Muaythai, or Thai boxing, first began as an unarmed fighting skill that was used to replace weapons in battlefield. Believed to be almost 2,000 years old, it is also known by many as the "The Art of the Eight Limbs" because it uses 8 points of contact (shins, knees, hands and elbows) to execute its strikes.

Muaythai today is a competitive sport that is practised by many from all around the world. Training regimens include many staples of combat sport conditioning such as shadow boxing, rope skipping, running and weight resistance exercises.

It is the versatility of offensive and defensive moves in muaythai that makes it particularly exciting to watch.

Muaythai traditions

The training of a traditional muaythai boxer and particularly the relationship between boxer and trainer is highly ritualised. When a boxer is considered ready for the ring, he is usually given a new name by his trainer, usually with the name of the training camp as his surname.

For the public, the relationship is perhaps best expressed in the Ram Muay (ritual dance) and Wai Kru (respects to the teacher) that takes place before every match.

The Wai Kru Ram Muay (video: rituals), as it is sometimes called, usually starts with each fighter walking around the ring, counter-clockwise. This could be described as "sealing the ring", showing that the match is between only the two combatants.

The ritual is both practical and spiritual. In a practical sense, it prepares the body for combat. During the Wai Kru there are many different movements and steps that a fighter might perform before the match, along with stretches. Some motions imitate, for example, a swallow, a hunter, a soldier, or an executioner.

Some fighters use this ritual to attempt to scare their opponents, commonly by stomping around them. But in a deeper sense, the fighter is expressing religious devotion, humility, and gratitude.

Amulets are adorned by the fighters to represent good fortune and grant strength. The Mongkon (or circlet) for example, is worn on every fighter's head as he approaches the ring and is removed only after the Wai Kru. This circlet is believed to bring success and protection to the fighter.

Related story: Top muaythai fighters to battle it out in Singapore