| | |  News from Around Banderas Bay 
Lanna Gym Grand Reopening and Muay Thai Bouts at Collage
 Bob Cohen - PVNN
February 14, 2010
| | Yes, and even the women fight Muay Thai. | |
| | The ribbon cutting ceremony; from left to right, Lic. Cesar Macias, the Chief of Sports for the City of Puerto Vallarta, Gold's gym owner Lambert Schneck, Lanna Gym owner Carlos Solorio and his wife | 
| | A photo on the gym wall of Hugo Solorio who will be fighting in the main event for the Mexican National Championship belt. | 
| | Carlos Solorio addresses the crowd on hand in appreciation for their support. | 
| | The banner for the upcoming Muay Thai card on friday, February 19th at the Collage Club. | |
Lanna Gym, one of Puerto Vallarta's most popular Muay Thai gyms celebrated their grand reopening this past Friday night after an extensive remodeling. Their was a ribbon cutting ceremony and Owner and Professor Carlos Solorio had a group of dignitaries on hand that included Lic. Cesar Macias, Puerto Vallarta's Chief of Sports for the event. The Puerto Vallarta boxing commissioner was also present among other sports dignitaries and a local priest also blessed the gym. Following was a demonstration of Muay Thai boxing by students and alumni before a delicious buffet was served.
Also announced was a big Muay Thai card that will be held at the Collage Club this coming Friday night, February 19th. The main event will be for the Mexican National Championship between Hugo Solorio and Oscar Galvan from Monterrey, Mexico. There will be three other professional bouts and the co-main event will have Puerto Vallarta's Jorge Estrada facing Gilbert "Gallito" Garcia also of Monterrey. Edgar Meza of Puerto Vallarta will face another Monterrey fighter, Fabian Galvan. The last professional bout will feature popular Puerto Vallarta fighter Jose Luis "Rayo" Uribe against Jose "El Brody" Tavares of Mexico City.
The professional fights will be five three minute rounds with a two minute rest period between rounds. Very little protection is used and most professional bouts do not go the distance in this aggressive, popular sport.
There will be seven amateur fights to open the card as well. Amateur fights are only three rounds and the rounds are two minutes each with a one minute rest period. Full headgear is utilized as well as more protection to prevent injury.
There hasn't been a Muay Thai event in a number of months but in past years, it was common to see at least ten events a year held in Puerto Vallarta. There are at least six gyms locally that teach Muay Thai and many boxers have traveled to Thailand to hone their skills for competition. A brief history of Muay Thai follows:
In the beginning Muay Thai boxers fought bare-fisted. Early competitive forms of Muay Thai had no grappling; fighters moved in, and then quickly withdrew again. There was no attempt to pair opponents based on their weight. They needed only to express a willingness to fight. Sometimes fighters on a winning streak could be matched against several opponents in succession. There were no real rules. The head was used as a weapon and the groin was an acceptable target. The ring was a bare patch of earth. At some point came the division of the contest into rounds.
Muay Thai has changed across the years. Changed and evolved from a battlefield close quarters killing ground technique based on a fighting tradition passed on from generation to generation up to the present time. But despite the changes of history, Muay Thai has lost none of its exotic appeal and even mystique. Muay Thai is still the fighting art to beat. The fighting art that defeats all challenges from Kung Fu, Karate, Taekwando and the latest kickboxing fashions. They have all come to Thailand, not just once but many times and from many places to test themselves.
Muay Thai has lost none of its appeal in Thailand. The television fight broadcasts rate among the Kingdom's most popular programs. In the provinces, villages cluster around any available TV to watch. In the city, people disappear from the streets while Thailand is watching Muay Thai.
Muay Thai Boxing is also becoming increasingly popular outside of Thailand. It has its enthusiasts and practitioners in the Americas, Australia, Japan, Europe, as well as in many other countries around the world. The illustrious history of Muay Thai will continue as it receives greater recognition and gains in international popularity.
Tickets are available at Lanna Gym and Gold's Gym and is $200 pesos in advance. The cost is $250 pesos at the door. For more information call Lanna Gym locally at 299-2317 or by cell phone at 044-322-109-4962 or email lannamuaythaimexico(at)hotmail.com.
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