Thonglor Yalae

Thonglor Yalae, also known as Khru Thong or Thong Chuea Chaiya, was born on August 1, 1929, at Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok. He became a prominent Muay Chaiya master whose efforts helped revive and promote this ancient form of Thai boxing during the 20th century. His martial arts journey began under the tutelage of highly respected masters, Khetr Sriyabhai and Sunthorn Thaweesith (Arjan Kimseng).

His martial arts journey started off when he started training in boxing while in 6th grade. As a teenager, he searched for Muay Thai schools that could match his ambitions but found none to his satisfaction. He then began studying with Pa Lam, a family relative, who trained him alongside Khru Chantr Samitvej and Khru Chai Sithipol.

At the age of 16, while working at Makkasan Railway Station Thonglor Yalae would spend alot of his free time discussing Muay Thai with his colleagues. Eventually, Thonglor would be introduced to Khetr Sriyabhai, a practitioner and instructor of Muay Chaiya, through a colleague. This encounter sparked a significant chapter in his life as he delved deeply into Muay Chaiya, competing in numerous tournaments until retiring at 24. His decision to quit fighting came from honoring his grandmother’s wish for him to stop fighting. Thonglor complies however, he told his grandmother that he only promised to stop fighting in tournaments but mentioned nothing about stop training and teaching.

Even after hanging his gloves, Thonglor continued refining his skills under Khetr Sriyabhai, who eventually introduced him to his former teacher, Sunthorn Thaweesith or commonly known as Ajarn Kimseng who was an expert in Muay Thai and Krabi Krabong.

Thonglor Yalae would only train Muay Chaiya with Sunthorn Thaweesith and not Krabi Krabong. The reason for this is due to Sunthorn testing Thonglor's Krabi Krabong skills with Thonglor adapting whatever he could from Muay Chaiya. Thonglor did a great job and was praised by Sunthorn moreover, Sunthorn also told Thonglor that the fundamental idea Krabi Krabong is very similar to Muay Chaiya thus, not needing much attention. That being said, Thonglor spend his time training only Muay Chaiya under Sunthorn Thaweesith. Sunthorn trained Thonglor for three years until his passing, marking the completion of Thonglor's formal training.

Building a Muay Chaiya Legacy

Thonglor founded his first Muay Chaiya school at his residence in Baan Thab Chang, initially called "Srisakul." It was later renamed "Singha Thongkham" before adopting the name "Chaiyarat" which was granted by his teacher, Khetr Sriyabhai.

In 1983, Thonglor conducted a Muay Chaiya workshop at Bangkok Bank’s Pham Fah branch, where he connected with students from Ramkhamhaeng University’s Thai Weaponry Club. They invited him to teach Muay Chaiya, initially at his school and later on campus.

The following year, Chulalongkorn University's Thai Weaponry Club, led by student Chupong Panjamawat, invited Thonglor to teach Muay Boran of the Chaiya lineage. This initiative evolved into what is now the “Chula-Chaiyarat Sword School”.

Thonglor’s influence extended beyond these institutes. He was also invited to teach at Siam University and Technology Bangkapi College, where he continued his work until 1994 when health issues, including emphysema, forced him to stop.

Preserving His Legacy

Thonglor Yalae passed away from lung cancer on September 19, 1996, but his contributions to Muay Chaiya live on. His home-based school, Chaiyarat, closed in 1991 when construction on Motorway 7 cut through the property, exactly where Thonglor Yalae trains his students.

In 2023, his daughter Ying Yalae, alongside Lamp Sakkapoom (one of Thonglor Yalae's student who used to studied Muay Chaiya there), revived his legacy by founding "Baan Chaiyarat - Muay Chaiya Daab Chao Ram" on the same land. This new institution serves as a tribute to Thonglor’s dedication to preserving and sharing Muay Chaiya as well as.

Through the insights of Lamp Sakkapoom, co-author of the Muay Chaiya Manuscript, delve into the ancient practices of Muay Boran and Muay Chaiya, uncovering approaches that transcend the boundaries of Muay Thai.

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Muay Chaiya Manuscript, Amazon Kindle:

https://www.amazon.com/Muay-Chaiya-Manuscript-Sakkapoom-Chuthaphongtham-ebook/dp/B0D5RM4P2H