THE CAMP MEENAYOTHIN
THE CAMP MEENAYOTHIN
Special report by Serge TREFEU (2012)
The Meenayothin camp is at present one of the most renowned camps of Bangkok. He was created by Mr. Chaiyasit Kongkiatyong more known under the name of Heng Sakchaiyasit. Heng is a manager very respected in the world of Muay Thai in Bangkok because it is considered as being a generous man. He helped many poor families, he allowed the children of these families he could follow a correct school education. And thanks to Muay Thai these young people can also bring some money to their family.
Heng, since more than 20 years, based his camp which was called at the beginning Sakchaiyasit Gym, this camp changed several times address. But since 13 years he is in Bangkok right in the heart of the university Kasetsart. The university of Kasetsart is one of the biggest of Bangkok and is situated along the avenue Ngam Wong Wan. Now the camp in changed name and Mr. Chaiyasit Kongkiatyong renamed Meenayothin in honour of one of his close friends.
One of the first great fighters of Heng was Yongyutnoi Sakchaiyasit who became a champion of the Lumpinee in the 90s. Then at the beginning of 2000s it is Wanchai Meenayothin and Binla Meenayothin who have to represent the camp during several years, Wanchai took away the championship of the World WMC in 130 lbs and Binla gained the belt of Rajda in 105 lbs.
Today both stars of the camp are Aikpracha Meenayothin and Wanheng Meenayothin, two very great champions.
Aikpracha is at present considered as the best fighter in his category, real bull, it is the boxer who never moves back, in 2010 he gained the belt of Thailand in 147 lbs and World champion WMC’s belt in 147 lbs, in 2012 he gained champion Lumpinee’s belt in 147 lbs, belt that he still holds, he has also twice won the Tournament Toyota!
AIKPRACHA MEENAYOTHIN
Wanheng him is a formidable “Muay Mat” who gained in 2007 the belt of Lumpinee and the belt of Thailand in 105 lbs, in his category he is so strong that it finds no more opponent in Muay Thai, he fights now only in Boxing. In Boxing he is unconquered with 22 professional fights (7 victory by KO), in 2007 he gained World Champion WBC Youth’s belt in light flyweight, title that he kept eight times successfully, in 2009 he took the International title WBC, the title which he threw in nine times, today he is classified N° 3 in Ranking WBC for the championship of the World WBC light flyweight!
WANHENG MEENAYOTHIN
Other size of the camp it’s the prodigy of 18 years, Dernchonlek Sor Sor Niyom, a rangy fighter who has a huge heart, he beat champions as Thanongdet Petpayathai, Diesellek Top King Boxing (Stop Referee) and Prakaiseng Sit Or (KO), at present there are N° 1 of Radja in 154 lbs!
DERNCHONLEK SOR SOR NIYOM
There are also champions who were formed in the other camps of Bangkok and who are now in Meenayothin Gym as Mondam Sor Weerapon (Champion of Thailand in 105 lbs and 108 lbs), Dentoranee Sor Weerapon (Champion of Thailand in 105 lbs) and Kongburee Wor Sungprapai (N°3 Thaïland in 108 lbs).
MONDAM SOR WEERAPON
DENTORANEE SOR WEERAPON
Other fighters classified well by the camp are Petchpanom Meenayothin, Wanpichit Meenayothin and Wantongchai Meenayothin. In this camp which is at the same time Fimuu (technician) and “Muay Mat” (Strong in fist) there is permanently between 20 and 25 boxers who train every days.
The training and the everyday life here are very strict because if Mr Chaiyasit Kongkiatyong is a ” man of heart “, he imposed in his camp of the drastic rules for his boxers. At 9 am everybody is in the bed, the alcohol is forbidden in the camp, and the roisterers are quickly excluded from the camp. Because in Meenayothin the training is very hard and based a lot on the physical condition, the fighters of this camp work so enormously the power.
The boxers get up at dawn and begin their jogging in the stadium of the university at 5 am in the morning, in order not to interfere with students who come then for their sporting class. The nakmuay run 15 km around the stadium track for an hour, with weights in hands. Every five laps, they release their weights and make a lap completely with acceleration. At the end of the jogging, they go up and lower staircases in running for 10 in 15 minutes. On returning to the gym, the boxers in preparation of fight pass in paos while the others make rounds for punch bags. The session of pao is long, a round lasts 4 minutes, every boxer make seven rounds.
When in the session of clinch she lasts 30 minutes in the morning and till the 1 hour for the training of him after noon. The session of clinch is testing because the boxer who gets ready for a fight is tested severely. Three fresh boxers turn each the tour with him, the nakmuay undergoes an infernal clinch…
A specific training in Boxing takes place so three times a week, with very hard sparrings where the boxers who are provided with protection, helmet, protect tooth, return blow for blow, without restraint…
Three trainers take care with preparing the boxers, two come from the school of the Northeast and the third comes from the school of the South. Wanmeechai Menayothin is the chief trainer, this war veteran was very well classified in Rajda during several years.
Today, the fighters fight in the stadium of Lumpinee a lot because the promoter of the camp is Mr Virat Vichirarattanawong (Petchyindee), the promoter N° 1 of Lumpinee.
The structure of this camp is gigantic, it is built as an immense shed which shelters a boxing ring in height, eight punch bags, the rooms of the boxers and toilets. The rooms of nakmuays are really rudimentary, they have a simple mattress rest on the ground and a small ventilator in the corner of the room.
In the entrance of the camp on the right, is the office of the “Boss” where of numerous trophies, among which those received for the camp, decorate the room…
Really little foreigner came to train in Meenayothin Gym. A French fighter of MMA, Sebastien Libebe, comes to Meenayothin for 13 years and fact left henceforth ” the family ” because he saw increasing all the boxers of this camp. Libebe is a 93 kg giant, Champion of Sambo, who gained the Silver medal at World championships in 2008 and the Bronze medal in European championships in 2009. In MMA he made 7 fights with 4 victories and 3 defeats. He lives in Los Angeles and his cousin is others than the famous champion of MMA Cheick Congo. Libebe gets ready in Muay Thai for Meenayothin for his fights in Free Fights whom he makes in the United States.
SEBASTIEN LIBEBE ET HENG SAKCHAIYASIT
Although here he have no foreign fighters there, they are welcome in Meenayothin Gym. But they have to possess a good level in Muay Thai and especially have an excellent physical condition. So, ” madman’s cardio ” to be able to follow the infernal rate of both daily trainings!
