0607-MuayThai

Muay Thai - traditional kick boxing

The history of Muay Thai is interwoven with the history of the Thai people. A gentle, peace-loving people, for centuries Thais had to defend themselves and their land from aggressive powers. They developed a form of close, hand-to-hand combat best suited for the kind of rough-terrain battle they were fighting. Over time it became a rite of passage for Thai men to take up training in this martial art.

The fight

Muay Thai is fought in five three-minute rounds with two-minute breaks in between. The fight is preceded by a wai khru dance, in which each contestant pays homage to his teachers. Besides the symbolic meaning, the dance is a good warm-up exercise. You will notice that each boxer wears a headband and armbands. The headband, called mongkhol, is believed to bestow luck to the wearer since it has been blessed by a monk or the boxer’s own teacher.

A match is decided by a knockout or by points. Three judges decide who carries the round and the one who wins the most rounds, win the fight. The referee plays a very important role, since boxers’ safety depends on his decision.

kata beach, phuket

Where to watch

Bangkok

Lumpini Stadium

Rama IV Road, Bangkok
Tel: (662) 252-8765
Fight Nights: Tuesdays and Fridays from 6.30 p.m, Saturday afternoons 5-8 p.m., Saturday nights from 8.30 p.m.
Ticket prices: 220, 440, 1,000 Baht (ringside)

Ratchadamnoen Stadium

Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue
Tel: (662) 281-4205
Fight Nights: Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Sundays, starting at 6.30 p.m.
Ticket Prices: 220, 440, 1,000 Baht (ringside); special discount on Sunday nights

Phuket

Phuket Boxing Stadium

Phuket Town

Fight Nights: every Friday at 8pm

Bangla Boxing Stadium

Patong (above Margarita Bar)

at junction of Soi Bangla and Rat-U-Thit Rd

Ticket prices: 750 Baht

Fight Nights: every night