| History of Muay Thai or Thai Boxing | | | | throne in 1868 ushered in a Golden Age not only for |
| From | | | | muay but for the whole country. Muay progressed |
| The Siamese developed their own writing system in | | | | greatly during the reign of Rama V as a direct result |
| the early 1200s which makes it difficult to obtain | | | | of the king's personal intrest in the art. The country |
| information on the early history of Thailand as well as | | | | was in peace and muay functioned as a means of |
| Muay Thai. It is known that martial arts resembling | | | | physical exercise, self-defense, recreaction and |
| Muay Thai have long been practiced throughout much | | | | personal advancement. |
| of Southeast Asia. The origin of the Muay Thai can | | | | Legendary Heros |
| be traced back to the older Muay Boran ("ancient | | | | Nai Khanom Tom was a famous practitioner of Muay |
| boxing"). This was the form of unarmed combat | | | | Thai. Around 1774, he was captured along with other |
| probably used by Siamese soldiers in conjunction with | | | | Thai prisoners, either in a skirmish or at the fall of the |
| Krabi Krabong, the weapon-based style[1]. Since Thai | | | | ancient capital of Siam of Ayutthaya. He was brought |
| culture was based on that of India, China and | | | | to Rangoon in Burma, where the Burmese King |
| Cambodia, they would have had an influence on local | | | | Mangra was holding a religious festival in honor of |
| martial arts. Indian boxing arts such as Adithada | | | | Buddha's relics. The festivities included many forms of |
| remarkably resemble both Muay Boran and Muay Thai | | | | entertainment. King Mangra was reported to be |
| and it has been said that every move in Muay Thai | | | | curious to see how the various fighting styles of |
| has a similar equivalent in Shaolin kung fu. Muay Boran | | | | Burma and other countries would compare. At one |
| was divided to: | | | | point, he wanted to see how Muay Boran would |
| Muay Korat (Northeast) emphasized strength. A | | | | compare to the Burmese art Lethwei. Nai |
| technique like "Throwing Buffalo Punch" was used. It | | | | Khanomtom was selected to fight against the |
| could supposedly defeat a buffalo in one blow. | | | | Burmese champion. Nai Khanomtom did a Wai Kru |
| Muay Lopburi (Center region) emphasized | | | | pre-fight dance which puzzled all of the Burmese. |
| movements. Its strong points were straight and | | | | When the fight began, he charged out and using |
| counter punches. | | | | punches, kicks, elbows, and knees, quickly pummeled |
| Muay Chaiya (South) emphasized posture and | | | | the Burmese. |
| defense, as well as elbows and knees. | | | | The referee was reported to have stated that the |
| Muay Pra Nakorn (North) emphasized speed, | | | | Burmese opponent was distracted by the Wai Kru, |
| particularly in kicking. Because of its faster speed, it | | | | so the knockout was invalid. The King then asked if |
| was called as well "Ling Lom" (windy monkey or | | | | Nai Khanomtom would fight nine other Burmese |
| Loris). | | | | champions to prove himself. He agreed and fought |
| There is a phrase about Muay Boran that states, | | | | them all, one after the other with no rest periods |
| "Punch Korat, Wit Lopburi, Posture Chaiya, Faster | | | | between fights. The last Burmese was reputed to be |
| Thasao. | | | | a great boxing teacher. Nai Khanomtom defeated |
| ƒÂ ¸"หภ(TM) | | | | them all in a superior fashion. |
| ²Ã Â¸S | | | | King Mangra was so impressed that he remarked, |
| ‚µ | | | | "Every part of the Thai is blessed with venom. Even |
| ƒÂ ¸¢à¸² | | | | with his bare hands, he can fell nine or ten opponents. |
| ¹Â€Ã Â¸ÂªÃ Â¸Â²)". It | | | | As his lord master was incompetent, the country |
| was from all these regional styles that the more | | | | was lost to the enemy. If his lord had been any |
| general term Muay Thai (Thai boxing) was developed. | | | | good, there was no way the City of Ayutthaya |
| It grew in popularity among common people, so | | | | would ever have fallen." |
| much so that it was said that any man worth his salt | | | | He granted Nai Khanomtom freedom along with |
| would practice the art. As well as continuing to | | | | either riches or two beautiful Burmese wives. Nai |
| function as a practical fighting technique for use in | | | | Khanomtom chose the wives as he said that money |
| actual warfare, it became a sport in which the | | | | was easier to find. He then departed with his wives |
| exponents fought in front of spectators who went | | | | for Siam. Other variations of this story had him also |
| to watch for entertainment. This kind of muay | | | | winning the release of his fellow Thai prisoners. His |
| contests gradually became an integral part of local | | | | feat is celebrated every March 17 as "Boxer's Day" |
| festivals and celebrations, especially those held at | | | | or "National Muay Thai Day" in his honor and that of |
| temples.It was used as entertainment to kings. | | | | Muay Thai's. |
| Royal Muay | | | | Today, some have wrongly attributed the legend of |
| Muay gradually became a possible means of personal | | | | "Nai Khanomtom" to the King Naresuan, who was |
| advancement as the nobility increasingly esteemed | | | | also once taken by the Burmeses. |
| skillful practitioners of the art and invited selected | | | | References : |
| fighters to come to live in the Royal palace to teach | | | | Muay Thai The Most Distinguished Art of Fighting |
| muay to the staff of the royal household, soldiers, | | | | (Text-book of Pahuyuth) , Panya Kraitus and Dr. |
| princes or the king's personal guards. | | | | Pitisuk Kraitus, Third Edition, Special Revised, 1992, |
| Some time during the Ayutthaya Period, a platoon of | | | | Panya Kraitus, Phuket, Thailand. |
| royal guards was established, whose duty was to | | | | Muay Thai Kickboxing - The Ultimate Guide to |
| protect king and the country. They were known as | | | | Conditioning, Training and Fighting, Chad Boykin, 2002, |
| Grom Nak Muay (Muay Fighters' Regiment). This royal | | | | Paladin Press, Boulder, Colorado. |
| patronage of muay continued through the reigns of | | | | Thai Kickboxing For Beginners - Peter Belmar, 2006, |
| Rama V and VII. | | | | Lulu Press. Muay Thai: A Living Legacy - Kat |
| The Muay Renaissance | | | | Prayukvong, 2006, Spry Publishing Co., Ltd. |
| The accession of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) to the | | | | |