The Art of MuayThai

The Art of Muay Thai

Muay Thai isn't just punches and kicks, it goes beyond the physical aspect of the sport. What sets Muay Thai apart from other martial arts lies in its profound connection with spirituality and reverence, which are expressed through ritual ceremonies before and after each fight. You will notice that each boxer wears 'Mong Kon' (a sacred headband) and 'Pra Jiad' (sacred armband). The headband is believed to bestow luck to the wearer since it has been blessed by a monk or the boxer's teacher.

More than punches and kicks

Since Buddhism and the teacher play important roles in the life of Thai kick boxers, the headband is both a lucky charm and a spiritual object. It will be removed after the 'Wai Khru', and only by the boxer's trainer. An armband is believed to offer protection and only removed when the fight has ended. Before the match begins, both boxers perform 'Wai Khru' (paying respect to teachers), by first circling the ring three times and then kneeling and bowing three times to show gratitude to their teachers, masters and coaches, and at the same time pay respect to their parents, spirits, the King and country.

The next step is 'Ram Muay'. Boxers demonstrate their style and skills to the audience. 'Ram Muay' usually give clues about where each fighter comes from and who his teacher is. Besides the symbolic meaning of these rituals, they also serve as a good warm-up exercise. Another striking feature of this sport is the accompanying Thai wind-and-percussion ensemble, which guarantees to get every heart pounding all through the match. Finally, the hard-to-miss feature of Muay Thai is its exuberant audience. The loud cheer accompanying each blow and the spectators' myriad of emotions and gestures are fun and exciting to watch. Don't be afraid to join in the fun!

Know the rules

Although no previous knowledge of Muay Thai rules is required to enjoy the match, familiarising yourself with some of the basic rules will greatly enhance the experience. You'll be jumping, flinching, shouting and cheering along with the local crowds. The distinguished difference between Muay Thai and Western boxing is that Muay Thai allows kicking, kneeing and elbowing, in addition to punching. Points are scored for every blow landed on an opponent. Points are deducted when a contestant violates any of the rules.
Unlike Western boxing, blows below the belt are allowed, but the groin is not considered to be a valid target. Generally speaking, Muay Thai matches are more frantically paced than Western bouts, and thus are broken up into a maximum of five rounds of three minutes. Similar to Western bouts, Muay Thai matches can end with a winner by knockout, a technical knockout, winning by points, or a draw can be declared. Contestants must wear gloves weighing at least 6 ounces, and must weigh in and be examined by a physician before each match. The contestants wear only boxing trunks into the ring, and may not wear shoes or headgear.