Muay Thai

Muaythai ("Thai Boxing") is the Thai name for a form of hard martial art practiced in several
Southeast Asian countries including Thailand, Cambodia (where it is known as Pradal
Serey), Malaysia (where it is known as Tomoi) and as a similar style in Myanmar (called
Lethwei)and in Laos (Muay Lao) . The different styles of fighting in mainland South East Asia
are analogous to the different types of Kung Fu in China or Silat in the South East Asian
islands or Malay World. It is the national sport of Thailand, and is also known as Thai
Boxing or Art of the Eight Limbs.

Muay Thai has a long history in Thailand. Today, the Thai military uses a modified form of
Muay Thai called Lerdrit. Traditional Muay Thai, as it is practiced today, varies slightly from
the original art and uses kicks and punches in a ring with gloves similar to those used in
Western boxing. Muay Thai is referred to as "The Science of Eight Limbs", as the hands,
shins, elbows, and knees are all used extensively in this art. A master practitioner of Muay
Thai thus has the ability to execute strikes using eight "points of contact," as opposed to "two
points" (fists) in Western boxing and "four points" (fists, feet) used in the primarily sport-
oriented forms of martial arts. Muay Thai is an especially versatile, brutal, straightforward
martial art.

History

Muay Thai began as Krabi Krabong, the Siamese weapon-based style . When disarmed,
Krabi Krabong practitioners resort to unarmed fighting techniques centred on kicks and
wrestling -like throws. Developing through time and natural evolution of the art, it gave birth
to Muay Boran, ancient style Muay Thai. As the basis of battlefield warfare evolved
technologically, hand-to-hand combat was no longer required within the military. Muay Boran
was divided to Muay ThaSao (North), Muay Thai Korat (Esarn or Northeast), Muay Thai
Lobburee (Center region) and Muay Thai Chaiya (South). Muay Thai became a sporting
martial art, kept alive in Thailand as a competitive sport, and for many, a way of life.

Traditionally in the past, Muay Thai was used as entertainment to kings. It is thought by
some sources that the gloves were made out of wrapped twine, tar, and broken pieces of
glass to ensure a bloody event, however it is still a subject of debate. Some argue that the
notion of incorporating broken glass into the gloves of a Muay Thai fighter could have been
taken from a Jean Claude Van Damme movie. Others suggest it was abrasives such as
ground glass and sand that covered the gloves, rather than actual pieces of broken glass.

Terminology
• Nak Muay - A Muay Thai fighter
• Nak Su - Thai word for Muay Thai warrior
• Kru - Instructor or trainer
• Ajarn - Master or instructor (more advanced than kru)
• Wai Kru (also transliterated as Whai Kru) - A ritual before a competition. The fighter
performs three bows, on the third one the fighter concentrates, thinking about
someone who is very dear to them. This ritual is meant to show respect toward
family, gym and teacher.
• Ram Muay - The Ram Muay is the pre-fight ritual conducted after the Wai Kru. It is a
dance that the fighter performs to traditional music. In ancient times, the Ram Muay
was used as a warm-up before a fight, but it is now performed prior to the beginning
of a Muay Thai match.
• Pra Jiad - A type of armband worn by Muay Thai fighters. The Pra Jiad gives good
luck and confidence to the athletes. Some Muay Thai fighters prefer to wear one Pra
Jiad, while others wear two. In some Western Muay Thai gyms colored Pra Jiad are
 used to show rank, much like the colored belt system used in Karate, although other
methods of showing rank are used, as well.
• Mong Kon - Headgear worn by Muay Thai fighters to signify those athletes whom
their teachers feel have learned many of the skills and techniques of Muay Thai. They
are presented at ceremonies honoring the fighters and are to be worn only in the ring
during fights. However, they must never fall on, be close to or held near the ground
as doing so will cause the Mong Kon to lose its magic. The student is never allowed
to touch or handle the Mong Kon. Only his Kru or Ajarn may handle it. The trainer will
take care of the headgear, will present the band to the fighter just before a
competition and will recover it from him at the conclusion of the match. In the past,
one could tell the school from which a fighter originated based on the color and style
of his Mong Kon.
• Krang Ruang - A Pra Jiad that has special meaning to the person wearing it. It could
be anything from a piece of their father's hair to a swath from their mother's sarang.
• Puang Malai - Floral wreaths that are given to a fighter before a fight by friends or
fans. They look somewhat like the Hawaiian Lei.

Pre-fight rituals
Even before entering the ring many fighters perform rituals. Some may kneel before the ring,
others might pray with their coach or by themselves or perform a series of repetitive
movements, such as touching the ring ropes 3 times. Thai boxers always climb over the top
rope when entering the ring, because in Thai culture the head is considered to be more
important than the feet, which are thought to be dirty. It is therefore important to always have
the head above the feet while entering the ring. Once in the ring, a fighter might go to the
centre and bow to each side.

Now begins the Wai Kru ritual or (Wai khru ram muay). The Wai Kru usually starts with the
fighter walking around the ring, counter-clockwise. This could be described as "sealing the
ring", showing that the match is between only these two combatants. The ritual is both
practical and spiritual. In a practical sense, it prepares the body for combat. During the Wai
Kru there are many different movements and steps that a fighter might perform before the
match, along with stretches. Some motions imitate, for example, a swallow, a hunter, a
soldier or an executioner. Some fighters use this ritual to attempt to scare their opponents,
commonly by stomping around them. But in a deeper sense, the fighter is expressing
religious devotion, humility and gratitude. Transcending both physical and temporal
limitations, he opens himself to the divine presence and allows it to infuse his heart and soul.
In ancient times, the ritual was intended to show devotion to the King and the fighter's
mentor. Today, that devotion is given to the organiser of the match and the fighter's trainer.
The ritual also gives the fighter some time alone before the fight to collect his thoughts and
concentrate on the task ahead.

After this ritual, the fighter walks over to his coach who removes the Mongkon and the Pong
Malai.