Thonglor Yalae
| Thonglor Yalae | |
|---|---|
 Lua error in Module:Wikidata at line 798: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Born | August 1, 1929 |
| Died | September 19, 1996 |
| Nationality | Thai |
| Style | Muay Chaiya |
| Teacher(s) | Khetr Sriyabhai, Sunthorn Thaweesith |
| Notable students | Lamp Sakkapoom |
Search Thonglor Yalae on Amazon.
Thonglor Yalae (August 1, 1929 in Bangkok – September 19, 1996), also commonly known as Khru Thong or Thong Chuea Chaiya, was a Muay Chaiya grandmaster who resided in Bangkok and is regarded as one of the most influential figures who popularized Muay Chaiya in the 20th century. He studied Muay Chaiya under Khetr Sriyabhai and Sunthorn Thaweesith (also known as Arjan Kimseng), both of whom were renowned Muay Chaiya masters.
Biography
Thonglor Yalae began training in boxing when he was in sixth grade. Around the age of 13 or 14, he sought out Muay Thai schools that could meet his aspirations but was unable to find one that satisfied him. As a result, he decided to study Muay Thai with his mother’s relative, Pa Lam, under Khru Chantr Samitvej and Khru Chai Sithipol.
When Thonglor Yalae was about 16 years old, he began working at Makkasan Railway Station. After discussing Muay Thai with his colleagues, one of them introduced him to Khetr Sriyabhai. From that point on, Thonglor participated in many tournaments until he retired at the age of 24, heeding his grandmother’s plea to stop fighting.
Thonglor continued training under Khetr Sriyabhai for several years. Eventually, Khetr felt there was nothing more he could teach him and introduced him to Sunthorn Thaweesith (Arjan Kimseng), who had been Khetr’s teacher. Sunthorn trained Thonglor for about three years before passing away.
Muay Chaiya legacy
Thonglor Yalae established his first Muay Chaiya school at his home in Thab Chang. Initially named “Srisakul,” the school was later renamed “Singha Thongkham” and ultimately “Chaiyarat,” as granted by his master, Khetr Sriyabhai.
In 1983, during a Muay Chaiya workshop organized by Thonglor at Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited (Pham Fah branch), he met students from the Thai Weaponry Club at Ramkhamhaeng University. These students invited him to teach Muay Chaiya. At first, Thonglor taught them at the Chaiyarat boxing school at his home, but eventually, he began teaching directly at Ramkhamhaeng University.
The following year, Thonglor was invited by Chupong Panjamawat, a student from Chulalongkorn University and the president of the Chulalongkorn Thai Weaponry Club, to teach Muay Boran in the Chaiya lineage. Today, the Chulalongkorn Thai Weaponry Club operates as the Chula-Chaiyarat Sword School.
Beyond Ramkhamhaeng and Chulalongkorn university, Thonglor was also invited to teach Muay Chaiya at other institutions, including Siam University and Technology Bangkapi School. He continued teaching at various universities until 1994, when he had to stop due to emphysema. Thonglor Yalae passed away on September 19, 1996, from lung cancer.
Chaiyarat
Thonglor Yalae taught Muay Chaiya at his home in Baan Thab Chang, Bangkok, Thailand. The school was named “Chaiyarat” by his master, Khetr Sriyabhai. Thonglor ran the school until 1991 when the construction of Motorway 7 cut through the property.
Today, on the land where Thonglor’s original school once stood, Baan Chaiyarat - Muay Chaiya Daab Chao Ram was re-established in 2023 to honor his legacy. The new school was founded by Ying Yalae, Thonglor Yalae's daughter, and Lamp Sakkapoom.
References
This article "Thonglor Yalae" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Thonglor Yalae. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
