Sakkapoom Chuthaphongtham

Sakkapoom Chuthaphongtham (), also known as Lamp Sakkapoom or Kru Lamp (), is a Thai martial artist. He was a student of the Muay Chaiya practitioner Thonglor Yalae and a member of the Ramkhamhaeng Thai Weaponry Club. He is known for practicing and instructing Muay Chaiya a branch of Muay Boran that originated from Surat Thani, a southern province of Thailand, and Daab Chao Ram a system of Krabi Krabong. He has been advocating for these martial arts to international audiences for over three decades while engaging in charity work through Young ThaiAchira (ยุวชนไทอชิร). Lamp Sakkapoom is the co-author of the book Muay Chaiya Manuscript with Thanawut Ketsaro (Kru Dam) and Chan Ditkrajan (Kru Pong).

Biography

Lamp Sakkapoom was born in April 1963 in Khon Kaen, Thailand. He spent most of his childhood in Khon Kaen and attended Huakhiew Wittayalai School and Suansanuk Municipal School during his elementary years, Sanambin School during his primary years, and Kaennakhonwitthayalai School during high school. In 1982, he moved to Bangkok to continue his education at Ramkhamhaeng University where he would train Daab Chao Ram.

1982-1985

At Ramkhamhaeng University, Lamp Sakkapoom joined the Ramkhamhaeng Thai Weaponry Club, a club established in 1971, and trained Daab Chao Ram under พี่อ้วน, พี่โต้ง, พี่ขลุ่ย, and มาโนช บุญญมัด. He participated in the padded-sword category in the Thai sword competition in the University Games; served as a Krabi Krabong trainer and padded-sword coach for athletes in the Thai Weapons Department, Ramkhamhaeng University, and was the president of the Thai Weapons Department from 1984 to 1985. The club remains active to this day. Lamp Sakkapoom continued to train in Daab Chao Ram until he graduated from Ramkhamhaeng University and is still an active club member to this day.

1983-1992

In 1983, while training in Daab Chao Ram, Lamp Sakkapoom began training in Muay Chaiya under Thonglor Yalae, a renowned Muay Chaiya practitioner and instructor, at Thonglor Yalae's home, originally named "Srisakul" and was later changed to "Singthongdam" and finalized as the "Chaiyarat" Boxing Club. He participated in activities to promote Thai swords, Muay Chaiya to the Conservation Club, Pahuyuth Chaiyarat and Thai Weapons Pichaiyut for 15 years until 1998. Thonglor Yalae's school was demolished in 1991 due to the construction of Motorway 7, which cut directly through the site. Lamp Sakkapoom trained with Thonglor Yalae until his passing due to cancer in 1996.

2002

Special martial art instructor, Thai Weapons Self-Defense Club, Chulalongkorn University.

2002-2009

Vice-president of the SiamYuth Study Center "Baan Kru Praeng", and Secretary of the Muay Thai Chaiya Foundation. He taught and disseminate Thai swordsmanship and Muay Chaiya alongside Tosapon Surawasri (Kru Thod) at Lumpini Park, Bangkok. Lamp Sakkapoom participated in various government and private activities, including live or taped presentations on many television programs.

2010-present

On August 1, 2010, Lamp Sakkapoom established ThaiAchira Krabi Krabong Muay Boran and have been teaching and promoting the two arts under the name ThaiAchira in many countries such as, the United States, China, Russia, Germany, and Austria. Practitioners of ThaiAchira are known for their devastating knees and elbow strikes.

2011-2020

Under "Young ThaiAchira Krabi Krabong Muay Boran", Lamp Sakkapoom pushes Krabi Krabong and Muay Chaiya as activities in which the younger generation can participate, with the intention of filling gaps that might otherwise lead children toward self-destructive or socially harmful behaviors as well as volunteer works and charity projects for instance, training Thai children on morals and ethics and Thai arts in rural areas, adding water resources by providing rainwater storage jars for schools in remote provinces, providing books, learning equipment and sports equipment to schools in the provinces. Making merit through strength - leading groups of followers to cast cement Buddha statues at various temples. The group also participated in teaching newer generation of Surat Thani youth Muay Chaiya in order to help local push Muay Chaiya as another tourist attraction to its community.

2015-2021

Participated in organizing the "Tee Pa" (ตีป่า) tradition, bringing together practitioners of various weapon-based martial arts from all over Thailand—sword, polearms, spears, and boxing—from various groups across the country, including Thai, Chinese, Japanese (Kenjutsu), and European styles (HEMA), to meet and exchange knowledge in their respective disciplines.

2015-2024

Special Muay Thai teacher, Sam Phran Royal Police Cadet Academy, and works to instructing and promote Muay Thai and Muay Chaiya.

2023

As a tribute to Thonglor Yalae's Muay Chaiya legacy, a Muay Chaiya and Daab Chao Ram club was re-established on part of the land belonging to the Yalae family. The club, named "Baan Chaiyarat", was founded by Khun Ying Yalae (daughter of Thonglor Yalae) and Lamp Sakkapoom. Lamp Sakkapoom is the current day senior teacher.

2024

Committee member, Krabi Krabong Sports Association

Notable Student

• Ralf Kussler, a practitioner and instructor of Muay Boran in the style Muay Chaiya and Krabi Krabong in the style of Daab Chao Ram. He was the student of Lamp Sakkapoom and is also the president of ThaiAchira Group Germany and SiamYout Germany.