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Thais are
classified in the Mongolian tribe. The distinguished
physical features include small body with average height
of 5'3". They are usually strong, light weighted, and
agile. They have light brown complexion, black hair,
little body hair and beard. The face is round with black
eyes and plump cheek. Since Thailand is in the tropical
zone dose to the equator, most of the people live on the
riverside and use boats as vehicles. They are able to
use fists, feet, knees, and elbows efficiently. These
are the Thai people bodily weapons to protect themselves
against their enemies. In the past, Thailand fought
numerous wars with its neighbors. Thai men had to
practice Muay Thai and to manage other weapons to defend
their country. Muay Thai has been developed to have its
own identity, with graceful but ferocious style. It was
practiced for self-defense, health, and as a profession. |
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Sukhothai
Period dated back to 1238 to 1408. From the stone
inscription, it was obviously inscribed that Sukhothai
made several wars with the neighboring countries.
Soldiers had to be trained to fight. After the wars,
young men in that era liked practicing Muay Thai to
strengthen their fighting skills and prepare them for
the military service. It was a tradition for young men
to study Muay Thai in a well ¬known Thai boxing camp,
i.e. Samoh Khon Camp in Lop Bury. Muay Thai was also
taught in the courtyards of the temples by monks. In the
old days, the trainees were taught by carrying buckets
of water, pounding paddy cutting firewood, swimming,
swinging on creepers and vines to gain physical strength
and patience before starting practicing Muay Thai
skills. These skills included punching of folded bathing
loincloth hanging on branch of a tree, kicking banana
trees, fighting and clinching with sparring partners.
The practice would end with swimming to clean the body
and relax the muscles before going to sleep. The Muay
Thai masters didn’t teach only skills but ethics as
well.
In the Sukhothai Period, Muay Thai was considered as a
course taught to the king. It was described in the
legend that King Si Inthrathit, the first king of the
Sukhothai dynasty, with his far-sighted vision,
dispatched his second son, King Ram Khamhaeng at the age
of 13, to practice Muay Thai in Samoh Khon Camp in Lop
bury. He wished his son be a brave king in the future.
From 1275 to 1317 King Ram Khamhaeng composed a military
fighting manual in which Muay Thai was mentioned. King
Li Thai, who was interested in all fields of studies and
was famous as a great scholar, learned Muay Thai in
parallel with other weapons.
In the Ayutthaya Period 417 years ago, from 1350 to
1767, Thailand was from time to time in wars with Burma
and Cambodia. The young men of this period had to learn
fighting skills with weapons and Muay Thai, which was
taught to both aristocrats and general public. Budhai
Sawan Camp was very famous at that time. The camp taught
the students to fight with rattan sword and bare hands,
which was known as Muay Thai. In this period, the temple
was still the center of knowledge where general subjects
and fighting skills were taught. |
