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Muay Thai or Thai boxing is a cultural heritage of the Thais, which has been passed down over the centuries. It was supposedly prevalent in the land of Suvarnabhumi or the Southeast Asian region before the emergence of various kingdoms like Lavo, Ayothaya, Lanna to Sukhothal, as Thai boxing was one of the 18 social sciences learned by the kings and the ruling elite. Thai boxing, therefore, concumed with the establishment of a number ol cities.

Written evidence addressing Thai boxing  was found dating back to the 13th century. The historical annals of the North and the Mangrai Law, which are the oldest laws of Thailand, as well as the stone inscriptions from the Sukhothai period (1238-1438) not only mention about Muay Thai as training for warfare or self-defense skills, but also for its recreational aspect as a social activity in important festivals.

Throughout the Ayuthaya period (1350-1767), Muay Thai also played a major role. In the early Ayutthaya period, a recruitment unit called the Custodian Recruitment Division or Royal Boser Deparment was established, which was responsible for recruiting people with potential and training them to become martial arts expets to protect the King, the Royal Family and high-ranking civil servants. The selection process involved matches in the palace on various occasions.

Throughout the Ayutthaya period (1350-1767), Muay Thai also played a major role. In the early Ayutthaya period, a recruitment unit called the Custodian Recruitment Division or Royal Boxer Department was established, which was responsible for recruiting people with potential and training them to become martial arts experts to protect the King, the Royal Family and high-ranking civil servants. The selection process involved matches in the palace on various occasions.

King Naresuan

In terms of its contribution to the efficiency of the military, Thai boxing training was provided in sword fighting schools, as it supported sword fighting techniques. In the war for independence of King Naresuan the Great, a special force named wild Daboia siamensis, an intelligence force and guerrilla unit, was selected from people with good sword fighting skills as well as Thai boxing skills.

Some detailed records of Thai boxing have been found in the reign of King Narai the Great. Rope-binding boxing was the Thai boxing style of the period with matches held inside a circle roped ring on rammed earth. Powder coated unbleached cotton thread or tar were used to wrap the boxers’ hands while a blessed headband or Mongkhon was worn and a blessed cloth or Phra Chiat wrapped over the upper arms, similar to soldiers going to war. It was believed that the items could provide strength and increase elusiveness for the boxers.

Nai Khanom Tom

From the Burmese-Siamese War in 1767 until the Thon Buri period (1767-1782), Muay Thai was a skill of the warriors who fought alongside King Taksin the Great in the war of independence and the defeat of various factions. A Thai prisoner named Nai Khanom Tom is said to have defeated dozens of Burmese boxers in the presence of King Hsinbyushin of Burma (present-day Myanmar). Thai boxing as a recreational activity shared popularity with kite flying and rowing in the Thon Buri period until the beginning of the Rattanakosin period (1782-present) due to its simplicity, entertainment and excitement, which was consistent with the state of the newly restored city after the war.

The importance of Thai boxing in national security continued in the early Rattanakosin period and received royal support from the Kings. The Custodian Recruitment Division or the Royal Boxer Department played a bigger role in providing Thai boxing lessons and recruiting skilled people. A boxing field was designated at the back of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. This was because the wars with Burma were still ongoing during the reigns of King Rama I and II as well as preparation for wars with Vietnam during the reign of King Rama III.

STANDARDIZATION OF MUAY THAI

Thai boxing matches were organized in the royal court for various royal ceremonies during the reign of King Rama IV, especially the royal cremation ceremony for which photo records by Westerners were found. It was also popular among the public to organize boxing matches for various festive celebrations throughout the country.

Muay Thai during the reign of King Chulalongkorn

During the reign of King Rama V the Great, Thai boxing became even more accepted and was considered as a type of sport instead of a recreational activity. Properly structured boxing practices emerged as well as boxing for wins and climbing up the rankings with the biggest and most coveted events being royal events at Sanam Luang (Royal Ground). Also, during this reign, the Ministry of Public Instruction (present-day Ministry of Education) was established, and Thai boxing was registered as one of the subjects under physical education vocational schools and the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy.

A standard for modern Muay Thai was later developed in the reign of King Rama VI during which a permanent boxing stadium where boxing matches were held regularly was founded for the first time in 1920. The boxing field was named the Suankularb Boxing Field and situated within the compound of Suankularb Wittayalai School. Matches were held on a courtyard or in a field with a post in four corners, forming a square shape. There were also large-scale events with sponsored prizes from the elite, wealthy, and sports lovers. In the reign of King Rama VII, another new boxing stadium named Suan Sanook Boxing Stadium was established near Lumphini Park at the corner of Wireless Road. The Stadium featured a raised canvas ring with one post in each of the four corners and three tightly stretched ropes in accordance with the standard boxing ring size, as well as red and blue corners, a timing bell, a referee and scoring judges.

Ratchadamnoen Boxing Stadium hosted both Thai boxing and international boxing with dozens of legendary boxers and world boxing champions making their names in this stadium. Another well-known standard boxing stadium is Lumphini Boxing Stadium, which opened in 1956. The Stadium also featured Thai boxing and international boxing title fights. Title fights in weight classes similar to those at the Ratchadamnoen Boxing Stadium were regularly held. With the extensive popularity of Thai boxing as a sport, in 1937, the Department of Physical Education set additional standards for Thai boxing with the requirement of four-ounce gloves, shorts, and jockstraps. Matches were required to feature five rounds, three minutes each, with two minutes of rest between rounds as well as one referee on the stage and two scoring judges. This was considered a new era where standard rules were set for Muay Thai. At the end of World War 2, Prime Minister Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram initiated a plan to create a first-class standard boxing ring in Thailand to be located on Ratchadamnoen Nok Road under the patronage of the Crown Property Bureau. The ring was initially built outdoors with grandstands circling the ring with Wat Somanas Rajavaravihara as the background. Later, a building was constructed to cover the ring and air conditioners installed.

Ram Muay ritual

Modern Muay Thai has seen constant developments after the establishment of more standard boxing stadiums. Thai boxing camps with serious training regiments were founded, while most importantly, the ancient tradition of the Wai Khru ritual has still been upheld. Incantations and techniques have also been taught along with physical training and sports science. At the same time, new Thai boxing styles and techniques have been developed from the traditional basis from knee strikes, elbow strikes to kicks. Muay Thai experts have commented that modern Muay Thai has become more complete, suitable for overcoming an opponent on stage. Modern Muay Thai in the new era, therefore, presents different boxing styles from 50 to 100 years ago.