Muay-Thai History
Thai box or Muay – Thai is very old fight art that was introduced by king Ramkgamgaeng at the beginning of 14th century in his army as the way of the fight man against man.
Compulsory lessons of Muay Thai, as the way of the self – defence and the preparation of the nation, were taken in all levels of schools ( kindergarten as well ), in the army and in the training camps in whole country. An interesting thing is that women were not allowed to enter a ring stadium until 1996. However since 2001, probably because of effort to promote Thai box to the Olympic games, women can fight.
The dream of every little boy from Thai kingdom is to win a National Champion fight in Lumpiny or Ratchadamnoen stadium, which are holy stands of Muay Thai. Box is not only a fighting art in Thailand, it is weaved through a lot of rituals and it is the only fight which is accompanied with a dance called VAI – KRU. It means that the fighters dance their dance in the ring before fighting in the sound of the drum, CIMBALO and Javás flute and that is how they pay honour to a teacher, a competitor and traditions. The Thaimen say it is crucial for the result of the fight and Thai box would not be the same without it.
It is impossible to take over east philosophy to the different conditions and that is why it is done as a combat sport in the world and from 1992 in our country too. Fights have 5 rounds where each of them lasts 3 minutes and there are used hand, elbow, knees and legs punches. Thai box is a Full – contact sport in contradictinction to the different sports and except head and body, attacts are led even to the legs and all kinds of throws, droppings, and typical clinch holding are allowed. The fighters wear only gloves, a teeth protector and suspensor (genitals protection) in the professional ring, the amateurs wear a helmet and a shin – bone protector as well.
It is a tough sport, the one of the toughest in the world but the fighters do not go to fight with a view to injure or thrash their rival in the ring but they want to prove each other who is more clever, faster, more precise and in better physical condition.
