Muay Thai – History

Muay Thai in Muang Thai (Thailand) – The Thai used to live in the south west of China (Jiangxi, Sichuan and Hubei provinces). In the 9^th century some groups moved to today’s northwest Thailand. This happened because the Mongolians coming in from the north. That is how their martial art (now called Muay Thai) came to Thailand. In 1220 to Thai princes chased away the Khmer living in Sukhothai. In 1238 the Thai Indratitya mounted the throne and became the first king of Sukhothai. The foundation of the Thai realm started from Sukhothai and was the territory of today’s Thailand.

Ram Khamheng (third king of the Sukhothai dynasty) expanded the realm of the Thai towards Laos und Burma. According to the historical writings it was also king Ram Khamheng who summoned the best Muay Thai teachers in his country to create an organized system. This new system was desperately needed for the training of the soldiers. Thai-boxing was taught in all schools at that time as a kind of pre-military training.

Thailand probably would not exist any more today without the Thai prince Narasuen (the Great) who fled from captivity in Burma. After many wars he threw the Burmese out of Thailand and gave Thailand’s throne back to his father.

It was also Narasuen (Naresuon) who defeated the Burmese successor to the throne in a duel in 1592. The report of this counts as the first official document in which Muay Thai is mentioned. The fight itself was remembered as the victory of Nong Saray and made the leaderless Burmese leave the country for good.

King Phra Chao Sua was also known as a great Muay Thai Warrior. He often matched himself with other well known Thai boxers. Competitions were held in his own arena and the best fighters became part of his personal guard.

In 1767 the town Ayuthaya was burned down by the Burmese and all archives were lost. This is why the exact history of Muay Thai is only roughly known.

History says that on March 17^th 1770 the Thai Nai Kha Nom Tom (Nhai Khon Don) duelled ten Burmese (other texts speek of twelve sword fighters) one after the other and defeated them all. After this victory the king of Burma granted him one wish. He wished to return to Thailand! This was the end of his hostage in Burma – since then March 17th is the day of Muay Thai and is celebrated with lots of tournaments.

The Thai are a very proud people, especially because of their nearly uninterrupted independence, their culture and their traditions to which Muay Thai also belongs. The most used name for Thailand is Muang Thai, which means “Country of the Free”. That is why in 1939 Thailand became the official name for this country, which was called Siam before.

Muay Thai, also called Thai Boxing, was brought to Germany about twenty-five years ago. But it was not until November 1983 that it became popular. This is when the Muay Thai Bund Deutschland (MTBD) was founded. The men who established Muay Thai in Germany were Detlef Türnau, Wolfgang Gier, Wolfgang Ziebart, Riccardo D’Amato, Günther Müller and Manfred Kurt.

Apart from the M.T.B.D. the I.P.T.A. (International Phetjan Thaiboxing Association Germany) was founded in 1984. This organization was lead mostly by Thais who wanted to practice Muay Thai in Germany in the same way as in their home country.

In 1995 the World Muay Thai Council was founded in Bangkok. It clearly defined what Thailand means with the term Muay Thai. This organization is in charge of professional Muay Thai in the whole world. The rules of the I.P.T.A. are the same as the W.M.T.C. ones.

Martial arts similar to Muay Thai are practiced in other Asian countries like Burma, Laos and Kampuchea. They are less well known but very close to Thai boxing.

Muay Thai is fought with eight traditional weapons: two fists, two elbows, two knees and two feet. It is still a very ritual martial art accompanied by music and the Vai Kru at the beginning of the fight, which is supposed to calm down the gods and ban misery.

Krabi Krabong and Muay Borang exist apart from Muay Thai. Krabi Krabong is the traditional armed martial art with weapons like the short spear, shield and sword and swords. Muay Borang is self-defence that mainly uses techniques specific for Muay Thai.