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Thai
boxing, or Muay Thai, is a traditional art of self defence of the
Thais. It is different from international boxing in that in the Thai
style of unarmed fighting, feet, elbows and knees are used as well as
fists. Thus, it resembles more to a real free-for-all fight. A Thai
boxing match lasts only five rounds of three minutes each, with a two-minute
rest between rounds.
Muay Thai is believed to have started in 1650 when King Naresuen of
Siam was captured by the Burmese and offered freedom if he could
defeat the Burmese champions. He successfully defeated 12 of the
finest Burmese boxers to become a national hero, and instilled the
pride of the Thai people making Thai Boxing a national pastime.
It is an adaptation of the Thai military arts. In peacetime the
weapons of the battlefield were laid down and the soldiers would fight
empty hand to keep their edge. At that time there were few rules, no
rounds, and no weight classes. In this time period boxers fought
barefooted, their fists and forearms wrapped in hemp rope and combat
was extremely brutal. Training methods were vast and varied.
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Thai Boxing also find much of it's root's in Buddhism. The ceremony
called the "Ram Muay," is a spiritual ceremony which seals off the
ring from outside influences, pays homage to gods, parents, teachers,
loved ones, king and country. The Ram Muay and the fight itself are
accompanied by music from a four piece ensemble.
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Most recently Thais have adapted various Western Boxing techniques,
training methods, and strategies. In the past 50 years Thai Boxing has
enjoyed even greater popularity. Modern western style gloves, weight
classes, and 3-minute rounds have been adopted. Because of the
rigorous nature of it's testing ground and the directness of it's
techniques, Thai Boxing and Thai Boxers are some of the most highly
respected martial artists throughout the world.
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