J'CAN FILM CREW VISITS THAILAND FOR MUAY THAI DEMO

J'CAN FILM CREW VISITS THAILAND FOR MUAY THAI DEMO
Thursday, April 09, 2009
The connections between Jamaica and Thailand are not as obvious as that with other better-known counties, for example, Britain and Canada. However, this did not stop a Jamaican film crew from trekking to Bangkok to participate in the Muay Thai kick-boxing event, in the long-term hope of creating a similar programme in Kingston and Montego Bay. Muay Thai has a long history in Thailand and is the country's national sport.

Young Muay Thai fighters pose for a photo op with a delegation of Jamaican film-makers visiting Thailand.
Over 100 children, led by General Pichitr Kullavanijaya, privy councillor to the King of Thailand, gathered at Kru Sua Muay Thai Park in Bangkok on March 10 for a special demonstration and luncheon provided by the friends and family of the Australian Embassy in Bangkok. The Jamaican-based film crew was on hand to document the children as they gave a traditional Thai music performance and demonstrated traditional Muay Boran and Muay Thai techniques.
Since the 'Muay Thai Against Drugs' programme began in 1999, General Kullavanijaya has led an impressive youth programme using the fundamental principles of Muay Thai to encourage positive development among children in the community. Every Saturday, children can come to the park and many other locations free of charge for lessons.
Muay Thai is used as a tool to encourage children to make positive choices and to say no to drugs. The programme goes further, as the children's overall grades are monitored and those who improve have the chance to travel around the world as part of the cultural programme to showcase Muay Thai. Many children from the programme were part of the recent Sport for All Games in Korea.
Richard Stephenson, founder and principal organiser of the annual Caribbean Classic Golf Invitational (CCGI) celebrity golf tournament and charity event, is involved in an effort to foster another special programme aimed at youth in the Caribbean.
Stephenson's film crew, which is also based in Los Angeles, taped promotional footage of Kullavanijaya's youth programme for a star-studded event to take place in Jamaica this summer. Children involved in the programme have the opportunity to travel to Jamaica to take part in the spectacular charity fund-raiser.
Although world's apart, two cultures like Jamaica and Thailand are able to unite for a common cause using positive aspects of Muay Thai to help children. The CCGI event is supported by the Jamaican government and major corporate firms, and has been able to donate over $300,000 in computer equipment for primary schools in Jamaica.
The event is one of the biggest professional Muay Thai events ever staged outside of Thailand. The best professional Muay Thai fighters from across the globe will gather together for one massive fight night on June 26 in Montego Bay, Jamaica for Champions of Champions. This charity fund-raiser will feature top ranked fighters from across the globe and for the first time ever, seven WMC World Title fights will be on one card.
All of the world's top-ranked Muay Thai fighters will join professional fighter and Jamaican superstar, Clifton Brown to visit schools in need and donate over 300 computers. The event was staged in Jamaica for the first time in 2008 at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium.