Dave Joyce began his training in the early eighties under
Master Murray Beatts who was a representative for
the very well known
Master Toddy based at that time in Manchester. After attending
instructor weekends in both Dublin and Manchester, Joyce
qualified as a coach and began teaching classes
in Muaythai while also
pursuing a ring career. His first fight was in 1983 against
Mick Green of Chuan Fa in Dublin winning a points decision
victory.
Joyce was one of the founding members of the Irish Thai
Boxing Council (which has now become the Irish
Muaythai Council)
at the inaugural meeting held in Kilkenny with Kru Tony
Moore. In order for people to understand the independence
of all
of
the systems trained under the umbrella of GFD martial arts,
Joyce decided to keep each one completely separate from
the others, and named the Muaythai portion, Hanuman
Camp. Clint
Heylinger of USMTA helped source a logo of Hanuman who
in Thai methodology (Ramekin) saved the kingdom
of Siam and
is a very
powerful figure also known as the Monkey God. Joyce was
approached by the Irish representatives for the International
Amateur Muay Thai Federation (IAMTF) to fight
on the Irish
team for the World Championships in 1996 and ’97.
He
won the IAMTF Irish Welterweight title in 1996 in Enniscorthy
and continued to compete domestically and internationally.
In 1999, the Galwegian fought for the Irish Muaythai
Council Light Middleweight title against Peter O’Carroll over
five hard rounds. Joyce took the title belt on a point’s
decision. The club has also had students Mario Flores win the
IMC Middleweight title and Bobby Duffy the Welterweight title
as well as competing in many international events.
In January 2001, Kru Tony Moore organised a weeklong
instructor training camp with Arjarn Panya Kraitus
in Pahuyuth style
Muaythai. This intensive week with 2 sessions daily
each lasting 3 hours
culminated in Joyce been awarded with a Kru Certificate.
The following year Arjarn Panya visited Ireland for
just over a
week running seminars in Belfast (twice), Carlow, Cork,
Sligo and Galway as well as giving the Hanuman students
the chance
to train privately with the renowned Thai teacher and
author of the “red” book Muaythai the Distinguished Art
of Fighting. The Galway camp while retaining the Hanuman name
are also honoured to be allowed use Arjarn Panya’s name
and are officially known as Kaar Sith Pkraitus Ireland .
