Thai Boxing / Muay Thai
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| Introduction | ||||||||||
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You might have heard about it, or even
seen it on TV-the furious punches, crushing elbow strikes, lethal kicks,
powerful grappling and artful feints. But nothing compares to seeing
them executed to loud cheers and heart-racing tune of an accompanying
wind-and-percussion ensemble. Welcome to the exciting world of Muay
Thai, a martial art like no others, and a proud heritage of a nation. |
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| 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, and 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 Ratchadamnoen, the biggest and most famous stadiums in the country.
Lumpini and Ratchadamnoen 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. Fights usually begins around 6:30 p.m., with preliminary
bouts featuring younger, less experienced boxers, and build up towards
the main event, usually around nine o'clock. Muay Thai is fought in five three-minute rounds with two-minute breaks in between. The fight is preceded by a wai khru dance, in which each contestant pays homage to his teachers. Besides the symbolic meaning, the dance is a good warm-up exercise. You will notice that each boxer wears a headband and armbands. The headband, called mongkhol, is believed to bestow luck to the wearer since it has been blessed by a monk or the boxer's own teacher. Since Buddhism and the teacher play important roles in the life of Thai, the headband is both a lucky charm and a spiritual object. It will be removed after the wai khru dance, and only by the boxer's trainer. The armbands, meanwhile, are believed to offer protection and are only removed when the fight has ended.  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 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. |
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| Learning Muay Thai | ||||||||||
| Muay Thai, with its emphasis on both offense
and defense as well as on stamina, is a martial art anyone can learn:
men, women, young or old. With the interest in Muay Thai growing fast,
martial-art schools in Europe, America and Asia have added it to their
curricula. Some hire former Muay Thai champions as instructors, others
have trainers who studied with Thai teachers. These schools may teach
all the right moves and maneuvers, but Muay Thai isn't just about punches
and kicks. To learn Muay Thai is to learn about its roots and its purpose, and there's nowhere better to do that than in its homeland. In the past, foreigners wanting "the real thing" would go to one of the stables, where training focuses on professional competition. For those not so inclined, there wasn't much choice, and language was sometimes a problem. Not anymore, since Thailand now has a school for total Muay Thai education for both professionals and amateurs. |
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| Muay Thai Institute | ||||||||||
| The Muay Thai Institute was established
with the goal of preserving and promoting the art of Muay Thai and making
it accessible to all. The Institute, which is located in Rangsit, just
north of Bangkok International Airport, offers accredited training courses
for boxers, instructors and referees. Opened in 1997, the Institute is
run by a professional team of Muay Thai instructors, promoters and officials.
Its staff instructors are all former champions, hold at least a bachelor's
degree in physical education, and speak English. Graduates will received
a certificate recognized by the Thai Ministry of Education and the World
Muay Thai Council. Since its opening, the school has trained hundreds
of amateurs and professionals. Students have come from Australia, France,
Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, the U.K., and other
parts of the world. Thai students, many of them girls and young women,
also come for recreational and professional courses. The Fundamental Muay Thai Program consists of Basic, Intermediate, Advanced and Professional levels and takes 120 day to complete. The program was designed to provide students with the historical and cultural background to Muay Thai as well as the physical skills and fitness training. The course includes a study tour to Bangkok's major stadiums, so students can experience the real thing live. Muay Thai for Instructors is ideal for those who want to become Muay Thai instructors or to run training schools. The program comprises three 15-day courses. Muay Thai for Referees and Judges is divided into three levels of proficiency: local, national and international, each taking 15 days. The Muay Thai Institute occupies a complex next door to Rangsit Stadium. Classes take place in the classroom and in the well-equipped gym. Students have access to the in-house fitness facilities and Muay Thai library. Dormitory-style accommodation, with five bunkbeds to a room, TV, and fridge, and meals are available. The Institute can arrange visa and paperwork for applicants to any of the courses. Tuition and Fees: Fundamental Muay Thai 1-3: US$ 160 per course Fundamental Muay Thai 4 (Professional): US$ 1,200 Muay Thai Instructors 1 & 2: US$ 288 per course Muay Thai Instructors 3: US$ 320 Amateur Muay Thai Referees & Judges (International): US$320 Professional Muay Thai Referees & Judges (International): US$320 |
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The
history of Muay Thai is interwoven with the history of the Thai people.
A gentle, peace-loving people, for centuries Thai 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. Over time it became a rite of passage for Thai men
to take up 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.Travel Thailand major city, Travel Bangkok. Bangkok Hotel Reservations provide all you need about Bangkok, information on Bangkok, Bangkok Hotels online reservations service. Find discounted hotels in Bangkok with us.
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