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History

Muay Thai literally Thai Boxing and also known as The Art of the Eight Limbs. The different styles of kickboxing in Southeast Asia are analogous to the different types of Kung Fu in China or Silat in the Malay world. The Thai military uses a modified form of Muay Thai called Lerdrit.[1] The art is also known by other names in Southeast Asia such as: Pradal Serey in Cambodia, Lethwei in Myanmar, Tomoi in Malaysia, and Muay Lao in Laos.

Muay Thai has a long history in Thailand and is the country's national sport. Traditional Muay Thai practiced today varies significantly from the ancient art Muay Boran 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.

Various forms of kickboxing have long been practiced throughout Southeast Asia such as Thailand. As with most countries in the region, Thai culture is based on that of Khmer, India, and China. These countries had a hand in the development of local martial arts. Indian boxing forms like Musti-yuddha are remarkably similar to Muay Thai and it is often said that every move in Muay Thai has a similar equivalent in Shaolin kung fu. Muay Thai's origin in Thailand can be traced back to its ancestor Muay Boran ("ancient boxing"). This was the form of unarmed combat used by Siamese soldiers in conjunction with Krabi Krabong, the weapon-based style [1]. The precedence Muay Thai and Muay Boran give to the kicks may be indigenous to Thailand and the surrounding area, since Indian boxing as well as southern Chinese styles use even low kicks sparingly. Another influence from Thailand's weapon style can be seen in the pre-fight Wai Kru ritual which is based on the sabre dance of Krabi Krabong. Eventually Muay Boran was divided to:

* Muay Korat (Northeast) emphasized strength. A technique like "Throwing Buffalo Punch" was used. It could supposedly defeat a buffalo in one blow.

* Muay Lopburi (Center region) emphasized movements. Its strong points were straight and counter punches.

* Muay Chaiya (South) emphasized posture and defense, as well as elbows and knees.

* Muay Pra Nakorn (North) emphasized speed, particularly in kicking. Because of its faster speed, it was called as well "Ling Lom" (windy monkey or Loris).

The Muay Renaissance

The ascension of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) to the throne in 1868 ushered in a Golden Age not only for muay but for the whole country of Thailand. Muay progressed greatly during the reign of Rama V as a direct result of the king's personal interest in the art. The country was at peace and muay functioned as a means of physical exercise, self-defense, recreation, and personal advancement. Masters of the art such as former fighters or soldiers began teaching muay in training camps where students were provided with food and shelter. Trainees would be treated as one family and it was customary for students to adopt the camp's name as their own surname.

After the occurrence of a death in the ring, King Rama the VII pushed for codified rules for Muay Thai, and they were put into place. These included the rules that the fighters should wear modern gloves and cotton coverlets over the feet and ankles. It was also around this time in the 1920s that the term Muay Thai became commonly used while the older form of the style was referred to as Muay Boran.

Legendary heroes

At the time of the fall of the ancient Siam capital of Ayutthaya in 1767, the invading Burmese troops rounded up a group of Thai residents and took them as prisoners. Among them were a large number of Thai boxers, who were taken by the Burmese to the city of Ungwa.

In 1774, in the Burmese city of Rangoon, the king of the Burmese, King Mangra decided to organize a seven-day, seven-night religious festival in honor of Buddha's relics. The festivities included many forms of entertainment, such as the costume plays called likay, comedies and farces, and sword-fighting matches. At one point, King Mangra wanted to see how Muay Boran would compare to the Burmese art Lethwei. Nai Khanom Tom was selected to fight against the Burmese champion. The boxing ring was set up in front of the throne and Nai Khanom Tom did a traditional Wai Kru pre-fight dance, to pay his respects to the Burmese king, as well as for all the spectators, dancing around his opponent, which amazed and perplexed all the Burmese people. When the fight began, he charged out, using punches, kicks, elbows, and knees, pummeling his opponent until he collapsed.[2]

The referee however stated that the Burmese opponent was too distracted by the Wai Kru, and the knockout was invalid. The King then asked if Nai Khanom Tom would fight nine other Burmese champions to prove himself. He agreed and fought them all, one after the other with no rest periods in between. His last opponent was a great boxing teacher from Ya Kai City. Nai Khanom Tom mangled him by his kicks and no one else dared to challenge him any further.

King Mangra was so impressed that he remarked, "Every part of the Thai is blessed with venom. Even with his bare hands, he can fell nine or ten opponents. But his Lord was incompetent and lost the country to the enemy. If he would have been any good, there was no way the City of Ayutthaya would ever have fallen."

King Mangra granted Nai Khanom Tom freedom along with either riches or two beautiful Burmese wives. Nai Khanom Tom chose the wives as he said that money was easier to find. He then departed with his wives for Siam. Other variations of this story had him also winning the release of his fellow Thai prisoners. His feat is celebrated every March 17 as "Boxer's Day" or "National Muay Thai Day" in his honor and that of Muay Thai's.

Today, some have wrongly attributed the legend of "Nai Khanom Tom" to King Naresuan, who was once taken by the Burmese. However, Nai Khanon Tom and King Naresuan were almost two centuries apart.

Video games

* In Capcom's Street Fighter video game series, the character Sagat is a Muay Thai master and a national hero in Thailand. His student Adon is also a practitioner.
* In SNK's World Heroes 2, the character Shura/Naikanom Tom is based on the legendary Muay Thai hero, Nai Khanom Tom.
* In the Dead Or Alive video game series, the fighter Zack is a self-taught Muay Thai master.
* In "Tekken 5", the character Bruce is a Muay Thai master.
* In "True Crime: NYC" it is possible to learn Muay Thai. The game shows a kick strike, an elbow strike, a clinch grapple, and a flying knee attack as a special move.
* In the Mortal Kombat series, the character of Jax fights using Muay Thai.
* In SNK's King of Fighters and Fatal Fury series, Joe Higashi is a Muay Thai champion.
* In the Virtua Fighter video game series, the character Brad Burns is an undefeated Muay Thai champion from Italy.
* In the squaresoft video game Ehrgeiz, the character Prince Doza is a Muay Thai practitioner who won many battles
Joe Higashi

Bruce

Anime and Manga

* In Anime and Manga series Kenichi: The Strongest Disciple a character named Apachai Hopachai is a Muay Thai Master.
* K.O.Sen is a Manga about a out of control student Sen Tobishima, being sent to a Muay Thai/Japanese Kickboxing gym by his mother to straighten him out, same as his father did years ago.

Ritual Homage :

Before starting a bout, the boxers will perform traditional pre-boxing dance to pay ritual homage.

- PEE JAVA (Javanese flute)-


Objectives :

1. To lessen the excitement and stress before starting the bout
2. To build up concentration and morale support
3. To survey the ring floor
4. To find the weak points of the opponent
5. To greet and threaten the opponent
6. To stretch and warm up the body
7. To be more enthusiastic

- GLONG-KAG (Two face drum) -


Music :

The ritual homage and dancing will start with the traditional music traced back to the Ayutthaya period. The performance has been influenced by the Indian culture using the following musical instruments.
1. Cymbals
2. Javanese oboe
3. Male Indian drum
4. Female Indian drum
The song generally played during the dancing is Sarahma whereas the one played during the fight is Khaek Chao Sen

- CHING (cymbals) -


Muay Thai Fighters

Famous
Dan Chupong



Suebsak Pansueb



Kessarin Ektawatkul


Tony Jaa


Yanin "Jeeja" Vismistananda


Ong Bak 2 (2008)
Directed by " Tony Jaa "
Movie Trailer link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNHNTDPvv44

Amazing Tony Jaa Video
http://youtube.com/watch?v=_LtR-3vbfhU

Fireball