Muay Thai History - Muay Thai, Thai boxing, history

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Muay Thai History
Get to Know Thai Boxing

Thai Boxing has been well known among Thai people and has become part of our culture since the ancient times. It is a form of fighting which people of all ages and genders practice. This martial art applies various parts of the body as natural weapons. The action varies from bite, kick, head butt and punch. The rules of Thai boxing, thus, differ from those of international boxing. In Thai boxing, each part of the body is active. Therefore, it is an art that should be transferred from generations to generations.

In the ancient time, there was no modern equipment like today. Fighters needed to use raw cotton threads woven loosely to bind their hands. The threads were knotted at the fingertips in a whorl. Besides, in order to make their surface hard, boxers would dip the woven threads in glue and grit. However, as time went by, the use of glue and glass had been eliminated. The use of cotton bindings existed only until 1929 as the introduction of gloves applied in the international boxing these days.
The Origins of Thai Boxing

Like other kinds of martial arts, Thai boxing occurred since the primitive age when people had to fight to struggle and the only weapons were natural ones. It is the nature of humans and animals to fight against other clans and to protect their family. Human is a social animal who resides with each other as a group. Among the group, there is usually a member who stands out of the rest due to his superior skills and strength and, thus, takes over the leadership. This respectable position was later called as "the King."

In the early days, kings had to possess high physical strength in order to gain respect and loyalty from his people. His responsibility was to guide his underlings to behave well, to earn a good living, to build their houses and to live with others. Most importantly, he was obliged to teach them the art of self protection from the enemies. This art included the use of knees, feet, fists, legs, arms and elbows. When members of a tribe became mastered in the art of self protection, the community grew as they could manage to merge with other tribes and bring in prosperity. As time went by, many weapons made with natural materials, like arrows, spears and javelins were developed. Later on, these natural weapons were substituted by metal ones like swords, lances and shields.

In Thailand, during the period of forming and gathering strength, Thai people were used to making wars with neighbors and get well prepared all the time. Various kinds of weapons: man-made or natural were applied. The use of fists, elbows and feet for combat was indispensable and was systemized to become "Classical Thai Boxing."

Thai boxing is the most superior martial skill. It is even superior to the use of external weapons. Take the case of Phrayaa Phichai of the Broken Sword as an illustrative example. In his childhood, he loved practicing boxing and he always improved himself on this skill. Under the reign of King Taksin, he became the chief of the army with the patriot heart. He fought against enemies so vigorously that his sword broke. However, he continued the fight using his feet, knees, fits and elbows and prevailed.

Thai boxing is enjoyed by people of all classes including the commoners to royalties. In Ayudhaya period, Phra Chao Suua (Lord of the Tigers) was so in to the boxing that he disguised himself in order to join the matches with the attempt to preserve the national art of boxing.

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