Terry Tippie (T.T.): How did you get started training Muay Thai and
how old were you when you first started training?
Apideh: I started training in 1948
at the age of 13. I liked to play soccer and basketball. I could kick
the soccer ball a long way, and a friend said, "You have a lot of power.
I'd bet you'd be good at Muay Thai." And after that I saw one of my friends,
a classmate, go for a Muay Thai fight. People surrounded him and he became
very popular. That really cheered me up and made me want to become like
him. My friend said, "Hey, you can do this too."
At first I trained Muay Thai just for fun
and didn't think about turning professional. At that time I had a lot
of raw power, but I didn't have skill at all. But after that I got Muay
Thai on my mind. I just loved to train the boxing.
My first instructor, Suporn Wongsaroj,
was very good. After that I went to Bangkok and had three different trainers.
Later I had to fight with my teacher for the title, and I won it from
it from him. I had very good instructors.
T.T.: You turned professional and
became Champion of Thailand five times?
Apideh: I found myself in the welterweight
division, and eventually I won the title at both Rajdamnern and Lumpenee,
the two main stadiums in Thailand. If you do this you become Thailand
champion, so I got three belts all at the same time. I also got a title
in International [western] boxing division too. It was the Eastern Division
of Thailand, Philippines, Japan and Korea. I was a top contender for the
WBA and WBC titles, but I didn't get a chance to challange for the championship.
T.T.: How often did you fight?
Apideh: I started at 13 and fought
once a month until age 29. Every month. That's why my record is pretty
high. More than 300 bouts. One of my oppponents, Dejrit Itti-Anuchit,
fought with me 14 times because the people asked me to fight that guy.
They like his style, the way he came up close. But mostly he got knocked
out.
T.T.: You are famous for your fast
and powerful kicks. What other techniques are your favorite?
Apideh: Besides the kick, my favorite
technique is the elbow. Some of my opponents were experts, so I had to
be sneaky. You know, dirty tricks. When you get it in at the right time
you can knock the guy out with a trick. Like with the palm of your gloves
hitting on the ear or to the chin. I know over here they don't allow you
to use the open glove, but I used it and the referee didn't notice it.
I had a lot of special tricks that I used to knock a guy out.
T.T.: Have you been busy teaching?
Apideh: I have been busy taking care
of the business affairs of Fairtex camp both in Thailand and the United
States. I don't hold pads much anymore, but I supervise the other trainers
and give advice to fighters on fighting strategy. I trained this guy [holds
picture] who is lightweight champion of Thailand right now. His name is
Johnsanan, and he is very popular. [smiles]
T.T.: Do you have any advice for American
Muay Thai students?
Apideh: I am concerned about the
lack of leg strength in American students. In Thai Boxing they can withstand
and take the full blow all the time. But some Americans don't know how
to block it. That's why I want you to build up the legs through doing
squat jumps. I used to do squat jumps for thirty minutes each morning.
Sometimes you have to create your own combinations
and patterns. Then you have to change your tactics so your opponent is
kept off guard. When you go through the combinations, you can play around
and create your personal combinations. Like when you kick and you miss,
you can turn to the foot jab right away. Or when you miss the right cross,
come with the short elbow right away.
You have to listen to your trainer. The
corner man can see what you can't. You have to know how to learn to correct
your mistakes, so listen to your trainer. Once in a while at a critical
time you can use some master tricks. Some of them can be difficult to
see at close range, but if you do them right you can really surprise your
opponent.
Muay Thai can blend with the other sports,
like Karate or Jujutsu. You can blend them together because the movements
of Muay Thai are flowing, not stiff.
You have to think that the guy next to
me is better than me. So you don't brag and stay humble. This art is not
for violence. Just for self-defense. Keep sharp inside and be humble.
Try not to show off your Thai Boxing. That's not the way my teacher taught
me. He was a decent person, a very nice guy. But in the ring we are different.
You get a kind of a killer instinct.
T.T.: Has Muay Thai changed since
the days you were fighting?
Apideh: Thai Boxing has changed a
little. Now they like to clinch and knee all the time. They use a lot
of energy. But in my time I wanted to save my energy and look for the
right blow to knock them out.
T.T.: I noticed that the instructors
at Fairtex each differ somewhat in their approach to teaching Muay Thai.
Ajarn Chai also has his own approach. How do you feel about that?
Apideh: One advantage is that the
American people know boxing. And in Thailand they can be really stiff
on the footwork sometimes. If you mix up the boxing you can be really
good in Thai boxing. Just kind of like a dancer. The upper body can be
stiff because you have to block a lot of things. But you can mix it up
with the boxing. Ajarn Surachai has studied a lot of boxing, and that
is very appropriate. |
