Asian_Geographic_PASSPORT_-_Year_2016_-_2017

38 COVER FE ATURE

1180–

1377

1909–

1910

1180–

1377

1584 1774 1887 1913

King Rama V

created the

Department

of Education,

with Muay Thai

as part of the

military cadet

teachers school

curriculum.

Due to the

constant threat

of enemy

invasions in

the Sukhothai

era, all males

learned the art

of Muay Thai.

This included

members of the

royal family.

Monks taught

Muay Thai at

village temples.

King Prachao

Sua, known as

‘the Tiger King’

was instrumental

in popularising

Muay Thai as

he often fought

incognito in

village contests,

beating local

champions.

While a prisoner

of war in Burma,

Nai Khanom Dtom

single-handedly

defeated ten of

Burma’s best

boxers, which

in turn granted

him freedom to

return back to

his homeland.

His triumph is

celebrated every

year on March

17th as

National

Muay

Thai

Day.

Under King

Naresuan in

the Ayuddhaya

period, there

was the first

great upsurge of

interest in Muay

Thai as a sport;

new fighting

techniques

evolved. Muay

Thai moved

away from

the early

combatant roots

found in the

warfare manual

known as the

Chupasart.

King

Chulalongkorn

formalised

Muay (Boran) by

awarding three

muen to victors

at the funeral

fights for his

son in 1909. The

regional styles

Lopburi, Korat,

and Chaiya

emerged.

British boxing

introduced into

the curriculum

of the Suan

Kulap College.

The first

descriptive

use of the term

‘Muay Thai’

comes into play.

The Evolution of Muay Thai

WHEN

The best time to experience and train

in Muay Thai would be during the low

season between April and October.

You will find fewer crowds during this

time period and also benefit from

low season prices on training and

accommodation.

EXPERIENCE

MUAY THAI

WHERE

While you will be able to see Muay Thai

in action in and around most places in

Thailand, you might as well go where

the top fighters are doing their thing

and are regularly fighting. The two

major boxing stadiums in Bangkok

where the great fighters compete are

Lumpini Stadium and Ratchadamnoen

Stadium in Bangkok. Fighting days

are alternated between the two

stadiums, so there are fights every

THAILAND

BANGKOK