According to Wikipedia, Muay Thai (IPA: [/muai32 tʰai32/]; Thai: มวยไทย) also known as Thai Boxing or The Art of the Eight Limbs is the Thai name for a form of hard martial art practiced in several Southeast Asian countries including Thailand. It is known as Pradal Serey in Cambodia, Tomoi in Malaysia, Muay Lao in Laos and as a similar style called Lethwei in Myanmar. The different styles of kickboxing in Southeast Asia are analogous to the different types of Kung Fu in China or Silat in the Malay peninsula. The Thai military uses a modified form of Muay Thai called Lerdrit.

Team Philippines did the country proud when it clinched two gold, one silver and one bronze medals in the recent Asian Muaythai Championships in Bangalore, India.

Youthful Romnick Pabalate, a 19-year old STI scholar from Negros Oriental, outpointed Thai Jakkapol Khamollakhorn in the 48kg division finals to emerge as champion in his first ever international outing.

Philippine Air Force’s pride Anna Joy, a 2005 Southeast Asian Games Arnis gold medalist, duplicated Pabalate’s feat, beating on points another Thai, Molthiro Vattanapackdee, in the 51kg female class of her initial international stint in muaythai.

Playing coach veteran Rodrigo Asiong of Baguio City settled for the silver medal when he bowed on points to Iranian Hossein Rokhneh in the 75kg division after winning halfway through the final four rounder.

Only the fourth member of the squad, sponsored by Philippine Sports Commission and Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT), Eugene Toquero of Cebu City failed to reach the finals as a leg injury forced him to forfeit his semifinal match.

Good News Pilipinas

Post from: EveryJoe

Asian Muay Thai Championships: Philippines Bags Two Golds

• India cueing up for medals
• India’s shooters protest against ‘rude’ officials
• Murofushi pulls out
• Blatter defends decision to allow Iran to play at Games
• Australians could join Asian Games: Blatter
• India unfazed by Rasquinha’s shocking ouster
• Japan aiming to restore judo pride
• India likely to rule in chess
• Daegu pledges big to athletes
• Struggling women battle to avoid being top flops
• Filipinos hope for maiden swimming gold
• Malaysia’s king-to-be pulls out
• Big cash incentives for Chinese swimmers

Find any of the headlines interesting? You can read up over at Gulf Times.

Post from: EveryJoe

2006 Asian Games Headlines – 03 December

Tae Kwon Do, when loosely translated means, “the art of hand and foot”. It is an amalgamation of Japanese, Chinese and traditional Korean fighting styles, and is the most commonly practiced among the martial arts. It is the national sport of Korea and happens to be part of the Olympic roster of events.

Wushu, also known as Modern or Contemporary Wushu, literally means “martial arts”. It is based on the re-interpretation of traditional Chinese martial arts that is composed of 2 disciplines, Taolu and Sanda, which basically means the sport has two faces, an exhibition part, which is similar to gymnasticsand a full-contact or sparring part to showcase the martial art.

As reported in the article I came across, there have been 2 Filipinos who have excelled — winning gold medals at world competitions — in their respective disciplines. Roberto “Kitoy” Cruz in the 1999 Tae Kwon Do World Cup and Mark Rosales in the 1997 World Wushu Championships.

During the last 2005 South East Asian Games, the Philippine team was the over-all champion with the help of the 12 gold medals won by Filipino Wushu artists led by world champions, Willy Wang and Arvin Ting.

With these under the country’s belt, Filipino jins and artists move on to compete in the 15th Asian Games in Doha, Qatar. Expectations and hopes are high, especially with the country’s campaign to exceed the number of golds won [3 golds] during the 2002 Asian Games in Busan.

And as the Olympic Games draw near, the exposure in world competitions that these athletes are getting will help bring their performance to a world class level, worthy to take home the dream of every Olympian, the Olympic gold.

Post from: EveryJoe

Philippines’ Best Hope for an Olympic Gold