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 Thai
Boxing |
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
The history of Muay Thai is interwoven with the history of the Thai
people. A gentle, peace-loving people, for centuries 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. 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.
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.
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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 Thais, 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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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. The
other is muay kiew which is full of tricks and feints performed
to catch the opponent off guard. |
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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 grams).
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.
Metal or other equipments that will be
harmful to the opponent is prohibited. |
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Where
& When to see |
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Bangkok & Vicinitiy |
| Lumpini Stadium |
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Rama IV Road, Bangkok
Tel: (662)
252-8765, 251-4303, 253-7702, 253-7940
Fight Nights:
Tuesdays and Fridays from 6.30 p.m, Saturday
afternoons 5-8 p.m., Saturday nights from 8.30 p.m.
Ticket prices: 220, 440,
1,000 Baht (ringside)
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| Ratchadamnoen
Stadium |
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Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue
Tel: (662)
281-4205, 280-1684-6
Fight Nights:
Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Sundays, starting at
6.30 p.m.
Ticket Prices:
220, 440, 1,000 Baht (ringside); special discount on
Sunday nights
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| Channel
7 Stadium |
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Behind the old Northern Bus Terminal (Morchit),
opp. Chatuchak Park, Bangkok
Tel: (662)
272-0201
Fight Schedule:
Sundays, from 1.45 p.m., third Wednesday of each
month starting at 12.00 noon.
Ticket prices:
Free admission
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| Rangsit Stadium |
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336/932 Prachathipat Road, Rangsit,
Pathumthani
Tel: (662)
992-0099
Fight Nights: Wednesdays
& Thursdays from 8.30 p.m.
Ticket Prices: 110
(women only), 220 Baht
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| Samrong Stadium |
Samrong Road, Samutprakarn
Tel: (662)
393-3592
Fight Nights: Fridays
and Sundays, from 8.30 p.m
Ticket Prices: 100 Baht
for women, 200 Baht for men
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| Omnoy Stadium |
74 Moo 12 Tumbon Omnoy, Amphoe
Krathumbaen, Samutsakorn
Tel: (662)
420-4317
Fight Schedule:
Saturdays from 11.45 a.m.
Tickets: 200 Baht
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International
Stadium, Chachoengsao |
23/22 Moo 6 Thepkunakorn Road,
Tumbon Sothorn, Amphoe Muang, Chachoengsao
Tel:
(66-38) 821-746-50
Fight Schedule: Sundays,
from 4.00 p.m.
Tickets: 200 Baht |
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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. |
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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
Amature Muay Thai Referees & Judges
(International): US$320
Professional Muay Thai Referees & Judges
(International): US$320
International
visitors who wish to learn Thai boxing can contact:
The Muay Thai Institute, 336/932, Prachathipat, Thanyaburi,
Pathum Thani 12130, Tel: 992-0096-9 |
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