Thailand - Muay Thai Kickboxing at Lumpinee Stadium.

The big thing I actually wanted to do in Thailand - watch Muay Thai in the homebase/motherland/mecca of kickboxing. Lumpinee Stadium. The most prestigious stadium with the most meaningful titles in Thailand.

Lumpinee Boxing Stadium - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

"Lumpinee Boxing Stadium (Thai: สนามมวยเวทีลุมพินี) is an indoor sporting arena located in Bangkok, Thailand. Opened more than a decade later than Rajadamnern Stadium, the Lumpinee is run by Royal Thai Army on behalf of Thai Government. It has become the symbol of modern Muay Thai. Only Rajadamnern Stadium rivals the prestige of holding the title of 'Muay Thai Champion of Lumpinee'. The ranking system and championship titles are held from Flyweight (111 lb) up to Welterweight (147 lb)."

Watching the prelim boxing matches.

I didn't make Sandy do this. I promise.

So... everything really does look bigger on TV. I've seen fights at Lumpinee on video, online, on TV, etc... but I guess I was expecting a, well, a "stadium." Something like the fights I've watched in Hawaii and Japan. But no, not really. The ringside seats are fold out chairs. The second level is wooden benches and an area where folks sit on the concrete, and then a third level behind a fence, more wooden benches. I was kinda surprised. But if I'da thought it through it shoulda been obvious on the face of it. It is, you know, emerging 2nd world and all that kinda thing.


Getting the Mrs to grab you a beer as you watch the fights in Thailand? Priceless.


...and then she steals the beer. [But only briefly.]

Playing the traditional fight music.

Young fighters.

Action!









Random Muay Thai Action, Lumpinee Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand from Rob Pugh on Vimeo.