THAI BOXING ASSOCIATION of the USA

TEST GUIDELINES

(Tim Mousel's test from 1990 can be viewed here.)

Test Guidelines

I. Testing Area and Ring Personnel.

A.        Ring Size: No smaller than 18 x 18, no larger than 24 x 24.

B.        Floor Surface: Of wooden construction or carpeted surface properly taped for proper ring size.

C.        Safety Spotter: The use of floor surface testing area will require four safety spotters at each of the four sides of the taped ring.

D.        Referee: The use of a ring testing area will require a referee as the third person within the ring for the safety of both Tester and the Testee.

II. Testing Personnel:

Representatives: At the time of the Apprentice Instructor's test, the following individuals should always be present:

1.         Ajarn Surachai "Chai" Sirisute, Pres. Of the Thai Boxing Assoc of the USA .

2.         Event (seminar, workshop, etc.) Host.

3.         Testee's Instructor.

III. Tester's (Thai Pad Holder) Guidelines:

A.        Qualification:

            1. Apprentice Instructor level or higher.

            2. May not be the instructor of the Testee.

B.   Equipment:

            1. Two Thai pads.

            2. Abdomen protector.

            3. Mouth guard.

            4. Groin protector.

            5. Soft shin and instep pads.

            6. Open face headgear (optional).

C.   Actions: Allowable strikes by the Tester.

            1. Thai kicks to the outside of the Testee's thighs.

            2. Thai kicks to the inside of the Testee's thighs.

            3. Thai kick to upper body.

            4. Punches with the Thai pad to the Testee's face.

            5. Straight punches with the Thai pads to the Testee's abdomen in a clinch.

            6. Pushing off of the Testee to disengage from a clinch.

7. Blocking of the Testee's kicks with a shin only if time and the action is done to prevent injury to the Tester. The kick will still be counted as if it were on the pad.

            8. Trapping of kicking leg and punching to head with free hand.

            9. Foot jabs to the Testee's stomach and face.

IV. Testee's (Student Testing) Guidelines

A.        Qualifications: Refer to Requirements for Instructor Certification

B.        Equipment.

            1. Mouth guard.

            2. Groin protector.

            3. Open face headgear.

            4. Boxing gloves.

C.        Actions.

            1. Testee must finish both rounds.

            2. Testee's target areas for striking are Thai pads and abdomen protector only.

            3. Testee must throw 60 kicks in each round.

            4. Testee must throw 35 skip knees in each round.

5. If the Testee falls or is knocked down; a designated person will immediately start to count. If the counter reaches 10 before the Testee is ready to continue, this will be considered a knockout, and the Testee will fail the test.

V. Test Performance:       

Demonstrate FORM of Muay Thai:

1.   Stance:

A.        Kick Stance.

B.        Boxing Stance.

2.   Kick:

A.        Regular Kick.

B.        Quick Switch and Kick.

C.        "Hop into it" Kick.

D.        "Step into it" Kick.

E.        Cut Kick.

3. Knee:

A.        Straight Knee:  1. Cover and Knee.  2. "Pull punch down" and Knee.

B.        Skip knees:  1. Hit-Hit.            2.  Hit -Hop-Hit.

C.        Circle Knees.

4. Foot Jab:

A.        Short Foot Jab.

B.        Long Foot Jab.

5. Boxing:

A.        Jab, Cross, Hook, Uppercut Shadow Boxing.

6. Demonstrate on Thai Pads:

A. 15 Count Drill.

1.         Parry cross outside.

2.         Right elbow covers hook.

3.         Left elbow.

4.         Right elbow.

5.         Right knee.

6.         Left round kick.

7.         Right cross.

8.         Left hook.

9.         Right knee.

10.       Right round kick.

11.       Left foot jab.

12.       Evade the cross to left.

13.       Left hook.

14.       Right cross.

15.       Right round kick.

B. 17 Count Drill.

1.         Left foot jab.

2.         Left round kick.

3.         Right cross.

4.         Left hook.

5.         #2 straight knee.

6.         Left elbow.

7.         Right elbow.

8.         #2 straight knee (counter cross).

9.         Right round kick.

10.       Left hook.

11.       Right cross.

12.       Left round kick.

13.       Right knee.

14.       Right round kick.

15.       Left hook.

16.       Right cross.

17.       Skip knee: 6 times.

            A. Throw out.

            B. Double kick.

7.  Demonstrate Thai Ceremony (Ram Muay).

8.  Perform Rounds: 

2 - three minute rounds, according to guidelines stated herein & to Ajarn Chai's satisfaction.

VI. Level I Performance:

A.        Form: Must demonstrate BASIC form of Muay Thai.

B.        Thai Ceremony: Not required to test at this time.

C.        Rounds: Perform 2, 3-minute rounds. The Tester holding the Thai pad may not avoid the Testee and the Tester does not hit back.

VII. Level II Performance:

A.        Form: Must demonstrate IMPROVEMENT in the basic form of Muay Thai.

B.        Thai Ceremony: Must perform at a beginners level.

C.        Rounds: Perform 2 three-minute rounds Round 1: The Tester may avoid kicks and knees Round 2: The Tester progressively kicks and punches back.

VIII. Apprentice Instructor Performance:

A.        Form: Must demonstrate basic form of Muay Thai at ADVANCED level.

B.        Thai Ceremony: Must perform at an advanced level.

C.        Rounds: The Tester attempts to avoid getting kicked and kneed and may kick and punch the Testee back.

IX. Test Considerations:

A.        Test Guidelines: The foregoing guidelines are only the general Minimum guidelines and any appropriate actions deemed necessary by the Judges, Tester, Testee, or Testee's coach should be discussed and agreed upon by all parties involved BEFORE the testing begins.

B.        Video Taping: All Apprentice Instructor testing must be video taped and a copy of the video tape forwarded to Ajarn Chai. The Testee should also keep a copy on file.

C.        Re-testing: If you fail one element of the physical test, you may re-test at the next available scheduled test date; however, you must retake the entire test again. Failure of more than one element of the test will require a six-month minimum waiting period before a re-test is permitted. The testing fee is not required for re-tests.

D.        Certificate: Upon successfully passing the test, a certificate for Level I and Level II will be furnished by the TBA authorized school where the student has trained. A certificate for Apprentice Instructor level and higher will be furnished by the Thai Boxing Association of the USA .

Requirements for Instructor Certification

Student Level I:

1.         Complete a minimum of 1 year training in Thai Boxing.

2.         Join as a member of the Thai Boxing Assoc of the USA .

3.         Submit one-time testing fee of $25 to Instructor, All retests are free.

4.         Upon successfully passing Level I, the applicant will be presented with a certificate, furnished by the instructor.

Student Level II:

1.         Possess a Level I certificate.

2.         Complete a minimum of 2 years training subsequent to receiving Level I certification.

3.         Maintain active membership in the TBA

4.         Submit one time testing fee of $25.

5.         Upon successfully passing Level II, the applicant will be presented with a certificate, furnished by the instructor.

Apprentice:

1.         Be at least 18 years of age at time of test.

2.         Possess Level I and II certificates

3.         Complete a minimum of 1 year training subsequent to receiving Level II certification

4.         Maintain 3 years active membership in the TBA

5.         Obtain a minimum total of 60 hours of participation in Thai Boxing workshops, seminars, and/or camps personally conducted by Ajarn Chai (or individual authorized by the Board of Directors) since first training in Thai Boxing.

6.         Submit a letter of recommendation from Applicant's instructor with the required testing fee to the TBA headquarters 6 months prior to test date.

7.         Submit one time test fee of $50 to TBA. The test application is then mailed to the applicant from TBA headquarters. Applicant must fill out the form, include recent passport side color photo and bring to the test location on the scheduled date.

8.         Upon successfully passing the Apprentice Instructor test, the applicant will be presented with a certificate, which is furnished by the TBA and signed by the Chief Instructor of the school who was present at time of test.

Other levels of Instructorship are available. The degree of time into the organization and participation in the TBA increase for requirements to the next level.

The respective levels are:

1.         Associate Instructor.

2.         Full Instructor.

3.         Senior Instructor.