A short history of Muay Thai
From battlefield skill to national sport, and the meaning of the wai kru.
Muay Thai is often called the art of eight limbs. Fists, elbows, knees and shins all become weapons, which makes it one of the most complete stand-up fighting systems in the world. But before it was a sport, it was a way to survive.
From the battlefield
Thai boxing grew out of the close-range fighting skills soldiers needed when weapons were lost or broken. Over centuries these skills became a system of their own, known today as Muay Boran, "ancient boxing". Each region developed its own style: Muay Chaiya in the south, Muay Korat in the northeast, Muay Lopburi in the centre and Muay Tha Sao in the north.
A sport for kings and villages
Boxing matches were part of temple fairs and festivals, and several Thai kings were known as keen fighters. The most famous story is that of Nai Khanom Tom, a Thai prisoner of war who, as the legend goes, defeated a line of Burmese fighters in the 18th century. Thailand celebrates National Muay Thai Day on 17 March in his honour.
Into the ring
In the 20th century Muay Thai moved into the modern ring. Gloves replaced the rope-bound hands of the old days, fights were split into timed rounds and weight classes, and the big Bangkok stadiums, Rajadamnern and Lumpinee, turned the best fighters into national stars. A professional fight today usually lasts five rounds of three minutes.
The wai kru ram muay
Before every fight, boxers perform the wai kru ram muay, a slow ritual dance that pays respect to their teachers, their gym and their family. Many wear the mongkol, a sacred headband, and the prajioud, an armband, given by their teacher. At KMAX we explain what these traditions mean, and you will see them every time our fighters step into the ring.
Muay Thai today
Muay Thai is now trained all over the world: by fighters, by people who want to get fit, and by travellers who come to Thailand to learn it at the source. Training in a Thai gym means more than learning techniques. It means learning the respect, routine and spirit that come with them.
Want to try it? See our Muay Thai classes or check the schedule.
