#116 Samson Isaan 3 - Dern Pressure Fighting & Defense (44 min)

There's nobody quite like Samson. He was Muay Khao, a prolifically successful Western Style Boxer, Fighter of the Year in 1991, an absolute relentless force in the ring, and amidst all of that his playful, cheeky boyishness has never faded.  To be the kind of fighter Samson was, defense was a must and I don't think he gets the credit he deserves for how air-tight a lot of his technique was.

In this session we focus a great deal on how to defend for a forward style. Guards are meant to be flexible, which doesn't mean "loose," but more like plasticity. If you're going to hunt people down the way Samson could, you have to be able to defend at a number of distances, you have to not run through your ranges and you can't snuff your own power. All of these are subtle skills but watching Samson execute his style in a practice setting really illustrates how you get there.

What to Look Out For:

1) "Sticking the Landing": this phrase comes from gymnastics and refers to how one lands off of whatever completely incredible flips have just been executed. As much height, power, twists and turns as you can achieve means little unless you stick the landing. That means balance, control, and aesthetically legible. Samson makes his strikes very readable by "sticking the landing" of kicks, knees, punches, shoves, etc.

2) Pace: Samsons pace is top level. It's not how fast or how slow it is, it's how consistent it is. He's never rushing, he's never dragging, and he appears to never really be interrupted. That's only possible with good defense, but it's also about balance and being able to breathe throughout the intensity of a fight.

3) Not Collapsing Range: we do a few different techniques with the opponent against the ropes. Samson shows how to deal with "Wall of China" defenses or even someone grabbing you, or just trying to keep you at bay with their back against the ropes. The key is not crashing through your own range and both getting stuck on the ropes.

4) Mid-Movement Momentum: a lot of what Samson does in the clinch predates the modern tendency to lock. Without locking, clinching is a lot more about angles, pulls, creating and then pushing momentum. Off-balance your opponent, score, change position and repeat.

5) The Hole in the Stabbing Knee: there's a knee that's become quite popular in contemporary Muay Thai. You don't even see it much in the ring, but it's in all the training videos. It's showy, looks mean, etc. Very, very occasionally you might see it in a fight where there's a large disparity in the opponent's skill or experience; or you maybe see it when someone is already a bit weak from other clinching and knees - but Samson doesn't approve. He shows how easy it is to dodge and actually turn the technique against the person trying to use it. The reason it's worth looking at so closely is not the knee itself, but rather the strategy of being able to be a pressure fighter but use sudden releases of that pressure to amazing results.

6) How a Guard is a Weapon: Samson shows how to push with the guard, elbow from it, hook out of it, release under pressure into something else and then come right back. He definitely has a signature guard position, but the guards he actually uses are many.

If you enjoyed this session definitely check out these others in similar themes of fighting:

#41 Samson Isaan 1 - The Art of Dern Fighting (64 min) watch it here

To "dern" in Thai is to "walk", which means basically to just come forward no matter what, to create a relentlessness. Voted Fighter of the Year in 1991, Samson Isaan was one of the great Dern Fighters of the Golden Age, and in this session he shows his forward pulsing techniques which are meant to just overwhelm his opponent. Also a great session for pressure Southpaw fighters.

#74 Samson Isaan 2 - Muay Khao & Western Boxing Excellence (59 min) watch it here

In 1991 there was no fighter more of a force than Samson Isaan, who took Fighter of the Year then. His relentless style combining Muay Maat punching aggression with Knee Fighting pressure and clinch made him a wrecking ball. In this session discover what made this little fighter so impossible to handle.

#66 Kru Gai Petchrungruang - Proper Dern and the Impossible Trip (63 min) watch it here

One of the great Muay Khao padmen of Thailand, Kru Gai teaches the proper, unabated but unhurried Dern (walking) attack of Muay Khao, and don't miss his incredible trip that feels almost impossible to defend. Not easy to master, but if you do it could make you unstoppable.

#52 Krongsak Prakong-Boranrat - That Shoving Energy (56 min) watch it here

Legendary Krongsak, a man who beat Sagat 3x, and fought Dieselnoi to a draw, gives a session that is all about the right fight energy in training. He places great importance on eye-contact, and making sure your strikes really finish, as well as focusing on the back foot in stance, the rudder of the boat.

#51 Berneung Kem Muaythai Gym - Big Man Timing, Not Power (66 min) watch it here

Berneung, despite being a power, Muay Khao fighter is a big advocate of timed pressure, and using timing to disrupt and ultimately dismantle your opponent. This session is full of teep tactics, switching into opposite stance, clinch trips and turns, and a thinking many's Muay Khao approach.

#69 Sagat Petchyindee 4 - Muay Maat Tigers & Snakes (67 min) watch it here

Sagat details his ferocious, hands-heavy style in this session, teaching perfect balance and very aggressive spacing. The secrets to his power, how everything flows out of his core and his organized stance are on full display. Nobody like him.

#75 Lakhin Wasantasit - Boxing & Muay Thai Organized Destruction (76 min) watch it here

Lakhin was a beast, to stand in front of him was to invite disaster. Perhaps no fighter of the Golden Age was more feared for his hands. In this session he shows just what made him so intimidating, and how he developed a style predicated on inflicting maximum damage.

#45 Langsuan Panyutapum - Monster Muay Khao Training (66 min) watch it here

One of the greatest knee fighters who ever fought, 1987 Fighter of the Year Langsuan shows how an elite Muay Khao fighter of his day trained. This session is powerful on the basics that elevate the body and mind, at high repetition, allowing the relentless, pressing style that made Langsuan the fighter nobody wanted to fight.

#110 Samson, Namkabuan, Dieselnoi & Karuhat! Muay Khao Summit Session (2 hrs) watch it here

This unique session brings together the genius of 4 great legends of Muay Thai, including the late Namkabuan. Not only are the techniques taught beautiful, so are the interactions of these great fighters. A session for lovers of Muay Thai and Thailand.