ARDMORE, Okla. Since 2022, Edric Brown has been on a quest to master Muay Thai, a form of combat recognized worldwide as one of the most dangerous styles of fighting.
It is the most popular sport in Thailand and is considered that country's national sport.
So, it makes perfect sense Brown, a Chickasaw citizen, decided to travel to Thailand and train with the absolute best c o a c h e s and sparring partners in the world.
He calls his six-month training and learning experience “the b e s t thing that could have happened to me.” He traveled there in November 2023.
Not only was he in the land where the sport originated centuries ago, he was also a student to Samart Payakaroon, arguably one of the finest Muay Thai fighters in history.
“He is just awesome. As a coach, his style brings out the best in you. He gives you the ability to take in all the techniques to match with your mental approach to Muay Thai. It can be an extremely dangerous sport. The referees are always on alert for a fighter who might be injured, and they will stop a fight quickly,” Brown said.
Sports writers o f t e n compared Payakaroon to American fighting greats Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Robinson for his abilities and talent, but Ali and Robinson weren’t combining boxing with kicks to the head or elbow-slams to the torso and face.
“I started boxing i n 2 0 2 1 and became interested in both kickboxing and Muay Thai. All three sports have something different to offer a fighter. Boxing, of course, is more a hand-to-hand sport, kickboxing introduces the element on blows to the body and head using your legs and Muay Thai is a combination of all three. I think that is what attracted me to the sport,” Brown said.
In Thailand, Brown experienced an abundance of conditioning to prepare his body for combat. He said running, working daily with a punching b a g , exercising and disciplining himself mentally to not feel or ignore pain during a bout.
“There are fighters from all over the world in Thailand training in Muay Thai. I sparred with guys from Malaysia, France, Japan and other countries. I sparred almost every day,” Brown noted.
The unexpected happened in those sparring matches. Fighters were not pitted against a combatant of similar skills.
Brown found himself sparring with foes much more advanced and skilled than him. He also found himself p i t t e d against sparring partners not as knowledgeable.
“I believe sparring was designed that way intentionally,” Brown explained. “You’re on your guard against someone b e t t e r than you but you better not let your guard down on a foe weaker than you. It only takes a split second and the right technique to send you to the floor.”
One thing he does not miss, however, is the heat of Thailand.
“One day I was working out and running while it was 124 degrees. It is dry there, so humidity isn’t a factor. The training conditions are more favorable in Ardmore,” he said with a laugh. Additionally, Brown can train at his own pace at the Ardmore facility.
“I probably train every other day. At this point, it is important to stay in shape, but also to allow your body to recuperate and heal physically. I keep up a vigorous regimen and hope to continue that pace when I begin officially fighting.
“I am 27. I know guys well into their 40s who are great fighters and contenders. Making this a career is something I’ve dreamed about. I have time to hone my skills and build a good overall win-loss record.”
Brown draws upon what he was taught in Thailand each time he trains at an Ardmore facility called the “Killer B e e s . ” He has made friends and said the group of fighters who train there are a band of brothers and sisters.
“We are tight. We cheer each other on. We are involved with each other’s goals and ambitions. I get a lot of satisfaction and inspiration watching my friends succeed in the ring. Some of the female fighters involved at Killer Bees are outstanding and tough as they can be,” Brown observed.
Killer Bees has become a second home to Brown, and his respect for his teammates is strong.
A second Chickasaw fighter trains with Brown. Dale Turner is active in Killer Bees. “He is an immensely powerful man with an equally powerful determination.” Another teammate of Brown is a professional fighter. Ethan “Worx” Moore is an incredibly seasoned fighter and commands r e s p e c t , according to Brown. “He matches my energy with training. He’s always climbing that ladder to be one of the greatest - same as me.”
Another teammate of Brown’s is known as Matthew “The Hitman” Hickman. “I thought I was the only class clown in my kickboxing class, but he’s extremely funny and determined to show the world what he’s made of. We consistently make our teammates laugh with our shenanigans. He’s the Mario to my Luigi and a great friend,” Brown noted.
A female fighter with a bright future is Aracely “Nena” Carrillo, according to Brown. “She suffers from lupus, but she shows up there every day despite her illness to train. She is very courageous and a sweet girl with the heart of a warrior. I’m so proud of her, and she has my utmost respect.”
Brown noted one more p e r s o n in the Killer B e e s , his Coach Eddie “The Sandman” Sims. “He may be my coach, but he's also an active fighter that shows us how it’s done. He's an incredibly methodical and intense fighter that seems to get stronger every fight. He’s shown me plenty of tricks and doesn’t let me be lazy. He’s always pushing me and preparing me for anything that comes my way. He’s an amazingly tough pro fighter, a true friend and mentor.'
Despite his enthusiasm for Muay Thai, Brown is cautious about putting all his eggs in one basket. He understands such a grueling combat career will take a toll on him, so he is examining other endeavors.
“I am pretty realistic about life. I want to have a plan A, B, C and D for my life,” Brown explained.
“I have been looking at starting a Thai restaurant in Ardmore. There aren’t too many Thai restaurants around here,' he said. “I am looking at many options in addition to making my debut fight in the near future.”
His grandmother, Horn Idleman, o w n e d and operated a Thai restaurant in Wilson, Oklahoma, for many years. It was called 'The Oriental Garden” and enjoyed s u c c e s s until her death a few years ago, Brown observed. Horn and her husband, Thomas Idleman, are the parents of Brown’s mother, Sherri.
Brown said he receives his Chickasaw heritage through his father, Edward, who works at the Chickasaw Cultural Center in Sulphur, Oklahoma.
Edric Brown.
Muay Thai fighter Edric Brown, right, is shown with famed fighter Samart Payakaroon, a legend in Thailand and the world in mixed martial arts. Payakaroon coached and trained Brown, who spent six months training in Thailand.
