Muay Thai evolved from the blood and sacrifice of Thai soldiers in the past. The history of this Thai traditional art will intrigue you!
Muay Thai solely seems as the ultimate striking martial art. It is no doubt that Muay Thai is the most effective striking art for knocking down opponents, which evolved in the only real way any martial art should. Here are some interesting facts about Muay Thai that maybe change your mind of it after reading this.
Fact 1: Muay Thai Fighters Post Themselves Kicking Through The Banana Tree- This is An Ancient Training Method and Not as Hard as it Looks!
It looks hard to do it, but actually it’s a “trick”. The tree they ticking down is a young banana tree, but not a solid, strong, full grown one. In Muay Thai, kicking is one of the most powerful skill. Some of the boxers are able to generate up to 1.5 tons of force with their kick. Ticking banana tree is just an ancient training method in order to train the kick and condition the shins, instead of carrying the heavy bags. The banana tree is not actually solid as you think it as a hard wood tree!
Fact 2: A Death in the Ring Sparked the Evolution of Muay Thai as We Know It
Dating back to the 20th century, Muay Thai evolved from Muay Khad Chuek. In this form of the art, fighters would wrap their hands with hemp rope instead of putting on gloves, making it far more dangerous. During an international bout between a prominent Muay Thai fighter in Thailand and a fighter from Cambodia back in the 1920’s, the Muay Thai fighter had defeated the Cambodian fighter, killing him in the process. As a result, the king at the time, (King Rama VI) instilled new rules and regulations to protect the fighters. This was a major historical moment in the evolution of Muay Thai as we know it today.
Fact 3: There’s More Than Meets The Eye to the ‘Wai-Kru’!
The wai-kru is a way for boxers to show their respect to the instructors, their Kru. Fighters and gyms. Every region of Thailand has their own way of performing this ritual, indicating which gym and region they are from. For example, a boxer from the north would touch their heads to the ground to pay respect to the Earth first and then their instructors, ward away ghosts, and salute the musicians of the fight last. This differs depending on the region of the country, where the boxer comes from. The boxer from the north would have their special dance depending on the gum they come from.
Fact 4: The Ancient Form of Muay Thai Utilized Only the Teep, Kick, and Footwork
Muay Thai evolved from an ancient martial art, Krabi Krabong. The Krabi Krabong utilized bo(a long stick) and a sword, which is the ancient form of the art used for hand to hand combat on the actual battlefield. Hundreds years ago, battles won in hand-to-hand combat, the teep and kick and specific Muay Thai footwork evolved as a way for Thai soldiers to get the edge in combat. Because they held weapons in their hands, these techniques were what evolved, at first. If not for this period of warfare between Thailand and it’s neighboring countries, the highly effective and powerful martial art as we know it today would not exist.
Fact 5: Some of the Best Kickboxers in the World Remain Undiscovered in Thailand
Nowadays, Muay Thai has received increasing popularity for many reasons. For one, mixed martial art is a global phenomenon and Muay Thai is the first striking martial art in that area. For another, thanks to the development of internet, people all over the world are able to see the incredible power of the Muay Thai boxer. Even the best fighter maybe will be defeat by the potential one in one day. There are so many talented fighters within Thailand that have gotten the chance to gain recognition on the mainstages of International Kickboxing.
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