Thai
Boxing (Muay Thai)
 Thai
boxing, or Muay Thai as it is called in Thai, is unquestionably
one of Thailand's most popular sports. This martial art form
has been practiced for centuries and is firmly rooted in the
history and culture of the country. This fact is obvious in
the traditional pageantry, which begins well before a match
and actually continues all the way until the decision is rendered.
This pageantry, in addition to the aggressive nature of the
sport itself, makes a Thai boxing match an extravagantly colorful
and exciting event.
Muay Thai: Past to Present
The roots of Thai Boxing, or Muay Thai can be traced
clear back to the medieval times, when it was included as
a part of military training. In an era when wars were fought
in much closer quarters, Muay Thai proved to be an extremely
effective form of hand-to-hand combat. It was during the reign
of King Naresuan, circa 1560 A.D., that Muay Thai first came
to notoriety. Captured during a battle with Myanmar, King
Naresuan, reputed to be the most skilled unarmed combatant
in the Kingdom, was given the opportunity to fight for his
freedom. After discarding Myanmar's most skilled fighters,
one by one, King Naresuan returned to his homeland to a hero's
welcome and Muay Thai was dubbed a national sport.
 Muay
Thai reached its highest level of popularity approximately
200 years ago during Pra Chao Sua's reign, when it was widely
practiced in all levels of society. It was during this period
that Thailand's first famous boxer, Nai Khanom Dtom, came
to prominence. Muay Thai was banned during the 1920's due
to an alarming rate of injury. However, it was later reinstated
in 1937 with a new set of rules for protecting the contestants.
Prior to these new rules it was not uncommon for contestants
to bind their hands with glass encrusted hemp in an attempt
to injure the opponent.
Today,
Muay Thai no longer enjoys such a broad range of participants,
however, that is not to say that it is no longer popular.
On the contrary, Muay Thai now thrives as one of the Thailand's
most popular spectator sports, with weekly, nationally televised
matches watched by a good portion of the population. Muay
Thai has also expanded beyond the borders of Thailand, where
it is taught both as a sport and as a method of self-defense.
In addition, Muay Thai has aided in the development of Thai
National Team boxers, many of who started with Muay Thai before
making the switch to Western boxing. As a result, Thai National
Team boxers are now amongst the most skilled in the lower
weight classes and have won honors including an Olympic Gold
Medal at the Atlanta Games in 1996 and a WBC Bantamweight
World Title Belt.
Rules
of Muay Thai
 Muay
Thai and International Boxing differ in a number of ways,
and the rules and regulations governing each form do as well.
The greatest difference between Muay Thai and Western Boxing
is that Muay Thai allows kicking, kneeing and elbowing, in
addition to punching. Points are scored for every blow landed
on an opponent. If a contestant violates a rule during the
match, points are deducted from his score. Unlike Western
Boxing, blows below the beltline are allowed, however, the
groin is not considered to be a valid target. Generally speaking,
Muay Thai matches are more frantically paced than Western
bouts, and thus are broken up into a maximum of five rounds
of three minutes. Similar to Western bouts, Muay Thai matches
can end with a winner by knockout, technical knockout, or
decision; or can be declared a draw.
Muay
Thai matches are held in a square ring similar to that used
in Western bouts. Contestants must wear gloves weighing at
least 6 ounces, and must weigh in and be examined by a physician
before each match. The contestants wear only boxing trunks
into the ring, and may not wear shoes or headgear. Muay Thai
matches are generally preceded by a traditional ceremony during
which the contestants pay homage to their teachers by praying
while accompanied by traditional Thai instruments such as
the Java pipe, drums, and cymbals. The music continues throughout
the match, stopping only during the breaks between the rounds.
The significance of this ceremony is that it is a show of
respect for both the art of Muay Thai and its teachers.
In
the Crowd
Perhaps the most attractive and interesting aspect of Muay
Thai is the crowd of spectators that gathers to see a match.
The spectators at a Muay Thai match provide as much entertainment
as the contestants in the ring and are vital to the sport.
Muay Thai matches are awash with color and pageantry and alive
with music and spirit. The crowd of spectators erupts with
each blow that a contestant lands on his opponent and as the
excitement in the ring increases, so does the noise level
in the arena. This tremendous atmosphere makes a Muay Thai
match entertaining and exciting-even for a person who has
no idea what is going on in the ring. The sights and sounds
of a Muay Thai match are a one of a kind experience, and provide
a unique insight into the fighting spirit of the Thai people.
Muay Thai School
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If you would like to learn Muay Thai at its homeland ,come to Thailand and feel "the art of eight limbs”. Thailand has probably thousands Muay Thai school but we recommended Muay Thai training camp in Thailand by suwit gym. The School is located in Phuket, "The Pearl of Andaman". You can learn Muay Thai and get sunbathed on the beautiful beach in your day off. More full detail please contact. |
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