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An interview with Andre Daltrey by Gary Turner Part 2....Thailand and beyond...
GT:
Recently you’ve had a couple of extended trips to Thailand. You are a full
contact Kickboxer, with kicks above the waist and kicks that fire from a
chambered position. You had very little experience of kicking with a shin, or
indeed kicking to the legs, let alone knees or elbows, yet you went to Thailand
to learn Muay Thai! Talk about put your pride to one side! What made you broaden
your training along these lines? AD:
I wanted to go abroad and live, train and fight as a professional fighter; in
Thailand they call you ‘nak muay’ (pro-fighter). I also wanted the chance to
be a student again but on a full time basis and this gave me the perfect
opportunity to do this. GT:
You travelled and trained at several places during this trip. What camps did you
train at, and who with? AD:
I have trained at Patong Boxing Club (Phuket), Ao Nang Camp (Krabi), Chaweng
Stadium (Ko Samui), Lamai Training Camp (Ko Samui) and Sitpholic (Pattaya). My
main trainer in Thailand is a guy called Payet Nam who once fought a draw with
our own Ronnie Green, no mean feat by anyone's standards. The last camp (Sitpholic)
I was trained by an ex-fighter called Pow, a real hard taskmaster, but fair if
you show him you are committed. GT:
Did you find yourself welcomed at these camps, or did you have to make an
impression to get assistance in training? AD:
Yes, very welcome! Payet used to even cook for Ian & myself; we were the
longest westerners he has ever had at his training camp. GT:
When the Thai’s saw your willingness to learn, and your natural punching and
kicking ability, did their attitudes to you change at all? AD:
They knew we were fair boxers, but they love it when you do something well that
they have shown you. If you don't do something right, you keep doing it till it
is, and if you do something right then you keep doing it anyway because they
like it. (Laughs) GT:
Thailand is hot! What was it like for you training in such a climate? AD:
Very hard work, I had a few students come out while I was there and they were
all young fit lads, but it wiped them all out! The bottom line is we just
aren’t used to it over here, and it takes a while to get acclimatised.
GT:
How long were the training sessions? AD:
Leading up to the fights, Ian & myself would run in the morning then in the
camp for technique practice, then back in the camp in the afternoon. The
afternoon session would last between 2 and 3 hours. GT:
What structure did the classes take? AD:
You would start with skipping (usually 20 minutes), then shadow boxing, you
would then go on the pads, it’s not unusual to do a round on the Thai pads
which lasts up to 7 minutes, and you would usually be training on the pads for
about 35 to 40 minutes, then sparring clinch work and exercises, sometimes
finished off with a little run to loosen up. GT:
How hard was it to adapt to a different way of fighting, from foot position
through to guard and the way you execute your techniques? AD:
I did find it quite hard, but when you are training twice a day, 6 days a week
you get it – it’s not like training 3 times a week in a class! GT:
How did you find the training affected your shins? Did they adapt quickly, and
what methods were you taught to condition them to take the blows? AD:
We did go through getting sore shins, and also all the skin coming off the
bottom of our feet! We never really did any shin conditioning as most of the nak
muays (fighters) would be fighting most weeks to earn a living so couldn’t
afford to be injured. GT:
You trained most of the time out there, but I know you took time out to explore
the places you stayed. What experiences and sights would you recommend to anyone
else travelling to Thailand? (And don’t worry, I won’t mention your
‘ladyboy’ experience’!) AD:
(Laughs) There are a lot of Dave’s (ladyboys) out there but a lot of them are
like men with lipstick on, but if that's your thing (I heard it is Gary!) well
each to their own! The beaches are lovely and also the Buddhist temples are my
favourite places, very peaceful. GT:
I understand you’ve got a new nickname – something to do with your copious
amounts of body hair?! AD:
Yeah! ‘Ling’ which is Thai for monkey, I also shaved my head out there and
they called me ‘malone’ (no hair), ‘ling’ (monkey) - the Thai’s have
got a great sense of humour and are always up for a laugh, they’re known as
the smiling people. GT:
Training in Thailand is one thing, but competing out there is a different thing
altogether! What made you decide to get a fight out there? AD:
Again it was to test myself. I am not getting any younger and I wanted to be
able to say that I have fought as a pro in Thailand, again look back on your
memories and know that I have lived a full & exciting life. GT:
It’s quite a big step, being a foreigner, learning a new style, and then
getting in the ring at a show! What support did you receive from your trainers
and training partners? AD:
If you show the Thai’s you want to do it they will really put a lot of effort
into you and prepare you the best they can. Our trainer, Payet, also became a
good friend and wanted to look after us. GT:
Where did you fight, and what was the arena like? AD:
Chaweng Stadium, Koi Samui. It was amazing fighting in a purpose built stadium
where it's sole purpose is for Thai boxing. Ian fought at the Phuket stadium. GT:
Can you tell us about what happened during the fight? AD:
The Thai I fought was a really good leg kicker, we knew that beforehand so at
least I could prepare for it. Having said that my worst technique must be
blocking leg kicks, and in the first round he caught me with quite a few! Ian
and Payet both said get in close to stop getting caught at kicking range and use
my superior boxing skills. The 2nd round started and again he was going for the
legs, I did block a little better (I think I was more surprised than he was
about that!) and I was landing some good punches. I then got him in a corner and
caught him flush on the chin with a right hook (southpaw stance) and knocked him
out. It was a big relief I can tell you! Ian fought 3 days before me and won on
points over 5 3-minute rounds. He was excellent and really put on a classy
display - he also showed how much he has learned whilst out there. I was very
proud of him that night. GT:
Did you get the tourist support? Did you get much support from the Thai’s in
the crowd? Fights in Thailand have a unique atmosphere… AD:
There was a lot of tourist support, also the Thai’s were going betting crazy
like they always do when a ‘farang’ (tourist) fights. Before our fights the
Thai boxing TV Station Channel 7 came to our training camp and filmed us
training, which got us a bit of exposure. GT:
In Thailand they have very much a production line of competition, as soon as one
fight’s finished the next starts, with no gaps in between matches. What other
differences did you find between competition there and at home? AD:
It's like the way our country likes football, they like Thai boxing. It's
massive! You could go to a fight night most nights of the week there. A lot of
the bars also have boxing rings where they stage fixed fights for the enjoyment
of the tourists. GT:
What feedback did you get after the fight from your trainers and the crowd? AD:
They loved it; my opponent was a good sport as well. After the fight I was
wearing a Liverpool football shirt, which he took a liking to, so I gave him it
and he seemed well happy with that. GT:
How long did it take for your shin to recover from the low kicks and blocks
during the fight? AD:
About a week, my knee was quite badly swollen and my leg was bruised as well.
Both Ian and myself both got a bit ill after our fights. I think the stress of
the contest caught up with us both afterwards! GT:
Now that you’re back, are you finding it hard to adapt back to ‘normal’
living? AD:
It's not to bad, I haven’t seen a lot of my family & friends for over 5
months so i have had a lot of catching up to do, I also feel quite refreshed and
am enjoying teaching. GT:
I know that you’ve now adjusted your training following your Thai trip. What
benefits have you discovered from the Thai techniques and training? AD:
There are so many benefits from training in Thailand, I have come back fitter
and have learnt new techniques, which I have never done before. Also being out
there for as long as we have has helped us learn about a new culture. I think
one of the reasons we were a success out there was because we tried to learn the
language, about Buddhism, (90% of Thai’s are Buddhist) and just respected
their way of life and got into it. GT:
And what could Thai boxers learn from full contact fighter’s techniques and
training methods? AD:
Our boxing, also other kicking techniques, but not just the most powerful ones!
I caught a lot of Thai’s in sparring with axe kicks & hook kicks which
make openings for other techniques to follow. GT:
So what’s next? What plans do you have for your classes and instruction? AD:
I want to keep building up my kickboxing schools and PT clients and get a good
stable of fighters for the future. GT:
And what about you personally? What lies in the future for Andre Daltrey? AD:
I don't know how much more competing I am going to do myself. I have won what I
have set out to do over the last 13 years and am happy with my achievements. I
am going back to Thailand again this year and will just see what happens when I
am there, I have still so much to learn myself (like blocking leg kicks!). GT:
Good luck with your plans! You know I’m jealous of you having yet another
trip!! AD:
Thanks Gary, and good luck in the future. Also I would like to thank Steve Fox
for training me over the years, also Dave Bishop and all at D.B. Sports for
their sponsorship. Again with Dave I have the highest respect for him, he has
become a good friend and role model, as well as Ena (D.B. Sports) and her
family, and Kevin Cross WSKA, thanks again.
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Andre and Payet
Andre and Ian training in Thailand
Andre receiving Buddhist blessing
Ian with Payet holding the pads
Andre training in Thailand
Andre, Ian Stewardson and friend in
dodgy shirt moment!