Discover Thailand : Muay Thai, or Thai boxing

If there's one spectacle that leaves no visitor indifferent, it's Muay Thai! Thai boxing" is a fascinating, technical combat sport, sometimes even violent and shocking, that fascinates the population. It's THE national sport, omnipresent in Thai daily life. It's also a real taboo: never criticize Thai boxing in Thailand! On the days of the big fights, life grinds to a halt in the working-class districts. The blows are accompanied by howls of approval or disapproval. But it's also more than a sport, it's almost a school of life: the teachings of Theravāda Buddhism, respect for the King and love of country are fundamental values of Muay Thai. Attending an evening of Thai boxing in a stadium is a must. The fights generally take place one after the other, starting with the youngest fighters and culminating at the end of the evening with the top categories.

From Khmer martial arts to Muay Thai

The first written accounts of Thai boxing date back to accounts in the royal chronicles of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya during the reign of Rama I. According to legends handed down orally, Muay Thai has its origins in Khmer martial arts, such as Pradal Seray (a martial art practised bare-handed at the time), and in the ancient martial arts of the various provinces of present-day Thailand. It then evolved into Muay Boran ("ancient boxing"), also practised bare-handed, and was finally codified in the 16th century to become Muay Thai as we know it today. It was at this time that Muay Thai began to be practiced by soldiers for military purposes. It was the hand-to-hand combat technique of choice for chiefs and warriors. In the 18th century, the practice gained in popularity and fights were regularly organized in villages. Boxers used a variety of natural and unnatural materials to cover their fists. Muay Thai became more and more of a spectacle and was abandoned by the military as weapons were modernized. The practice was even outright banned in 1921, as it was considered too dangerous and lethal! Prior to this date, these warriors sometimes had their fists wrapped in resin-soaked strips to which they glued crushed glass. There were many deaths, which hardly ever happens nowadays. Thai boxing made a comeback in 1930, with rules inspired by English boxing: fighting in a ring, wearing boxing gloves, banning certain punches...)

Philosophy, dance and music

Muay Thai conveys strong values and combines the foundations of the country: respect for the king and the royal family, allegiance to Buddhism and patriotic spirit.

The boxer wears a sacred band around the head, the mongkon, to protect him from bad blows, and another band containing a Buddha amulet around one arm, the praciat or kruang-rang. Such precautions are not useless. In fact, it's not uncommon to see Muay Thai champions who are Buddhist monks! Controlling emotions is an important part of training, which is as much physical as it is mental. Fights begin with an immutable ceremonial. Before the fight, the boxer prays with his trainer(wai kru). He then begins a "dance of the spirits" lasting several minutes(Ram Muay). A dance full of cabalistic gestures designed to frighten the spirits of the place and the opponent. Ram Muay movements are performed slowly and in circles, and also serve as mental preparation. Ram Muay always begins on the knees and ends standing. A good dancer, even if he loses, will be respected if his Ram Muay is well executed. The fight is accompanied by music, from the meditation to the rhythm of the assaults during the fight. The orchestra is made up of three or four musicians, playing the Javanese flute(Pi Chawa), cymbals(Ching) and long drum(Klawng Khaek). The rhythm and volume of sound follow the action of the fight, and have a stimulating effect on the boxers and the audience.

Surprising techniques

The techniques employed are varied: striking techniques (fist, foot, elbow, knee...), dodging techniques, blocks and grabs, as well as projection and mowing techniques. Each three-minute round is interspersed with a two-minute break. Boxers are barefoot (the horn is hard and hurts) and it's not uncommon to see a knockout from a kick. Elbows are used as hammers, aiming for the face; knees are used as battering rams, normally reserved for the stomach, liver and solar plexus. Judo holds are not accepted, but you can throw your opponent to the ground or mow him down.

Where to practice?

To practice and learn the art of this national sport, training camps are scattered throughout the kingdom. They are open to everyone from the age of 7.

There are usually no fewer than 8 fights per evening, the most eagerly awaited being the5th, when the show, which has been going on since 9 p.m., reaches its climax. The most important fights are broadcast on national channels on Saturday and Sunday. The international renown of Thai boxing owes much to the development of tourism in the country, which has given it a showcase all over the world. Since then, the sport has been practiced all over the world, including in France. Kick-boxing, created by the Japanese Kenji Kurosaki in the late 1960s, is a derivative of Thai boxing. In France, the Académie française de Muay Thai (AFMT) and the Fédération française de kick-boxing, muay thai et disciplines associées (FFKMDA), the two largest official federations, have a large number of practising members. The two legendary Muay Thai stadiums are in Bangkok: the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium and the Rajadamnern Boxing Stadium. They are the world benchmark for the sport. Every city has several Thai boxing stadiums, from the smallest to the largest. You can attend fight nights all over the country: Bangkok, of course, but also Pattaya, Phuket, Koh Samui, Chiang Mai... Admission prices vary according to the venue, of course, but also according to the quality of the champions. You can expect to pay between B 1,500 and B 2,500 for a seat near the ring.

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