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Instruction
MSA qualifies and recognises its instructors through an apprenticeship program, complemented by seminars and courses. The apprenticeship takes place under the guidance of a recognised instructor and requires 240 hours of teaching, supervised and unsupervised. While under the apprenticeship, instructors are “Trainers”, referred to as “Num”. The Chief Instructor, Kru Yai Mario Da Silva, qualifies instructors to Khan 11 level, and thereafter recommends instructors to be evaluated by the Grand Masters in Thailand for Khan 12 level.
All instruction is coordinated by Kru Yai (Assistant Master) Mario Da Silva, whose core teaching principles stem from Portuguese Special Defense Forces military training, and also includes over 30 years of martial arts training. The application of his teaching is a reflection of the mindset gained in this experience. MSA follows a Muay Thai Boran curriculum developed and refined over many years. The beginning stages involve a focus on strength, conditioning and technique. After a period of 3-6 months, students may be invited to a grading or evaluation. The grading exposes students to intense hardship under a controlled environment and acts as a preparation for hardships of life in an uncontrolled environment. It is a true test of body, mind and spirit. Once passing the evaluation, students are eligible to compete in MSA-competitions and further advance their Muay Thai Boran or Muay Thai career. Competition is not compulsory and an academic pathway may be followed. When students have shown a competency in Muay Thai Boran striking techniques, they progress to develop their takedown, groundwork and submission skills. The principle is that students must first be proficient in the stand-up art of striking, before being taught how to defend and attack on the ground.
