Muay Thai martial artists from around the Washington, D.C. area received a treat when renowned fighter and sportsman Samart Payakaroon visited to provide a seminar. Considered one of the best Muay Thai fighters of all time, Samart made his presence known and shared his knowledge with many enthusiasts and students in the area.
Samart Payakaroon is one of the most well-known Muay Thai fighters worldwide. Many Nak Muays call him the “Michael Jordan of Muay Thai” because of his accomplishments and renown in the sport. On his trip to Washington, D.C., he shared as much as he could in a short time, leaving Muay Thai practitioners with much knowledge and wisdom to glean as they reflect on their martial arts disciplines.
T.A.G. Muay Thai’s Christopher M. Aboy served as one of the main hosts for the renowned fighter. The seminar happened in Chris’ latest facility in Sterling, Virginia at 45698 Elmwood Court, Suite B. The boxing champion and entertainer provided a lot of detail and instruction and then suited up to perform the Wai Kru or Ram Muay, a form of “boxing dance” that shows the athleticism, style, and skill of a Muay Thai fighter. It’s also a form of showing respect to teachers, parents, and ancestors.
During the event, Samart also got to interface with the owner of the facility’s building, Nasyr Chowdhery, who also participated in the event. The people in attendance all received a signed flyer as a gift. There was also some time for some photos with all the participants and Samart himself.
Born Samart Thipthamai, the fighter would take on the name “Payakaroon,” which means “the Tiger of Dawn.” He is a Muay Thai champion with many awards and honors. Some include four Lumpinee Stadium Championships in four different weight classes, a World Boxing Championship Champion for the WBC, and three-time Thailand “Fighter of the Year” awards. Apart from his fighting career, he also acts for Thai films, models for commercial ads, and records musical albums. Samart has seven albums, which have become national hits in Thailand.
“It was an honor and blessing to have Samart Payakaroon out along with Kaensak Sor Ploenjit,” shares Christopher M. Aboy, owner of T.A.G. Muay Thai and host of the seminar held by Samart. Chris is one of the leading figures in Muay Thai training in the Washington, D.C. area. After working as a personal trainer in Ontario, California, Chris works as a uniformed police officer for the federal government. When he isn’t busy serving his country, he teaches Nak Muays from all walks of life, varying levels of skill in Muay Thai. He’s highly passionate about the sport and seeks to grow its prominence on the East Coast and beyond.
Apart from the seminar, Samart got the chance to enjoy many other activities, including visiting the Lincoln memorial, Vietnam memorial, Reflecting Pool, the Washington Monument, WW2 memorial, the White House, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, and the Capital building. He also shot videos at Chris’ home gym, showcasing various elbow combos, boxing combos, teeps, and kicks.
Samart looks forward to revisiting Washington, D.C., to touch base with T.A.G. Muay Thai students and enjoy the rest of the capital.