Dave Leduc is understood by many because the king of Lethwei: the Canadian martial artist who grew to become a Lethwei champion and the face of this rising fight sport.
Right here’s the story of the king of Lethwei, Dave Leduc. Detailing Leduc’s unbelievable journey to turning into a world-famous Lethwei champion.
Dave Leduc’s Entry Into Martial Arts
Dave Leduc’s entry into martial arts is a little bit of a narrative. It began with a falling out along with his father when he was seventeen.
The disagreement between Dave and his father acquired so dangerous that his mother and father requested for him to maneuver out. At seventeen and on the streets of Quebec, Leduc would direct his anger into studying martial arts.
Dave enrolled at Kung Fu Patenaude within the small metropolis of Gatineau in 2009. He would start studying Sanda from the college’s proprietor, Sifu Patrick Marcel.
As Dave started studying the artwork of Sanda, he would additionally acquire an curiosity in No-Gi grappling. He would start competing in No-Gi tournaments across the province and even assist set up occasions.
Dave Leduc’s Introduction To Lethwei
Whereas coaching in Sanda, an teacher confirmed Leduc outdated footage of Burmese Naked-knuckle. He was in awe of the outdated footage and wished to compete on this fashion of combating.
Sadly for Dave, Lethwei and Muay Thai should not authorized in Quebec, so he must make a plan. He tried to get a visa to Myanmar however found it was extraordinarily troublesome to enter the nation.
Dave Leduc’s Time In Muay Thai
Since Leduc couldn’t journey to Myanmar, he would as a substitute journey to Thailand with some pals. A Thai visa is slightly straightforward to get, so Leduc may keep within the nation for 30 days.
Whereas partying in Thailand, he would take a Muay Thai battle with no expertise in Muay Thai. Remarkably, Leduc would win his Muay Thai debut and have a realization.
He may prepare in Thailand, battle, and use it as a potential springboard to get into Lethwei. Leduc had pals that educated at Tiger Muay Thai and have been capable of safe a tryout for the kickboxing staff.
After passing the tryout, Leduc would earn a scholarship to remain within the nation and prepare at Tiger Muay Thai. Dave can be on the staff coaching alongside UFC vets Alex Volanovski, Dan Hooker, and Peter Yan.
Leduc started competing in Thai boxing each month and knocked out his opponents. Sadly, Dave was ending opponents within the first spherical, which made him unpopular with promoters, as a result of spectators weren’t capable of gamble.
These promoters would start holding Leduc again, which might harm him financially as a foreigner in Thailand.
Muay Thai Jail Fights
Leduc discovered his method onto the controversial jail fights present in Thailand. Muay Thai occasions that have been placed on by the Thai Division of Corrections.
In these occasions, convicted criminals, who have been Thai boxers, get to battle free opponents. If the prisoners win, they’re able to cut back their sentences and even go free.
Dave volunteered as one of many free opponents towards the prisoners on the final ever occasion in 2014. The matches have been held at a most safety jail exterior of Bangkok.
Leduc would battle former Lupini Stadium fighter Thahan Chor, imprisoned for drug trafficking.
Dave Leduc’s Entry Into Lethwei
After utilizing the entire cash in Thailand, Dave was compelled to return to Canada. He would start saving cash once more to make one other journey to Thailand.
Whereas in Canada, Leduc would contact a Muay Thai promoter to arrange fights for him. This promoter informed him that he had begun organising Lethwei bouts.
Leduc realized this was his likelihood at his dream, and he jumped on the alternative.
Dave Leduc’s Lethwei Debut
Dave’s first Lethwei bout was a match with a staggering expertise distinction. He would battle the world champion Too Too, who was 36-0.
The promoter really lied to the Myanmar organizer and mentioned Leduc had 40 Muay Thai fights. Not the ten skilled Muay Thai bouts that he actually had.
Leduc was met by tens of hundreds of Burmese spectators throwing rubbish at him. After all, as a result of he was the foreigner combating the nation right here.
However Leduc had appeared up Lethwei fighters’ gestures earlier than a battle. He started making a gesture the place he would throw elbows into his cupped hand. The gang would change feelings and start respecting him.
Dave knew that he was despatched in to lose this match, however he would stun the gang with a powerful efficiency. Drawing with Too Too and profitable the hearts of the Myanmar individuals.
Dave Leduc Fights For The Openweight Title
Because of his spectacular efficiency towards Too Too, Leduc would earn one other title shot. Competing for the open weight title towards champion Tun Tun Min.
The 2 would battle in one other sold-out crowd on the Thein Pyu Stadium. Each fighters would have a back-and-forth battle that might finish in one other draw.
Tun Tun would supply a direct rematch to Leduc that befell later in 2016. Leduc would get the higher of Tun Tun and harm him within the third spherical.
Forcing him to retire and giving the win to Leduc. The gang roared in approval as Dave was awarded the golden belt.
Dave Leduc Turns into A Famous person
After turning into the World Openweight Lethwei Champion, Dave Leduc would turn out to be a celebrity in Myanmar. He obtained plenty of fame and recognition from his adoring followers.
The pinnacle of Myanmar even paid for his wedding ceremony, which was aired dwell on public television and watched by thousands and thousands. Dave Leduc had turn out to be the King of Lethwei.
Leduc Turns into The King Of Lethwei
Over the following few years, Leduc would tackle all comers. Defending his championship for the following three years towards all comers.
Combating the entire finest Lethwei fighters on this planet from Myanmar to Tokyo. Probably the most anticipated matches was towards Cyrus Washington, who had fought in Lethwei earlier than Leduc. Leduc would beat Washington in two completely different bouts.
In all probability essentially the most globally seen Lethwei match in Leduc’s profession was towards UFC vet Seth Baczynski. This might be Seth’s entry into Lethwei, and the King of Lethwei gave him a punishing lesson. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGgwDstFlzE&t=3s
Dave Leduc’s Entry Into MMA
Earlier than Leduc may get into Lethwei, he would take MMA bouts whereas in Canada. 2013 he was a 3-0 newbie earlier than his first journey to Thailand. This features a win over a protege of GSP.
In 2014, he would take pro-MMA fights for cash to return to Thailand however had not been coaching in grappling. Leduc had additionally not reduce weight earlier than, which took a toll on his physique.
He would lose his professional debut to future UFC fighter Jonathan Meunier. Additionally, his second pro-MMA battle to future ONE title contender Koyomi Matsushima.
Dave Leduc’s Goes On JRE
The place many grew to become conscious of the Lethwei champion from his look on Joe Rogan’s podcast. He would seem on episode #81 of the JRE MMA present.
Telling his story on Rogan’s podcast would elevate Leduc’s recognition to new heights. His fights after the looks have been among the many most seen Lethwei occasions to this point.
Dave would additionally attain a take care of BJJ Fanatics affiliate Dynamic Placing to supply educational movies on Lethwei. His first video that’s out there on the web site is the Foundations of Lethwei.
Dave Leduc’s Lethwei Coaching
David has a novel method of coaching for a Burmese Naked-Knuckle boxing match. He has innovated his personal coaching fashion to follow his particular methods.
Particularly tips on how to follow headbutts on the bag and mitts. Leduc has needed to educate all of his pad holders tips on how to maintain pads for headbutts.
This innovation has helped many international newbie Lethwei fighters to learn to throw Lethwei methods at full velocity.
Dave Leduc’s Hand Conditioning
A fighter’s palms have to be conditioned since a Lethwei match is carried out with naked knuckles. Dave goes by means of a tough hand conditioning routine to strengthen each a part of his hand.
What Dave does is quite a few units of three kinds of pushups.
Fingertip Pushups
Knuckle Pushups
Wrist Pushups
Leduc will even do his dangerous and pad work bare-handed in an effort to additional situation his palms for fights.
What’s Subsequent For Dave Leduc?
With out Dave Leduc, many people would have identified that the game of Lethwei existed. Leduc is deservedly the face of the game on account of his work sharing Lethwei with the world. We eagerly await his return to the ring to defend his title because the World Lethwei Champion.
You’ll be able to observe Leduc’s journey on his Youtube channel Leduc Lethwei.
