THAILAND MUAY THAI
The term “ Muay Thai” conveys a wealth of meaning to its
devotees around the world. One of the most ancient of all martial arts, it is a
workout that toughens the limbs and hones the mind……a discipline that pushes
both body and soul to their limits and beyond….. a way of life grounded on
ethic and respect….. a rich tradition brimming with beauty and grace…..a key to
the quest for self-knowledge…..the martial art of kings and the king of martial
arts……
MUAY THAI: THE MARTIAL ART OF KINGS
Muay Thai is , perhaps,unique in being a royal martial art.
Originating as a strategic warfare technique, in centuries past 4 muay
fighters, their fits bound in hemp cord for additional strength, were assigned
on the battlefield to protect the legs of each royal elephant the war machines of
their day. Expertise in muay gradually became the means of personal advancement
for such fighters, with skilled practitioners invited to live in the palace;
teach the young princes; and even display their techniques in front of the
king.
At some point during the Ayuthaya period (1350- 1767), an elite guard of
exceptional muay fighters was formed, giving birth to Muay Luang or Royal Muay.
A king of Ayutthaya, known as “The Tiger King” , was highly
skilled in muay. A legend relates how in 1702 the young king, hearing that
there was to be a muay contest at a nearby temple fair, disguised himself as a
peasant in order to take part incognito. Needless to say the king won all of
his bouts that day!
Royal patronage of muay continued into the Rattanakosin
period ( 1782 the present): the reigns of RAMA V and VI( 1868- 1925) were a
golden age of muay, laying the foundations for the future development of the
art. Archive photographs from 1898 show muay bouts being staged at a military
funeral in front of King Rama V, enthroned in an ornate pavilion in what is now
the world famous Grand Palace complex. It was during the reign of his
successor, King Rama VI, that the first permanent muay arena was established in
1920: muay was well on the way to becoming the spectator sport we know today.
Nowadays the Thai royal family still continues to take a
keen interest in both the history and traditions of muay and the future of Muay
Thai.
NAI KHANOM TOM: A MUAY THAI HERO
If anyone can claim to be the authentic Muay Thai Hero, it
is surely Nai Khanom Tom. Taken prisoner by the Burmaese when they ransacked
the capital city of Ayutthaya in 1767,some years later he was selected to take
part in an event staged before the king in Rangoon to compare the comparative
strengths of muay Siam and muay Burma. Nai Khanom Tom was victorious and even
King Mangra was impressed by his fighting skilss,being reputed to have
declared,” Every part of this man is blessed with venom. Even empty handed he
could defeat 9 or 10 opponents!” Nai Khanom Tom is commemorated by a statue in
Ayutthaya’s Provincial Sports Ground with sparring Muay Thai fighters depicted
around the pedestal.
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