On 27 – 28 May 2023, the Royal Thai Consulate-General, Los Angeles, together with WBC Muay Thai USA and Tourism Authority of Thailand, Los Angeles Office, organized a WBC Muay Thai USA Youth Summer Camp Experience 2023 in San Diego. More than 120 American youth aged 7 – 17 years old actively participated in the event and enjoyed cross-culture experiences.

Consul-General Tor Saralamba gave a welcoming remarks to the Muay Thai campers and congratulated WBC Muay Thai USA for organizing the event for two consecutive years already.  He also emphasized the benefits of practicing Muay Thai which was not limited to an improvement of physical fitness and agility but also providing learning experience on Thai culture, tradition, and spirit of Muay Thai through the training. “Wai Khru Ram Muay” prior to the fight was an excellent example, during which session, the postures could help warming up the muscle, meanwhile, it is a mindfulness time for the fighters to focus on their fighting strategy, as well as  an important time to “pay respect” to their masters, parents, their own self, and more importantly to their opponents. These “paying respect” and “staying humble” are deeply rooted in Thai culture and tradition. 

As a partner of WBC Muay Thai USA, the Royal Thai Consulate-General supported and co-organized fun and interactive activities on tradition and cultural aspects of Muay Thai with an aim to provide opportunities to American youths to experience beyond Muay Thai lessons and feel closer to Thailand and Thai culture even more. On this occasion, the Thai Consulate, joined hands with Thai community in San Diego namely Supeena Insee Adler (UCLA) and Christopher Adler (USD) as well as Lamai Reel and Phanita Kasemsook (Thai language teachers from Thai Buddhist Temple of California, Escondido) to provide lessons on introduction of Thai music and Thai language to the participants through colorful and fun activities. Furthermore, the Thai Consulate and the WBC Muay Thai USA, also arranged together a session how to weave Mongkol (headband for Muay Thai) for all the participants.

The WBC Muay Thai USA Youth Summer Camp Experience was first initiated in 2022 with an objective to provide knowledge and standard training skills on Muay Thai to children and youths in America focusing on how to train safely with protecting gears. The 2023 camp marked second anniversary of the event and kept inspiring young Americans by famous Thai and foreign “khru Muay” including Malaipet Sasiprapa, Eddie Abasolo, Kevin Ross, Janet Todd, and Fabiano Aoki. Tourism Authority of Thailand, Los Angeles also supported the event and brought travel information to distribute to participants and families. The camp was a successful endeavor to promote not only Thai martial arts, but also Thai culture and tourism to the young generations of the US.

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