 'You've got a face for the movies'. He advised me to take up acting and go to stunt classes."
Byron has already started acting classes and plans to travel to LA to do a stunt course soon.
He's already won three more parts, including another gangster role in a Rutger Hauer movie.
"I actually had to turn that down because I had the flu," he says. "I was gutted, so upset."
Next Byron hopes to win a part in a new Wesley Snipes movie, filming later this year.
And, longer term, he wants to set up a stunt training programme in Cambridge - to appear in movies and stage live demonstrations.
"Slowly but surely everything's coming together," adds Byron.
"It's amazing when you sit and think about it: my life's changed so much."
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FIGHTERS’ MAGAZINE ARTICLES
I have recently written a 3 part article for Fighters’ magazine titled ‘Seeking inspiration, knowledge and a sun-tan in Thailand’. Parts 1 & 2 were released in January and February issues respectively and part 3 will be released in March’s issue. The articles highlight Kru Leigh Edlin’s trip and ultimate fight against a Thai opponent from our journey to Thailand in November of last year.
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FIGHTING FIT© CLASSES
These classes are becoming even more popular and busy. We now have a new start time of 18.15pm – 7.30pm so please make sure you arrive early enough to ensure a place.
The fighting fit© concept is ‘Fighting fit, without the hit’ and offers a safe environment for practitioners to experience Muay Thai pad-work and training without the need to fight or spar. *SPECIAL OFFER* bring along a new student and you can train half price for that session, that’s only £2.00 for the best workout in town!
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