Who is Yod Thong (Senanant)
Sivaralak
Personal data:
Name: Mr. Yod
Thong Sivaralak
Professional boxing name: Yod Thong Senanant
Date of birth:
28th August 1937
Present position:
Owner of Muay
Thai camp “Sityodthong”
Adress:
Banglamung District Office, Office of the National Culture Commission – Ministry
of Culture, Amphur Banglamung, Changwat Chonburi
Education:
Completed
Phratom 4 at Tesaban 1 School, Muang Ban Pong, Changwat Ratburi;
Completed
Phratom 6 at Pattaya City 3 School, Pattaya City, Changwat Chonburi
Work experience:
Nationally:
Thai
National Culture Bureau – adviser
Thai
National Upper House Sports Commission - honorary advisor
Sub-Commissioner National Sports Council
Provincial:
Board member
Sports Society
Board member
Council of Cultural Affairs
Local –
Banglamung
District:
Senior
security advisor to Banglamung District Government
Senior
advisor religious and cultural studies
Senior
advisor district development
Member of
the committee for Police inspection
Member of
the committee for foundation level study at Banglamung School
Member of
the committee for foundation level study at Pattaya City 3 School
Advisor to
Pattaya City 5 School
Advisor to
Sawang Bariboon Withayaa School (Chinese School)
Member of
the committee at Pattaya Prison School
Consultant
to Pattaya City Government Council
Consultant
to Pattaya Press Society
Consultant
to Banglamung Council of Cultural Affairs
Consultant
to Nongphrue District Association Banglamung City
Senior
advisor to the selection board of the best local councilor and district chief
Advisor to
the committee on conservation and promotion of Muay Thai at the Physical
Education College, Mahasalakam province
Advisor for
the conservation of Muay Thai to 75 Thai provinces
Professional Achievements:
Princess
Sirindorn Shield for The Best Muay Thai Teacher 2000 awarded by The Ministry of
Cultural Affairs
Annual
Artist Award – sports and recreation category Muay Thai – Chonburi Cultural
Office 1989
Man of the
Year Award – service to the province category 1994 – Chonburi Province
1.
Promoter of Muay Thai for physical fitness to Banglamung Schools
a.
Nong Khet Noi Temple School, Amphur Banglamung
b.
Banglamung Kindergarten School (Ban Rong Po District)
c. Pattaya
City 3 School, Pattaya City
d. Pattaya
City 8 School,
Pattaya City
e. Sookgree
Bungyaram Temple School, Amphur Banglamung
f. Baan Chungseng
School, Amphur Pluerk Daeng, Rayong
Province
His history and his camp
Yod
Thong Sivaralak was born in Amphur Bang Pong in Ratburi Province, Thailand on
the 28th August 1937; the Chinese Year of the Ox. He started to enjoy
Muay Thai when he was 4 years old.
If
anyone tried to stop him doing anything he would get very angry and fight until
either he or his opponent won. These were the starting points for his future
life. Because he liked Muay Thai so much he couldn’t devote time to his formal
school education after finishing grade Phratom 4 at age 10.
He wanted to become a professional fighter but at that time – some 50 years ago
– he couldn’t fight as no one was arranging child fights because the government
had made them illegal.
He watched Muay Thai at every opportunity, which in those days meant at a temple
fair, until he was 14 years old. At that time his mother sent him to live with
his aunt in Pattaya City and he started to study Muay Thai seriously with a
local trainer Mr. Sithidet Samarnachant.
His
first fight was at the Bang Phra Temple fair in Sri Racha City, Chonburi
Province when he was 15 years old and his fighting weight was 49 kilos. His
prize money was only 50 Baht as he drew with his opponent (at that time 50 Baht
was quite a lot of money).
After this
first fight he fought the same opponent again in Chonburi City at the annual
Peace Fair (currently known as The Chonburi Red Cross Fair) this time he also
drew. In all he fought in Chonburi Province 4 times before having to return home
to register as a potential conscript in the Thai Military.
His friends at
home knew he was a boxer so they invited him to fight in Ratburi Province and
also to teach boxing to them. Later, Mr. Suwan Senanant – his boxing teacher –
invited him to live at his boxing camp and gave him the propitious fighting name
of Yodthong Senanant.
In all he fought 49 professional fights all over the country from Tak Province
in the north to Chumpon in the south, Rayong in the east and also Bangkok; at
not only Ratchadamnern and Lumpinee stadiums but also Tha Chang
Radio Station Stadium (which closed 40 years ago).
He became a
fairly well known fighter but had to quit early as his mother in law begged him
to stop when he was only 22 years old; he had married when he was 18 years old
and had a child at the age of 20. In 1958 he came back to Pattaya City and
started to fight again; having his first and only fight at Sathahip temple fair
- this was an important fight and the prize was 500 Baht; he drew.
He opened his own boxing camp at Mapthaput in Rayong Province in 1958.
He continued to train boxers for provincial fairs and annual temple fairs until
his boxing camp became famous all over the east of the country.
He sent boxers to fight in Bangkok at Lumpinee stadium as representatives
of other camps as his camp was too successful and no one wanted to fight his
boxers.
However, Mr. Chanat Sapkaew a famous trainer and fight arranger at Lumpinee
stadium told him to use his own camp’s name – Sit Yod Thong. In 1971 Mr.
Daawtong Sityodthong (Daawtong of Sityodthong camp) was the champion at Lumpinee
stadium in the light flyweight class.
Mr. Yod
Thong Sivaralak moved to Pattaya City from Maptaphut when Mr. Chanat Sapkaew
quit as a fight promoter; his successor was Mr. Songchai Rattanasuban,
who promoted under the title of Sukwansomchai (translation:’ this is the
fight day of Songchai’).
This ambitious fight promoter advanced the name of Muay Thai not only in
Thailand but internationally too.
Two of his most famous fighters the Kongtoranee and Samart Payakarun
brothers came from the Sityodthong camp and they bestowed prestige on the camp
as they became undefeatable. Mr. Yod Thong Sivaralak then promoted these two
overseas and Samart eventually became world champion.
Lumpinee stadium Muay Thai champions from Sityodthong camp are as follows:
Daawthong Sityodthong
Wangkaew Sityodthong
Kongtoranee Payakarum, 5 times champion
Samart Payakarun, 4 times champion
Sornsilp Sitnurn Payorm, 2 times champion
Super Noi Sitchortchai
Chatchai Paiseetong, 2 times champion
Petdam Lookborai
Nungpitchit Sityodthong
Saenliam Payakarun
Yortsenchai Sityodthong
For
these achievements in Muay Thai Mr. Yod Thong Sivaralak, in 1999, was recognized
as the best boxing trainer in Thailand, and was presented with The Princess
Sirindorn Shield for The Best Muay Thai Teacher 2000, awarded by The Ministry of
Cultural Affairs; presented at the Chidtralada Royal Palace on the 11th
April, 2000. This is the highest boxing honor in Thailand awarded for making
Muay Thai well known throughout the world. He has to thank many teachers for his
success, namely:
Sithidet Samannachant, Pattaya, Banglamung, Chonburi
Samran Sorndeng, Sriracha, Chonburi
Thongbai Yongtrakit, Bangkok
Chalermnoi Sakunsuk, Bangkok
Sunan Saenanant, Bang Pong, Ratburi
Kasem Iampinyo, Bangkok
Nowadays, the international world champion boxing stars are Yortdamrung
Singwancha (Sityodthong) and Yortsanan 3K (Sityodthong) both super feather
weights in the 130 Pounds class of the WBA.
Objectives
Our
objective is to set up a boxing camp to continue the legacy of Muay Thai and to
let the world know the benefits of studying this martial art.
The main
benefits are:
1.
it is an important
martial art
2.
for
exercise
3.
for sel
defense
4.
for
professionalism
In addition to
these, Muay Thai is applicable for both men and women. So, please consider to
come and train at the Sityodthong Camp, Pattaya.
At the present
time Yod Thong Senanan is training students from the age of 8 years old.
Students
train at boxing and also follow a normal education.
There is a boarding school facility.
Those people who wish to become trainers can also study here. In addition anyone
who would like to do a regular job can be considered for employment.
As a result the camp is open to all, it is a kind of public welfare center.
Yod
Thong Senanan personally takes responsibility for those he interacts with, not
only Thais but any nationality; whatever their problem.
As a result the government has appointed him to be Senior Security Advisor to
Banglamung District Government.
Muay Thai is unique in the world and therefore a significant part of the
Thai cultural heritage; it is also the reason why Thailand has remained
un-colonised.
Fighting with hands, knees, feet and the elbows is the main weapon in our
history, in times past there were no guns or other mechanical weapons.
Yod
Thong Senanan’s oath is “I admire the martial art which is Muay Thai with my
soul and my heart with loyalty and gratitude for my nation”.
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