The Support of Traditional Rules Muay Thai in Thailand, the Lobloo winner bonus

The above photo from my fight last night, my 294th Muay Thai fight. You guys have heard me talk about how the Lobloo groin guard,  the first available, functional for female protection, has been so game-changing for me. I've tried to share that to Thai women fighters as well for a long time (this photo is my helping the legend Sawsing with one I gave her before a fight 7 years ago).

As a patron you not only are supporting the creation of the Muay Thai Library project, but also my unique career path in Thailand which has been devoted to the traditional rules heritage of the sport. All of it has been made possible through you. I've outlined my values in this Manifesto of sorts, highlighting the promotion and preservation of not only traditional Muay Thai, but also the local festival fight scene upon which its future rests.

The Support of Traditional Rules Muay Thai

One of the problems that traditional rules Muay Thai is facing is that trad rules fights have become increasingly rare, especially as Entertainment rules Bangkok shows have increased fight pay and fanfare (both of those are good things!). Local, 5 round, narrative judged fights have been squeezed out since COVID, at the local level is where traditional rules fights have always thrived, and grown their fighters. I'm working with @Lobloo now to help in whatever small way we can, the local traditional rules scene, where high level fighting also happens, away from media glare. Bonuses and sponsors add to the awareness of Thai fighters, and smaller shows, and raises the financial opportunities there. Lobloo is offering 10,000 baht winner bonuses on all my fights (with the possibility of these bonuses becoming much larger in the future). The first of these was a month ago, when Namphet beat me and walked away with the 10K bonus. Yesterday I fought Tidapet and I was victorious. When I win the bonus I'll just put into a pot to grow a bigger possible bonus later. It's a big first step, having an International company supporting traditional rules Muay Thai, especially at the local and festival scene, where traditional rules live. As many who follow me might know, other than my many years of fighting on televised Kard Chuek, I've abstained from fighting on Entertainment rules shows. As much as they inject much-needed finance and attention to the sport in important ways, they are also actively changing the rules of the sport and how it is fought, and I've elected to not be a part of it for now. No bemoaning those, and in fact a celebration for those, who do fight on those shows, I'm simply putting my efforts, my body, and my focus on the areas Muay Thai that I personally have been drawn to and inspired by. Having lobloo come in and actually invest in the 5 round, traditional rules fights that I'm seeking to raise awareness of, as well as helping raise the level of support there, feels like an important step. Lobloo also gives a female groin guard to all of my opponents, win or lose, a sport-changing piece of equipment, especially in Thailand where either no guard is worn, or sometimes the steel cups designed and purposed for male bodies are borrowed, which simply isn't adequate protection for female shapes. (continued in comments…) As lobloo reaches into Thailand , you can reach out and let them know you support what they are doing, let them feel the enthusiasm we have for this kind of action. The QR code is linked to this effort (every purchase is vote), and 10% of the purchase will go to the KRUFUND, helping support the legends, krus and ex-fighters in the Muay Thai Library; and a 5% discount goes to you (the QR pre-applies a “KRUFUND” promo code, which you can also use manually by typing it in on lobloo.com). I’m very thankful to Lobloo for backing me as my sponsor for many, many years, and again grateful to this reach into Thai traditional rules fighting in this way. Even these bonuses and the international presence can be a big deal and a start to larger change. One of the problems that local shows have faced is the lack of Thai-brand sponsorship that used to be widespread; smaller, local shows just have diminishing access to the oxygen of sponsorship, as Entertainment Muay Thai has risen along with shifts to social media and other modern changes (again, these also have many positive effects). We’re trying to help grow enthusiasm outside that focus, in the way that Muay Thai has been fought for decades upon decades, what made Thailand’s Muay Thai like no fighting anywhere else in the world. Many do not realize that very high level fights go on at local shows. I’ve fought many of the best fighters in the world on them far from Western media attention, and Thai female fighters regularly move between local traditional shows and Entertainment Muay Thai. Five round, narratively judged fighting is the grassroots which grows the whole Muay Thai tree.
Having lobloo come in and actually invest in my traditional rules fights, and help raise the level of support there feels like an important step. So if you or someone you love is looking for groin protection consider giving a look at what Lobloo is offering.

You can use the QR code below and have the discount and donation pre-applied, or you can go to lobloo.com and manually type in "KRUFUND" at checkout. The Krufund is made up from 10% of all the patron pledges annually, distributed to those archived in the Muay Thai Library. 10% Lobloo sales will be added to that fund.

Watch my full length video which discusses the importance of the Lobloo groin guard, and how it has changed my Muay Thai.

watch the video on the benefits of my lobloo

Read my Manifesto of Values: