Thai Kick Boxing

Muay Thai (Thai Kick Boxing) is what the Thai people call their own martial art. The art of Muay Thai has been the country's most popular spectator sport for hundreds of years... It is unique among other kinds of fighting disciplines in its approach to close quarters fighting. Fighters are able to use their elbows, knees, feet and fists more effectively than in other martial arts.

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 . 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.

SACRED BOXING AMULETS
Many taboos dictate the ceremonial side of Muay Thai. Each boxer enters the arena crowned with the mongkhon, a sacred loop with ends projecting rearward. Throughout the fight, he also wears prajiad armlets on each bicep.

PRESENT MUAY THAI
Modern Muay Thai has, since the 1920s, adopted standards and equipment from Western boxing. These include shorts, gloves, canvas rings, weight divisions, red and blue corners, and a code of fair play adapted from the Queensberry rules.

Thais are just as adept at international boxing, having won gold medals at the past three Olympics. But Muay Thai differs in many fundamental ways that reflect the local culture. Muay Thai or kick boxing is going global, while preserving its ancient roots.

A LETHAL WEAPON
Muay Thai offers artful ways for the slender, nimble Thai frame to impart force more lethal than that expended by heftier foreign pugilists. No wonder that the favorite magical tattoo among nak muay is of Hanuman, the brave, spy white monkey warrior from the Ramayana epic. The transsexual boxer, Nong Toom – who found worldwide fame through the Thai movie ‘Beautiful Boxer' – was no gimmick, but a high-ranked nak muay.

Some comparisons have rated Muay Thai the most potent martial art in the world. The discipline evolved from military training (the Thai army still favors the sport), and provides a career for many boxers.

LEARNING MUAY THAI
The combination of beauty, physicality and fidelity spurs many foreigners to take up Muay Thai, whether for fitness or a career. Interested tourists and foreign residents can be found slugging it out with a leather bag or sparring with a leather bag or sparring with a heavily-padded partner in international classes at Thai gyms in Pattaya.

Each bout is of five rounds of three minutes. In between supporters on either side would scream to their favorite to hit this way or use those armours. Fights aren't exhibition matches, each fighter gets money from the promoter. The referee is in the middle and two judges on either side of the ring jot score card. Any weapon which makes the opponent crunch, that boxer would focus at that point. Hard punch or a powerful kick gets maximum points. Maximum points for each round is 10, like international boxing.

Here in Pattaya there are many opportunities to watch Muay Thai Boxing. Down on Walking Street you can see just across from Soi Lucky Star some good shows, albeit sometimes, not all the time, a bit staged. There are several schools opening but the two that seem to have the best reputation are the Sitpholek Institute of Muay Thai Techniques located on Sukhumvit Road between Central Pattaya Road and North Pattaya Road on the left side if you are coming North from Central. Phone number is - 089-934-5001. The other one is the Yodthong Senanan Thai Boxing Camp in Nongprue. Call for directions at (038) 249-018.