35Look closer
I recently decided to take a closer look
at this fast-rising industry to get a
better sense of what kind of people are
attracted to the sport, and to find out if
this relatively new sporting craze is here
to stay. I made my first acquaintance
with Muay Thai in the province of Phang
Nga, situated on Thailand’s southern
Andaman coast. It was here that I found
a modest but attractive training camp
nestled within a quiet rural community.
Underneath a high roofline of steel
girders and metal roofing to guard
against the midday tropical sun, a
mix of sweat-drenched apprentices
were enthusiastically learning their
trade. A chaotic blur of flying limbs
accompanied by demanding commands
from seasoned instructors occupied the
four separate boxing rings. I quickly
retreated behind the relative safety of
my viewfinder, where I could observe
exhausted tourists and motivated
expats dressed in flamboyant shorts
obediently executing pad strikes to
the synchronised bellowing of their
Thai trainers.
bottom left At the
Chiang Mai Boxing
Stadium, two trainers
belt out instructions
between rounds
above Women fight
regularly at the
Taphae Gate Stadium
in Chiang Mai. Fights
are predominately
attended by tourists;
Gambling in Muay
Thai is rife, but it’s
still a rare sight to see
a woman betting in
the standsThe fighters were
relieved of the rope
binding of the arms and
hands as padded gloves
took their place