GREENFIELD CENTER, N.Y. (NEWS10) — “I believe this is Damien’s year,” coach Don Walton told NEWS10 about his student, 12-year-old “Diamond Boy” Damien Snyder, being invited to make the U.S. team for the Youth Muay Thai World Championships for the second consecutive year.
Damien has been training at Saratoga Elite Martial Arts Academy at the Ndakina Educational Center in Greenfield Center for over three years, and he teaches in the South Glen Falls School District in a full range of martial arts including karate, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Kyokushin Karate, Muay Thai and wrestling.
In the fall of 2023, Damien has been invited to join the US team for the Youth Muay Thai World Championships in Turkey, and several of his teammates have been invited back to join the team this year.
“At last year's championships, I competed against a really good kid from Hungary who was about a foot taller than me,” Damian said. “Unfortunately I lost and didn't place, but it was a fun experience watching all my teammates win.”
Damien has been on a winning streak since his last World Championship appearance and is undefeated in his five bouts over the past year. Damien has won the Muay Thai Super Series twice, the Grand National twice and most recently won the Prime Fight Promotions Junior Championship title. In addition to his Muay Thai victories, Damien also won the 95 pound Novice State Wrestling Tournament this year.
“It's been a really cool experience to see him out on the court and see how much he's grown over the last year,” Damien's father, Chris Snyder, said.
This year, the International Muay Thai Federation's Youth Muay Thai World Championships will be held in Bangkok, Thailand from September 11-20. The Snyders have begun raising funds for Damien's trip to Thailand in September. If you would like to donate to help with his travel expenses, please visit the GoFundMe website.
“I'm very excited. Doing Muay Thai for the last three years has been an amazing experience,” Damien said. “It has allowed me to grow not only as a fighter but also as a person.”
Master James Bruchac founded Saratoga Elite Martial Arts Academy in 2011. The school has since expanded to offer classes for adults and youth in multiple disciplines.
“There's always people who say they want to be a fighter but don't want to actually do what it takes,” Walton said, “and Damien has no problem doing exactly what it takes. It's a very proud moment for me and it inspires a lot of other kids here and pushes them along.”
