Thai Boxing or Muay Thai
Welcome to the exciting world of Muay Thai, a martial art like no others, and a proud heritage of a nation. Muay Thai is the most popular spectator sport in Thailand. It is the biggest crowd-puller in the capital. Muay Thai will never be the big hit both locally and internationally without a good reason.
Many foreigners study Muay Thai to test themselves physically and mentally, the sport has become increasingly popular with the growth of mixed martial arts competitions. Relentless conditioning and the use of hands, feet, elbows, and knees to strike opponents has made Thai boxing a standard technique for such fighters to learn.
History
The history of Muay Thai is interwoven with the history of the Thai people. For centuries, gentle and peace-loving Thais had to defend themselves and their land from aggressive powers. They developed a form of close, hand-to-hand combat best suited for the kind of rough-terrain battle they were fighting. As time went by, Muay Thai had become a rite of passage for Thai men to participate training in this martial art. King Naresuan the Great (1555-1605), one of the country’s most celebrated warrior-heroes, is believed to have been an excellent boxer himself, and it was he who made Muay Thai a required part of military training. Another milestone in the history of Muay Thai was the triumph of Nai Khanom Tom over 10 Burmese boxers in 1774. Taken captive after the Thai capital fell in 1767, Nai Khanom Tom was picked to fight before the Burmese king. After defeating ten of them in a row, he was freed and returned home a hero.
In the old days, Muay Thai was a dangerous sport, with no safety gear of any kind for the fighters, and only lengths of cords to wrap around the fists in place of gloves. Over the years rules have been written along the line of international boxing regulations. In recent years the sport has attracted a wide following outside of the country, and training facilities have been set up in countries as far as the U.S. and the former Soviet states. In 1995 the World Muay Thai Council was set up by cabinet resolution in 1995 to promote this national heritage at national and international levels. At a conference held that same year, 78 member countries voted for the establishment of a training school where all elements of Muay Thai would be taught. The Muay Thai Institute was founded in 1997 and is now the only training school accredited by the Ministry of Education.
An International Passion
Muay Thai, along with soccer, is certainly the most passionately followed sport in the country. Television networks broadcast fights five days a week. The fight results at major stadiums are reported in all major newspapers. International boxing is also very popular, and the country has produced dozens of world champions, but they all started out as Muay Thai fighters. So it is not surprising that a boy as young as seven or eight would start training to become one, and many do, at stables across the country. Most provincial capitals have a boxing ring, but the ultimate dream of young boxers is to fight at Lumpini or Ratchadamnern, the biggest and most famous stadiums in the country. Lumpini and Ratchadamnern alternate, so there is a fight program every night. Tickets on an average evening are 220, 440 and 1,000 baht, but on big nights prices of ringside seats may go up to 2,000 baht. Ratchadamnoen’s Sunday Special rates are good bargains, with ringside tickets going for 500 baht each. Fight usually begins around 6:30 pm., with preliminary bouts featuring younger, less experienced boxers, and build up towards the main event, usually around nine o’clock.
Muay Thai infuses elements of art and ritual. Before the match begins, a small orchestra in the stadium will play the traditional Thai music. The fighters wear the ring headbands (called mongkhol) and armbands, which are regarded as sacred ornaments that offer blessing and protection, since they have been blessed by a monk or the boxer’s own teacher. The fighters kneel and perform a quick prayer, then perform a wai khru dance around the ring. Their performance is traditionally to pay respect to the teachers. Besides the symbolic meaning, the dance is a good warm-up exercise. Since Buddhism and the teacher play important roles in the life of Thais, the headband is both a lucky charm and a spiritual object. After wai khru dance, the headband is removed, and only by the boxer’s trainer. The armband which is believed to offer protection, will be worn throughout the fight and only removed when the fight has ended.
Muay Thai is fought in five three-minute rounds with two-minute breaks in between. The small orchestra still carries on playing throughout the 5 three-minute rounds. Muay Thai involves two opponents wearing gloves. Fighters can use their feet, fists, knees and elbows to batter their opponent.
A match is decided by a knockout or by points. Three judges decide who carries the round and the one who wins the most rounds, win the fight. The referee plays a very important role, since the boxers safety depends on his decision.
To one side of the ring is the band section, comprising a Javanese clarinet, drums and cymbals. They accompany the fight from the homage dance to the conclusion. The tempo goes up as the action inside the ring intensifies. The musicians are mostly old-timers who have seen just about anything, yet their music always makes the heart race faster. It is said that the tune is a siren song that the true Muay Thai devotee can never resist.
On fight nights at major stadiums, especially at Lumpini and Ratchadamnoen, tourists fill up a sizable portion of the seats, and the number is growing. Most opt to sit at ringside, to see the action up close. On nights of major events, usually advertised days in advance, it can be hard to get tickets. You might want to book through your hotels or travel agents.
Equipment used in Thai Boxing Match
Equipment that is necessary for Muay Thai matches must be provided by the stadium. There are a stopwatch, a signal gong, a warning bell, boxing gloves of various sizes according to the rules, equipment to provide water for boxers, and other additional personal accessories for boxers who have not prepared their own such as boxing shorts in red or blue, jock straps, surgical tape, or sacred cords. Thai boxing can be classified into two major types, the first is muay lak which puts the emphasis on caution and patience, and is very rare nowadays. Theo- ther is muay kiew which is full of tricks and feints performed to catch the opponent off guard.
Basic rules of Thai boxing matches
A Muay Thai match formally have no more than 5 rounds, each round take 3 minutes to last, with a two-minute rest period in between. No additional rounds is allowed. Boxers must regularly wear gloves, each weighing not less than 6 ounces (172 Gramm).
The gloves must not be squeezed, kneaded or crushed to change its original shape.
Rules on contestants' boxing costumes.
- Contestants must wear only trunks (red or blue according to their corners) appropriately fit their bodies.
- Contestants must wear standard supporters or sturdy athletic cups to protect their groin, Gum shield may be used.
- Wear no shirts nor shoes, but ankle cap is permitted.
- A sacred cord known as Mongkol can be worn around the head only during the pre-fight ritual of paying homage to ancestral teachers of Muay Thai, to be removed before the start of the fight.
Where & When to see
Muay Thai Live : Bangkok and Vicinity
- Lumpini Stadium
Rama IV Road, Bangkok
Tel: (02) 252-8765, 251-4303, 253-7702, 253-7940
Fight Schedule: Tuesdays and Fridays from 18.30 - 23.00 , Saturday afternoons 16.30 - 20.00, Saturday nights from 20.30 - 24.00
Tickets : 500 - 1,500 Baht
- Ratchadamnoen Stadium
Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue
Tel: (02) 281-4205, 280-1684-6
Fight Schedule: Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 18.30 - 23.00, Sundays starting at 16.00 - 20.00 and 20.30 - 12.00
Tickets: rang from 1,000 - 2,000 Bath
Channel 7 Stadium
Behind the old Northern Bus Terminal (Mo-chit), opp. Chatuchak Park, Bangkok 10900
Tel: (02) 272-0201
Fight Schedule: Sundays, from 01.45 pm., third Wednesday of each month starting at 12.00 noon.
Tickets: Free admission
