Arts
Spreading the art of Muay- Thai in Sri Lanka
Saman Weerasinghe, Sri Lankan martial arts Grand Master, first introduced Muay-Thai to Sri Lanka in 2001. Interestingly Saman had been the first to open a martial arts school – the KI-GYM in Saarland, Germany nine years earlier.
Showing the way: Saman with his students. Pix by M.A. Pushpa Kumara
Having opened the Sri Lankan branch of KI-GYM school in Gampaha, last month, Saman looks forward to promoting popular combat styles in Sri Lanka with professional techniques and disciplines.
“My interest in martial arts must be something I bring from my previous life,” Saman says unable to pinpoint a precise reason for his love of martial arts. He was a nine-year-old studying at Bandaranayake College, Gampaha when he first started practising Karate under the guidance of veteran masters G.A.T. Livera and Bonny Roberts.
According to him practising a martial art is similar to following a Dharma (philosophy) which is connected to Buddhist teachings of spirituality and meditation.
Explaining the history of combative sports, Saman relates that Bodhidharma, a Buddhist monk who lived in ancient times gave physical training to the monks in Shaolin Monastery (‘Zen’ Buddhist temple in Henan, China) which later developed as Shaolin Kungfu. According to legend Bodhidharma taught the monks techniques to maintain their physique and to meditate including a series of internal practices and external exercises.
Saman’s journey to Thailand when he was just 17, to learn Muay-Thai in 1986 was indeed a turning point in his life. Muay- Thai, also known as Thai Boxing is the National Sport of Thailand. It is a stand-up striking martial art and a combat style known as “the art of eight limbs” as hands, shins, elbows and knees are extensively used to make it a full contact fight. Its origin is traced back to the 18th century during the wars between the kingdoms of Burma and Siam (modern day Thailand).
“Muay-Thai is a very traditional combat game which has a long history of 5,000 years. It is not just a sport to fight each other but a sacred game which instils discipline and humility,” Saman explains.
Thus, the traditional Thai ritual of Wai Khru ceremony is a way of paying respect to the country, religion, parents and teachers. Muay-Thai players perform a special Wai Khru ceremony called “Wai Khru ram muay” prior to practices and competitions. “It is similar to a meditation and a traditional dance which helps the player to calm himself,” Saman says.
Saman hosted the first Sri Lankan Muay- Thai friendly tournament camp in 2001 in Marawila with the participation of Sri Lankan kick boxing players with German and European Muay-Thai players to introduce Thai boxing to Sri Lanka.
Saman Weerasinghe
“We can never say that we have completed learning the art. The techniques and rules are limited. A game should develop from our inner-selves……Therefore we learn new aspects of the game every day,” Saman says. To be a professional Muay-Thai practitioner, one should undergo a structured training which varies according to the personal capabilities of each person. It requires at least a year’s training to become a skilled exponent.
Self- defence is escaping a violent situation smartly….Saman also founded the Warrior Mindset Self- Defence Concept (WMSDC) he developed for 20 years especially designed for children, women and elders to avoid threats with or without objects in hand.
He was a chief instructor of self- defence of a unit of the German police organization, Bundesgrenzschutz (BGS- Federal Police) from 2009- 2011.
Passionate about martial arts and Muay- Thai, Saman refers philosophical texts and is intent on the study of combative sports and techniques. His martial arts school in Germany has trained hundreds of students and some have started their own martial art studios. Residing in Berlin, Germany Saman’s wife, Christina Kreckow assists him in fitness training and his three children Samantha, Roschan and Deshan are into Muay- Thai and the martial arts.
According to Muay-Thai master levels of proficiency grading Saman was awarded by level 14th Khan Muay Thai (Arjan) in 2017 by the World All Fight System Organization (A.F.S.O) giving him the authority to teach students the techniques and practical skills of Muay- Thai. He was awarded by Black Belt 6th Dan in 2015 for the knowledge in techniques and proficiency in Kick boxing by A.F.S.O and has been the Sri Lankan President of A.F.S.O since 2016.
KI- GYM martial art school provides training for Muay- Thai, K-1(combination of Kick boxing and Muay- Thai), kickboxing (a mixture of Karate and boxing), self- defence, personal training, instructor training courses and fitness. Saman looks forward to training Sri Lankans to compete in international tournaments and bring glory to the country.
For more information on Muay- Thai and other martial art training please call 0713308928 or visit KI-GYM, No. 121, Gampaha Road, Miriswatta.
