History
The traditional Thai boxing has been the most important martial art and the cultural inheritance of Thailand. It is not a boxing that popularly compete on the ring, but it is a kind of fighting in the battle field. In the ancient time, Thailand always battled against the bordering countries, especially Burma. Therefore Thai men had to learn boxing and using weapons in order to protect the country. And Thai boxing had been developed until it became the unique one. Thai boxing has a long history, but we can describe in short below.
1) The Sukhothai Period
Sokhothai is the first period of Thai history. It started from 1238-1408. The history stated that this period Sukhothai always battled against other countries. So all men had to learn and practice boxing. At the time of peace, men learned boxing for gaining ability to protect themselves, children, and women, and prepare for soldier recruitment. In addition to these reasons, learning boxing was also the norm for men to follow. People thought it was logical for men to do. Moreover, kings must do an important role as a leader in any battles. For this reason, boxing was also compulsory for princes to learn before becoming a king.
2) The Ayuddhaya Period
Ayuddhaya was known as a powerful kingdom and the center of Thailand for 417 years. It always fought against the bordering country, Burma. Therefore the purpose for learning boxing among men in this time and Sukhothai period was the same thing. At the early age of Ayuddhaya, the kings set up a Royal Boxing Department, and managed boxers fought against each other in front of the king’s throne to get the winner to be the king’s lifeguard, and the boxing trainer for princes in the palace.
3) The Thonburi Period
After Ayuddhaya had been attacked and captured by Burma, King Tarksin and his people moved to a new place called Thonburi, and this place was the center of Thailand for 15 only years. At this time, people seriously practiced boxing for fighting against the invading enemies and retrieving independent of the country. Furturemore, boxing also started to become a kind of sport, and competing on the right was created. But the rule of giving points was not yet set up. Fighters just fought against each other until someone gave up.
4) The Rattana Kosintara Period
Thai boxing had been changing a lot this time. It completely became a kind of sport, especially in the King Rama 5’s period. His majesty the king Chulalongkorn really loved watching it, and saw its importance as a national sport. So he organized the boxing competition all over the country. Nowadays, Thai boxing became a conservative martial art. Modern people learn boxing for self-protection, or do it as a kind of sports. The boxing competition is very popular among Thai people. For this reason, the boxing business was created, and boxing is a kind of career that makes a lot of fortune these days.
Differences to Western Boxing
As we said, Thai Boxing is a unique martial art. It isn’t like western boxing because you can use any parts of your body , hands, feet, elbows, and knees, but the western boxing just can use both hands to fight. Punching, kicking and elbowing are very fast and danger to attack. Furthermore, the techniques and tactics are more complicated, attacking is also more dangerous.
Some interesting boxing patterns
The Wai Kru Dancing
Thai people highly honor and respect teachers or masters who they study with. Whatever studying any fields, paying respect to teachers is very important, particularly, music, boxing, and using weapons. So before the competition of traditional material art, such as Muay Thai (Thai boxing) or using other weapons, everyone must pay respect to the teachers by a kind of specific dancing called “RamWai Kru” or Wai Kru dance for showing gratefulness to teachers as good students. Other reason is for fortunate and stable mind for better sense of control. Muay Thai Wai Kru dance shows the character of each boxing center. The boxers who study from the same trainer normally don’t fight against each other. In addition, Muay Thai dance can be used for warming up, relaxing and getting ready for the fight.
Hak Ngaung Ai Yara (Breaking elephant trunk)
This posture used to defend the kick by cutting off the leg’s strength by using elbow jab to the thigh.
Assaulter: Raise the right foot to kick randomly around the ribs of defender and use the upper arms to protect the face.
Defender: Hurriedly step right to approach in the front of the assaulter. Turn the side of body into the left and bend the right knee with left foot straight. Then use the left hand touch the right foot of the assaulter and raise it high. Banging right elbow to the thigh of assaulter, then raise the assaulter’s right foot higher to make him fall and prevent him to attack back by banging the elbow at the head.
Jorake Fadhang (Crocodile’s tail striking)
This posture uses a heel strike to the back. When the rival loses the balance, then the player will turn around and kick by using his heel.
Assaulter: Straightly punch with his left hand and step left foot forward.
Defender: Hurriedly step right jump to the right half to escape the punch of Assaulter. Bend the arms to protect his face and then spend the left foot for standing up, turn around and kick with the right heel on his stomach or neck.
Hanuman Thawaiwean
Part inside a swing up in the chin with a punch.
Assaulter: Straightly punch on his left to the face, at the same time step left foot forward and the right arm bend to protect the chin.
Defender: Turn the body to avoid the left punch of the assaulter by stepping left foot to close to his chest. Then use a clench of both hands punching to the end of the assaulter’s chin.
Importance of Thai Boxing
In the ancient time, there are no any modern weapons. At war time, soldiers directy fought against the enemies by using swords and every part of body. Thai boxing played an important role in protecting the mother land, especially in the Ayuddhaya period. Therefore men had to practice martial art in order to be soldier. However, there are no wars in this time, and weapons have been developed, but Thai boxing became a valuable conservative martial art. Nowadays, there are so many people both Thais and foreigners interested in it. And the most pride for Thais is that it has already become a World Cultural Inheritance certified by UNESCO. Moreover, many foreigners are interested in Thai boxing, so they come to Thailand to learn, and many of them are successful of a famous boxer in Thailand as well. Im summary, we can see that Thai boxing is one of an acceptable martial arts of the world. Therefore Thai people should pay attention to it, conserve it, and be pround of it.
References
http://student.nu.ac.th/muaythaiboran/maemaimuaythai.htm
http://www4.msu.ac.th/satit/studentProj/2546/M10 /thaiBoxing/information/HakNguangAiyara.jpg
http://loveonly.siam2web.com/?cid=74216 http://www.isan.clubs.chula.ac.th/folkdance/images/muyboran_0.jpg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGBdM3gy3XA
Written by : Athichat Khomphuang
Onnalat Rutsongsit
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