You find your seat and sit-down looking at the sold out crowd. Your see a four-piece musical band nears the ring playing music. The crowd is load and waiting for the event to begin. Is it an orchestra or a musical artist-performing no! You are a businessperson in Thailand who had a free evening and are about to see one of Thailand's a most treasured and oldest event. You are at a Muay Thai (Thai Boxing) match. Everyone you know say it is a must see in Thailand so you went. Now you are watching the fighters do some type of stretching and dance to the rhythm of the music. The fighters walk around the ring with one hand on the top rope, next thing you know it show time. The sight is nothing you haven’t seen at a boxing match back in the states. Just the fighters are not wearing shoes and are average in size. After the match you retract your last statement. You noticed that though the fighters are average size some of the hits made you cringe in your seat and the fighters hit with their knees, elbows, and kicked all with nothing more than a pair of boxing gloves and a groin cup to protect themselves.

Muay Thai is a fighting art that is as old if not older than the nation of Thailand itself. I will discuss the history of Muay Thai, some of the rules, the weapons of the art, and the culture of the art; music, Ram Muay (pre-fight ritual).

The origins of Muay Thai may date back further than 1650, but the book burning by the Burmese in 1776 might of destroyed such records. Thai Boxing started in the late 1500s’ during the reign of king Naresuan of Siam; it is an adaptation of the Thai military arts. In peacetime the solders would fight empty handed to keep their skills sharp. Muay Thai started out bare handed and progressed to the use of rapping ones hands and forearms in hemp rope to the present use of boxing gloves. Back in its beginnings there were few rules and no weight class or time limit, the fights were extremely brutal. Out of its past Muay Thai have quite a few legends. One popular legend being about Nai Khanohn Tohm, a skilled fighter who was captured during the fall of Siam. The king of Burma held a festival and gathered opponents from the prisoners, for the Burmese considered themselves to be great fighters with their own style of boxing. Nai Khanohn Tohm was known to the king to be a good fighter, to gain his freedom he had to fight. The outcome was more than the King expected. Not only did the Burmese champion lose but also so did nine other champions, all in relative short period of time and with little damage taken by Nai Khanohn Tohm. Another legend is the one about the Tiger King who would travel out side the royal palace and disguise himself as a common man, testing his skills in sporting events and at county fairs.

The ring and a lot of the rules are similar to an American boxing. There are three judges judging the fight and one referee. One real noticeable difference is that in Muay Thai if your opponent gets turned or you turn your opponent hits to the backside of the body is legal. Unlike boxing in Muay Thai the fighter is not allowed to use Vaseline, fat or any similar substance by the boxer. Muay Thai Rules State that both fighters display aggression throughout all five rounds or the referee will deduct a point for each round a fighter is passive.

1. Prior to the first round fighters shall perform the Wai Kru (paying respect to the teacher), along with the traditional Thai music.
2. A Muay Thai match shall consist of five rounds, 3 minutes per round with a 2-minute break between each round. Any stoppage during the match for any reason will not be counted as part of the 3 minute round time.

There are 16 weight divisions in Muay Thai ranging from Mini Flyweight (Max 105 lbs.) to Heavyweight (Max 190+ lbs.)

1. Boxers shall be weighed without clothes, no later than three hours prior to the match.
2. If a boxer is over weight at time of weigh-in can reweigh again.
3. Prior to weigh-in all fighters must be examined and proven fit by a licensed doctor.

1. Biting, eye gouging, spitting, or head butting
2. Wrestling, back or arm locks or any similar judo or wrestling hold.
3. Deliberately falling on his opponent
4. Holding the ropes for any reason
5. Swearing or the use of abusive language during the match.
6. Knocking out or injuring his opponent after the referee has ordered the match to stop for any reason.
7. Deliberately striking the groin area.

Muay Thai weapons consist of roundhouse kicks, knees, grappling, elbows, teep kicks, and the wall of defense.

Muay Thai roundhouse kick is used like a shotgun. The kicked is aimed but it covers a wide area. The way the kick is thrown allows it to create enormous hitting power. Contact in a Thai kick is made with the shins of the leg, allowing the kick to club an opponent. Though the shin is preferred the foot can be used with as much devastation. In the older days Thai boxers would condition their shins by kicking banana trees. Today, the tree is replaced with a weighted bag.

In close quarters and in grappling knees are effective and devastating weapons. Thai fighters work hard at kneeing the opponent in the back, ribs, and stomach when in a hold. One of the most exciting and high scoring moves is an attack known as "flying knees." A fighter leaping into the air with knees aimed at the head and body does this attack.

Grappling is a needed skill for a Thai fighter. The ability to work in close quarters is needed to protect the fighter from being kneed or elbowed by the opponent. The grappling technique of a fighter also shows fighters level of endurance.

One of the most distinctive and effective weapons of Muay Thai is the use of elbows to deliver blows. Other martial arts and kickboxing associations banned the use of elbows. Elbows require one to be in close quarter making them difficult to throw and land. Another thing adding to its difficulty is techniques are taught to guard one from such attacks.

The 'Teep' kick is primarily a defensive weapon. The kick is executed by using the foot to push the opponent back. The kick is aimed at the stomach and ribs. A ring savvy ring technician will use the 'Teep' kick to keep a score advantage. Though the 'Teep' is mostly defensive it can and has been used offensively, and has more impact than a body punch.

The use of elbows, forearms, and knees form the Muay Thai wall of defense. This protective stance is one reason why both fighters must maintain aggression throughout the match. Breaking through the 'wall of Defense' is difficult but possible. The use of roundhouse kicks and using the knees like rams are essential to breaking through the defense.

Muay Thai fighters train and live at the camp. The camp is usually near or attached to where the Buddhist monks live. The monks school the boys in between training. Buddhism is closely linked to the Art of Muay Thai

Live music is not important in Muay Thai. It is extremely important, for preflight rituals and during the match itself. The tempo of the music is increased to encourage the fighters to hold nothing back. In Muay Thai there are three musical instruments used to make up the four-piece band. The Pi (looks like a clarinet), The Ching (tiny cymbals), and The Glawng Khaek (percussion, like African drums).

RAM MUAY

The Ram Muay is as important if not more as the music. This is the pre-fight dance the fighter does before the start of the match. The fighter crouch on the canvas facing the direction of their birthplace and the four points on a compass. After that they pay homage to their teachers and go through a series of movements. Followed by a walk around the ring with one hand on the top rope. This is done to seal off the outside interference, such as advice from others. Good fans can tell which part of Thailand the fighter comes from, since each district has it own varied ritual.

1. Global Martial Arts, www.martial-arts.shoto.com
2. Minnesota Martial Arts Academy home page