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Trivia |
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Muaythai (IPA:
[/muai32 tʰai32/];
Thai:
มวยไทย) ("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).
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.
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The Wai Kru (respects to the teacher) also known as Ram Muay (boxing dance) is an important part of any evening watching Thai Boxing. These are ceremonies that are performed before each Muay Thai bout. Sometimes the Wai Kru are brief and basic, but other times they may be eloquent performances that draw praise and applause from the crowd. It is said that those who see well can determine who will win the fight by watching two fighters perform their Wai Kru.
Teachers are highly respected in Thai society, and many artistic disciplines, not just Muay Thai, perform Wai Kru or "respects to the teacher". Foreigners viewing these rituals should take care to be polite and not act disrespectfully regarding the Wai Kru. The Thais take seriously any insult to the Wai Kru, just as you would if somebody insulted your spiritual beliefs.
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Wai Kru (Simple Version) This is a ceremony performed before a fight to honor one's teacher. The fighter stands in his own corner and prays. The trainer places the Mong Kon (ceremonial head-band) around the fighter's head and prays, finally blowing his spirit into the fighter. The fighter goes to the center of the ring and kneels down facing the direction of his home and places their hands in a Wai (praying) position. The fighter thinks of his religion, father & mother, teacher and someone who has passed away. Bow three times in respect, first for country (chat), religion (sassana) and then for king (ramma) then return to the Wai position.
Bend over, opening your hands, and roll your hands down and in a
circular motion. "Like an eagle," says Ajarn Chai. As your
hands come together extended straight in front of you the index
fingers and thumbs come together to form a diamond. Then, while
maintaining the diamond hand position, swoop your hands into
your stomach. Then extend the same structure out and up over
your head to a vertical position as you look through the
diamond. Finish the motion by bringing your hands straight down
and into a kneeling Wai position. Rise to a kneeling position by picking up your right leg. Hands move into an overhand guard position reminiscent of Krabi-Krabong Rise to a standing position to perform the Yam Sang Kung (three step dance). Ajarn Chai's version of this dance is heavily influence by the defensive hand and body mechanics of Krabi-Krabong. While performing the Yam Sang Kung make your way to each corner, stopping at each point to pay respects. (Note: Do not stamp your feet in your opponent's corner as this is a signal that you intend to kill your opponent--unless you have an armed escort to make sure you make it out of the stadium alive.) Return finally to your own corner to pay respects last in that corner. |
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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 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. 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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Muay Thai,
known worldwide as "Thai Kick Boxing," is the Kingdom's national
sport and one of the fastest growing martial arts in the world.
Forget Jean-Claude Van Damme. Forget Steven Seagal. Forget
Jackie Chan. Forget Chuck Norris and all the rest. When it comes
to self-defense, Muay Thai is called "the most ferocious and
deadly martial art in the world" and "the hardest ring sport on
earth" and it has been the winner for hundreds of years.
When outsides learn that Thai boxers weigh as little as 45 kilograms, they smile indulgently. But not if they've seen a professional bout. Nor when they learn that over the centuries, when Thai "kick-boxers" have been pitted against foreigners fighting in other styles, the ferocious and relentless barrage of blows from the head, fists, elbows, knees, and feet for which Muay Thai is known has destroyed all challengers.
Cross-disciplinary matches are also commonplace in many foreign
countries today where the opponents seem to "waste a lot of time
and energy with meaningless moves" --as one fighter put it --
and are unused to being attacked with feet, elbows, knees and
heads. Most martial arts permit only feet or fists, while some
limit the target areas to above the waist. The Thais believe
that you're going to fight, use everything you're got. The
results are always the same. As one foreign fighter described
it, "It's like being carpet-bombed by somebody the size of my
little sister." |
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Please telephone for
further information: Gym 0161 924 0137 -Pele 07790 833030 -Tricia 07817 324762- email:beastmastersgym@yahoo.co.uk |
