History of Muay Thai | Muay Thai Today in the US | Arjan Surachai Sirisute and Thai Boxing Association, USA | Overview | Outfit, Rules and Regulations | Training Regiment
History of Muay Thai
What little we know of early Muay Thai can be traced primarily to provincial records and writings of visitors who witnessed early bouts. Most of the accounts can be traced to the Chinese, Burmese, and Cambodian countries. The reason for such a sketchy history is due to a loss of records in 1767. On that date, Burmese armies attacked and destroyed Thailand's capital city of Ayuddhaya. All of the royal archives were destroyed by fire.
Muay Thai is an art of self defense using various parts of the body. Because it is based on the principle of "doing no more than necessary to teach a lesson," it is equally well suited to be used as a competitive sport as well as a "fight to the finish." In ancient times, Thai warriors had intensive training in the art, giving them a distinct advantage in close-combat situations. Royalty, military leaders, and those common people responsible for defending the nation received regular instruction by leading exponents of the art.
The origins of the art itself was as colorful as the men who practiced it. Origins trace back to the Yunnan Province in central China. Because of the Chinese invasion, the Thai race fled and were thinned out by invaders, disease, and hunger. They finally settled in Chao Phraya Valley of the Mekong River. To deal with the many enemies, the Thai leaders developed a military training program for the young men of their race. This original art was called Chupasart. This taught use of knives, swords, pikes, and later muskets. Because of many injuries to soldiers who sparred in this system, the techniques were developed for open hand as well. This was the birth of Dee Muay , which later evolved into modern Muay Thai.
The best known and most celebrated of the early fighting greats was Nai Khanom Otom , who, having been captured by the Burmese, regained his freedom by defeating twelve of the enemy's gladiators in an unarmed contest witnessed by the Burmese king. His story is related in many versions and appears in grade school textbooks. All stadiums in the country honor the hero by dedicating one fight a year to him. It has been established without doubt that Nai Khanom Otom was a historical figure, although no records exist in Thailand. Ironically, the most reliable confirmation comes from Burma.
Muay Thai became part of the military training during the reign of King Naresun the Great (1590-1605). He also practiced the art, and in doing so became a national hero.
Muay Thai reached the height of its popularity during the reign of Pra Chao Sua , the "Tiger King" (1703-1709). Siam was at peace with her neighbors and the army was idle. "Boxing" became the favorite pastime of the population: with young and old, rich and poor joining fighting camps. Every village staged its own bouts. The king himself was skillful and was reported to have visited village arenas incognito to challenge and defeat the local champions and, still undetected, walk off with the prize money. According to some authorities it was customary to bind hands and forearms with strips of horse hide in order to protect one's own skin and inflict maximum damage on one's own opponent. Some of the techniques used today are said to be based on Pra Chao Sua's style of fighting.
The horse hide thongs were later replaced by hemp ropes or starched strips of cotton soaked in glue before being tied to the boxer's hands. It is said that for some matches and with agreement of both contestants, ground glass were mixed with the glue. The fighters wore groin guards of tree bark or sea shells held in place with a piece of cloth tied between the legs and around the waist. In those days there were no such arrangements as weight divisions or three-minute rounds. A bout lasted as long as a fighter could continue. Many a boxer is said to have left the arena on a bamboo stretcher - dead.
By the beginning of this century, Muay Thai was taught in schools. It continued roughly until 1921. The use of hemp ropes and sea shells continued until the 1930's. At that point Muay Thai underwent a major transformation. A number of rules and regulations from international boxing were adopted, modern gloves were introduced and bouts were staged in modern rings.
Muay Thai retains its number one ranking in the sports popularity chart. At the time of writing, six weekly, one daily, and one monthly publication are devoted exclusively to the fight game. Muay Thai motifs appear on postage stamps and matchbox covers. The enthusiasm has also gripped a number of foreigners, mostly American servicemen, who have joined training camps in different parts of the country.
The highlights of the Muay Thai season for fighter and spectator are the championship bouts and the contests for the "Best Boxer of the Year" title awarded by the reigning King. Here, not only the richest purses are awarded, but also the highest honor a boxer can win are vied for.
Most Thai boxers begin training at the age of 7-8 years old. Females also train, but mainly for self defense. They learn to use their legs, fists, knees, and elbows and are usually in the ring by their eleventh birthday in the phantom 4 class. By their sixteenth birthday they may even hold a title and prize money up to 40,000 baht and sometimes a reward up to 200,000 baht.
The average Thai fighter hangs up his gloves during his middle or late twenties, though there are exceptions. After leaving the ring many will enter the monkhood for a short time. Many return later to their camps to be among friends or train to stay fit. Some act as assistant trainers and others, if they can afford to, may open their own training camp. Very seldom will one find an ex-fighter who has divorced himself from the fight night, the elation after a victory and the bitter taste of defeat all have formed a bond that it too strong to break.
Muay Thai in Thailand is a strictly professional affair. No boxer, whether schoolboy or veteran, would think of climbing through the ropes without a purse at stake. He knows that he will get hurt however good he might be and considers it only fair to get paid for his pain. A fighter's rates are not set but negotiated. They differ considerably depending on a boxer's popularity and his manager's talent.
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Muay Thai/Kickboxing Today in the United States
Today more and more American Martial Artists actually fight in Muay Thai bouts, and the art and training methods are widely practiced. The specially designed "Thai" pads are excellent for the aerobic-like workout that has appealed to today's serious martial artist. Because the art of Muay Thai is simple but highly effective, it is an excellent self-defense method and it is an art that can be practiced by all ages and ranks. Whether it's to improve sparring techniques, build and improve power, or just to get into better condition, Muay Thai should be considered by all serious martial artists.
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Arjan Surachai Sirisute and Thai Boxing Association, USA
In 1968, visionary martial artist, Surachai Sirisute , came to this country with the goal of bringing Muay Thai to America. Arjan Chai (as he is known to his students) has quietly taught Thai boxing techniques to over 15,000 students in universities, colleges, seminars and summer camps. A fighting expert himself, Arjan Chai is a past Thai Bantam Weight Champion who ended his career with 72 bouts. He also holds a 6th degree Black Belt in Shorin Karate. He is the President and Founder of the Thai Boxing Association of the United States. Arjan Chai specializes in training full contact fighters for international competition in W.K.A., P.K.C., I.K.B.A., K.I.C.K., and Muay Thai , and has also headed the first U.S. Team to Thailand to compete in the international championships (1982 Bangkok, Thailand). At present he has several champion fighters training under his direction. In addition to the Thai Boxing Association of the U.S.A., Master "Chai" has recently established associations in Canada, Mexico, Australia, Spain and other countries internationally. Traditionally, Muay Thai has no belt ranking system and can create a devastating fighter with a short period of intense training. As Master "Chai" notes: "I believe that the one standing after a fight in the true expert."
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Overview - Traditional Rights and Customs
Before a young man is allowed is allowed to join a boxing camp, he has to be accepted by his prospective teacher. Should there be any doubt about the youngster's suitability or character he will be rejected or asked to apply again after some time.
Once a new student is accepted, the "Wai Kruk" or "Khuen Kruh" ceremony, an important entrance ritual, must be performed. Even modern physical education colleges insist on this practice for those students taking a course in Muay Thai. The general procedure is similar in camps throughout the country, although many teachers have introduced slight variations to suit their own sentiments.
The most important part of the khuen kruh, which is held in front of a Buddha shrine flanked on either side by Muay Thai equipment, is the vow of loyalty. After the students have made their offerings of flowers, a piece of white cloth, sticks, candles and perhaps a few coins or small presents, they pray before reciting their pledge.
The recital is followed by a period of meditation, Buddhist rituals and chants, and a talk by the master of ceremonies and teacher. The students are now part of a boxing "family," considering the teacher their adopted "father," and cannot change stables without permission.
An inherent cultural characteristic of the Thais is the desire to show respect and gratitude, especially to those who impart knowledge, like parents and teachers. A worthy and beautiful custom is boxer's way of paying homage to his teacher by performing the ram muay or boxing dance.
This ritual differs from camp to camp and should two fighters be seen rendering a similar performance they are almost certainly students of the same teacher, or else their instructors have come from the same camp. If an inquiry reveals this to be true, the two boxers will on no account fight each other. This tradition is the result of strict disciplinary training and the pledge given during the khuen kruh ceremony. It ensures a feeling of close unity in the camps and villages and is meant to foster a sense of belonging to the race as a whole.
The ram muay is accompanied by music and starts with wai kruh, or obedience to the teacher. The boxer kneels in the ring facing the direction of his camp, home, or birthplace. He covers his eyes with his gloves and says a short prayer while three times bowing low until his gloves touch the canvas. Now the ram muay, or boxing dance follows. It is performed in many different ways, each teacher having his own variety which he gives to a boxer according to his proficiency and experience.
The ram muay also serves as a pre-fight warm-up exercise and can last as long as five minutes. Its performance is accompanied by silent prayers and the recitation of magic formulas. Some of the higher forms of these dances are difficult to perform and may earn a boxer extended applause if well executed. For those with an intimate knowledge of ram muay, details of the dance easily reveal the identity of the performer's teacher or camp. Without initiation and the knowledge of the secret words, jealously guarded by each boxer, its performance is quite useless.
One can often see a boxer wearing a string or piece of cloth around one or both biceps. This is called the "kruang rang" and may be worn throughout the fight. It sometimes contains protective charms, a small picture of the Buddha or a saint, or an herb said to have magic properties.
During the pre-fight ritual the fighters also wear the "mongkon" or crown, a cord about finger-thick and worn around the head. It does not belong to the fighter but is the property of the teacher, and considered sacred. After the completion of the ram muay and before the first round commences, the trainer of a handler bows with folded hands, says a short prayer, and lifts the mongkon off the boxer's head, blowing on his hair for good luck.
A very important part of Muay Thai bouts is the music which not only accompanies the fight itself but also the pre-fight ceremonies. The haunting sounds are heard far beyond the confines of a stadium. The "wong muay," as the four-piece band is called, consists of a reedy sounding Jawa flute, the " Pi'chawa ," a pair of small brass cymbals known as " Ching ," and the " Glong Kaek ," two drums, one being high, the other low pitched. The musicians know every move in the game and watch the fighters constantly, varying tempo and volume from slow and soothing to speedy and loud, depending on the action in the ring.
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Outfit, Rules and Regulations
Muay Thai is a well regulated sport and follows a strict code of ethics. The same rules apply throughout the country.
The contestant wears either a red or blue pair of trunks, under which he has tied "krajab," an aluminum cup to protect his genitals. A pair of anklets covers insteps and lower shins. Thai fighters do not forge their hands. They are allowed six feet of two-inch-wide tape to wrap both hands. For some reason this rule never seems to be enforced. Most boxers appear to use at least twice the lengths permitted and get away with it. Ring gloves weigh six ounces but the eight-ounce variety is allowed and sometimes used. A mouth guard may be worn but is not obligatory, as is the kruang rang described earlier. Thai fighters oil their bodies with a pungent smelling ointment, called "namman muay" or boxing oil. Its application is legal but may not be excessive.
Muay Thai contests are held on a platform raised three to four feet off the ground and in a roped-in square of which one side is to be not less than sixteen feet and not more than twenty feet long. The square is bordered by at least three ropes of no less than three-quarter-inch thickness and covered with either cloth or leather, stretched in a straight line, running horizontally and parallel to the ring floor at two, three and four-foot heights from ring level. The edge of the ring floor is to extend to no less than two feet from the outside of the ropes. The ring floor is to be covered with any soft material not more than one-and-one-half inches thick, which again is covered with one layer of tightly stretched canvas.
A bout consists of five rounds of three minutes duration with two-minute breaks determined by a timekeeper. A referee in the ring and two side judges each keep a score card. Decisions are arrived at by:
- A knock-out, when a boxer is unable to continue after a count of ten.
- A technical knock-out, when a fighter is not fit to continue at the start of a new round, when the ring doctor stops a bout because of an injury, when the referee halts a fight to prevent an obvious loser from taking any more unnecessary punishment and/or when a manager "throws in the towel."
- The awarding of points.
- A "no contest" is declared when a fighter shows poor technique or lacks fighting spirit. This decision carries an automatic ring suspension and the loss of a boxer's purse.
In Muay Thai , a referee's decision is final and neither the judges nor anyone else has the right to dispute the result.
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Muay Thai Fighter's Training Regiment
A competing Muay Thai fighter has to stay in top physical condition throughout the year. He has a schedule of at least one bout a month and cannot afford to be lazy if he wants to stay in the limelight. Training sessions are held daily except on weekends and are strict, no-nonsense affairs. Naturally, the degree of discipline differs greatly from camp to camp, but in general, trainers follow the same pattern. Boxing teachers are usually hard on their students but not unreasonable.
A typical training schedule will look something like this:
- Fifteen minutes of rope skipping at different speeds.
- Shadow boxing for five rounds with one-minute breaks, going through all offensive techniques, using fists, knees and feet.
- Bag practice for five rounds with one-minute breaks, using all attacks in a boxer's repertoire.
- Sparring with a senior fighter or trainer who wears specially designed protective pads on his forearms. He uses only defensive moves and directs the attacks of the boxer, who is to react as fast as he can using any technique he sees fit.
- General exercise such as push-ups, sit-ups, and light weight training.
- Roadwork - this is normally done early in the morning and consists of at least one half-hour of jogging and includes five rounds of running at increased speed for three minutes. During one-minute breaks the runner does not rest but keeps on jogging.
All phases of the workouts are controlled by a stop-watch or timer. The last thirty seconds in each three-minute period are announced and all exercises, including running, are executed at full speed and power.
The fighters live on a controlled diet determined by the trainer. Its main ingredients are lean meat, fresh vegetables, and plenty of fruits, supplemented by milk, eggs and several locally-made fortified drinks.
Physical training is not the only part of a Muay Thai fighter's education. For those who live in the camp, discipline extends to the non-training hours. They do chores and run errands for their teacher whose every word is obeyed. The more concerned and knowledgeable instructor also lectures students on anatomy and the workings of the muscular, nervous, respiratory and digestive systems, and teaches them massage techniques. He gives moral coaching and acts as teacher, doctor, father and brother. In the words of a well-known boxing instructor, a Muay Thai fighter should be a "bonus to society." He should be a good technician, confident, disciplined, quick-witted and brave. He should be a gentleman, patient, helpful and polite, with a good sense of sportsmanship.
The sport of Thai boxing is looked upon as "gambling," and the organizers of the matches must have a gambling license from the "Interior Ministry" in which they pay a fee of 225.50 baht.
Thai matches at one time were held in theaters and temples and have recently turned into a business held in stadiums. Most of which are held in Rajadamnern Stadium situated across from Chulachomklao Military Academy . The matches are televised for home entertainment or, if you have some extra cash, you can go to the stadium and watch matches.
Bangkok, the largest gathering place for matches has four stadiums, whereas other stadiums in the country side have folded. These stadiums complement the expansions of boxing camps which spread out all over the country side.
At present , Rajadamnern has already set up a museum of Thai boxing and is collecting history of the art for the following generations.
This set of notes has been taken from many sources. It includes information from many books and manuals, some published and some unpublished, information presented to me orally, and my opinion and interpretation of my 23 years of martial arts experience. I have chosen this material, to only provide you a path for which to gain your own knowledge.
This set of notes is dedicated to the devoted students of Martial Arts in the hope that it will provide a point of reference for the student in his study, and to help the student find peace and harmony within himself and his fellow man.
This set of notes is incomplete for the experience of knowledge is fathomless and ever-growing, and each of us is constantly learning and understanding. Therefore, I encourage each of you to continually add to this basic framework of notes.
- KRU BRIAN CRENSHAW
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