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Liam R
Posted: 2009-07-27 06:00:45
good interview on master skens site regarding michaels title fight coming up, cant wait...

When Michael Dicks fights for a World title on Grandmaster Sken’s MSA Muay Thai Premier League” Supershow on November 7th it will be yet another highlight for the consistently successful Darlington club run by Paul Hamilton, the coach Dicks was determined to emulate when he started training in Muay Thai. This desire is easy to understand for although many coaches decide to run a gym after a successful fight career few boast the pedigree of Darlington’s Paul Hamilton who started training when he was fifteen and ended up having two hundred and nine fights, losing only nine of these. During this period he competed all over the world including Thailand where he was one of the first Europeans to fight in Rajadamnern and Lumpinee Stadiums in Bangkok, where he worked his way up the rankings to become Champion in both stadiums for his weight.

By the end of his career Paul had won twenty three belts at four different weights, currently the best fight record any European has ever had. He also boxed professionally and had a record of eighteen fights with fourteen wins, two draws and two losses. On the coaching side, this enabled him to join the Amateur Boxing Association (ABA) and gain his Pro- Boxing Trainer’s Licence. It was always Paul’s dream to open his own gym and he did this in 1997, after spending eight years running classes at various venues in and around the local area.



The gym has been running successfully ever since, not only training fighters as the majority of people come for general fitness and confidence, with pupils as young as six and as old as seventy four. The gym offers classes in Boxing, Thai Boxing, kids’ classes (including anti-bullying), adult mixed classes, Freestyle Fitness Yoga and small personal group training sessions for men and women. One-on-one training is also offered on all the above and Krav Maga (self defence) with the aim of providing a facility that is accessible and affordable for the local people in the area (although the gym attracts customers from a thirty mile radius).



Paul has produced some excellent fighters over the years with a constant stream of up and coming fighters making their way through all the time. Gym instructors alongside Paul include Simone Hamilton (Paul’s wife), Michael Dicks (world Muay Thai champion), Neil Walton (Krav Maga instructor & martial arts expert). The team have a good understanding of children’s needs and as well as making training fun they still learn technique and work hard. As they get older and move up the classes, discipline takes over from fun and games as they realise that to be a fighter, dedication and hard work will be vital. When the students have mastered blocking and are sparring with confidence, they may then be ready for the ring. It is easy to throw shots but difficult to block, especially elbows so until they can judge distance and know when to attack, they would not be ready for full Thai Rules.



Paul’s personal favourite achievement was having one of his fighter’s compete at the King of Thailand’s birthday in Bangkok. However, he always feels a sense of achievement having good fighters coming through year after year. His ambitions remain consistent, notably to keep up the high standard at the gym and to keep getting better.

In this respect, Paul is confident about the future of Muay Thai, now that the UKMF is getting stronger and stronger with everybody is fighting under the same rules and standardised judging. As a result, Paul believes that we will get more TV and publicity now with bigger sponsors, thus enabling people to put on bigger and more professional shows. This will ultimately increase the popularity of Thai Boxing if people know it is run by a unified, recognised governing body - especially if it gets accepted by the Olympic Committee, which at the moment is looking very promising.



When it comes to shows, Paul is looking forward to Michael Dicks performing on Grandmaster Sken’s November 7th Muay Thai Premier League Supershow. “Master Sken’s shows have always been very well run. The fight card for November promises a very entertaining night, with some UKMF British Title Fights and WMC World Fights. Everybody wants these recognised titles. There will be some big sponsors getting involved and so it should be a night not to miss.”

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