Muaythai history - from the battlefields of ancient warriors to the Olympic Games

It is estimated that muaythai history began about 1500 years ago, when several warring kingdoms dominated what is now called South East Asia. From the mountains of Western Myanmar to the Mekong's delta in South Vietnam, historical records show that the area was a constant battlefield. Three main races were constantly fighting, switching their allegiances, betraying their own people while protecting their own fragile kingdoms. These were the Burmese, the Siamese and the Khmer. They share a common history of wars, often fought for riches, farming land or for the beauty of a princess.

On the battlefield, all infantry's soldiers fought in a similar way: with one or two swords and the frequent use of kicks, knees and elbows. This style of combat is peculiar of the region and it's quite different from Chinese wu-shu. This ancient martial art is still learned by the King's Royal Guards; it is also practiced and taught today in Bangkok and it's called krabi krabong.

Burmese and Khmer soldiers were using their own versions of krabi krabong, whom not much is known. The reality was that whenever a warrior was left without a weapon, he or she (women were fighting too) had to survive using only the body's natural weapons: fists, feet, knees and elbows. This was an essential part of a soldier's training. This ancestral form of "Eight limbs boxing", created to survive on the battlefield, is where muaythai history really began. It's sometimes referred as pahuyuth, muay kad chuak, or simply as muay boran, which literally means "ancient boxing".

Different versions were used by the Burmese, who call it Let Wei now, and by the Khmer, who name it Pradal Serey. The Siamese split muay boran into four different styles, such as muay Lopburi (Central Thailand), muay Tha Sao (Northern), muay Khorat (Eastern) and muay Chaya (Southern). At that time Siam didn't exist as a unified country, hence the four independent kingdoms.

Muay boran emphasizes the usage of extremely fast and powerful combinations of elbows and knees, thrown at full charge with the intent to overcome the adversary as quickly as possible, as another might be coming. Originally, this was achieved by breaking the opponent's bones.

During the centuries, muay boran grew outside the battlefield as a native martial art, practiced by soldiers and a few more. Fights were organized on Buddhist Holidays, at major temples' fairs and for the amusement of the king and his people. muaythai history

Royalty not only enjoyed watching boxing contests, but participated as well. Another legendary fighter was Phra Sanpetch VIII, King of Ayutaya, known as the "Lord of the Tigers". A devoted practitioner, he was known to disguise himself as a commoner to be able to participate in boxing contests held at temples' fairs. King Rama V was an avid fan, too, and organized the first interregional tournaments in Bangkok. Champions from all Siamese provinces were invited to match their different styles in Bangkok, for prizes and royal names conferred by the king himself. King Rama VI did even better, organizing the greatest boxing tournament ever in Suan Kulap College, where the first boxing stadium was built in 1921. The event attracted fighters from Burma, Cambodia, China, India and Japan. All were defeated and muay thai proved its superiority on all martial arts, a fact that Thais still love to mention nowadays. muaythai history

In this period, muay kaad chuak (bonded fists) was stilled the norm and it lasted until the 40's. Starting from Rama VI, some facts and statistics about muaythai history could be gathered. It evolved in five periods, following the development of boxing arenas in Bangkok. muaythai historyDuring the period of Suan Kulap Arena: people loved to attend the fights which were held regularly. The fighting technique of muay kaad chuak was still in use, the number of rounds was fixed and the referee was appointed.

Then followed the period of Tha Chang Arena, which was also the transition period between hemp strings and boxing gloves. muaythai history

Muay thai continued at the famous Suan Sanook Arena, where the owner was active in organizing many contests over the years. The first champions, now considered muaythai legends, emerged there.

During the times of Lak Muang Arena and Suan Jao Ched Arena, the Army started to participate in the management of muaythai regular fights. Part of the income from tickets sales went to maintain the military, at the time often involved in coups d'etat and in a state of internal turmoil. This was a golden era in muaythai history, as the sport was tremendously popular among Bangkokians and fights lasted until World War II.

In the Fifties, muaythai was still controlled by the military and started to take the shape it has today, attracting huge crowds of gambling devotees in a new boxing arena, built by the Army. The modern-days era of Rajadamnern and Lumpini Boxing Arenas started at that time.

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