Muay Thai (Thai Boxing)
February 9, 2005
Friday night and it was off to the Thai boxing taking place in a nearby village. Shoichi, one of our friends here, trains at the local Thai boxing school. There were people everywhere when we arrived, it was more of a festival than purely boxing; there were food stalls, singing and, bizarrely ‘Techo Bingo’ - bingo which seemed to be accompanied with very loud techno music, very strange.
“No one trained in any other martial art has been able to defeat a ranking Thai nak mauy (fighter trained in muay thai) and many martial art aficionados consider the Thai style the ultimate in hand-to-hand fighting. On one famous occasion, Hong Kong’s top five kung fu masters were all dispatched by knockout in less than 6 ½ minutes.” (Lonely Planet, Chang Mai and Northern Thailand)
The ring was pretty crazy - it was constructed out of oil drums and sheets of wood with household light bulbs suspended above. So every time fighters were on the ropes the whole thing looked like it was going to collapse. The first couple of fights we watched were pretty tame; the first one was a couple of young kids. The second one started better with ram muay (boxing dance) a series of gestures and movements performed in rhythm to the ringside musical accompaniment of Thai oboe (pii), and percussion.
As the night progressed the fighters level increased, with knockouts the order of the night. Shoichi keeps asking if I would like to train, but the full contact sparring kind of puts me off. I’d end up with a broken nose on my first day.
Related links
Muay Thai News
World Muay Thai Council
Fairtex site - lots of good info
Thai boxing update
Posted by jon jack at February 9, 2005 11:46 AM
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Comments
Jon,
there is no pain in this do-jo. This is you big chance to get rid of those love handles and double chins! I think you shold go for it as long as they teach you the 5 finger heart punch and how to balance on the tip of abbey's sword. You may have to grow a long white beard though, and that will probably require regular stroking. Joking aside the journal is good and its sounds like you's are having a good time. Although the work load seems a bit heavy, Not! Anyway keep the journal regularly updated and have fun. Hope you dont have sweet blood for the mozzies. Same same but different.
Skitty
Posted by: Skitty at February 9, 2005 10:15 PM
Jon Jack,
You're the one with the red gloves right? were you shouting Abby Abby, Rocky style. Journal is excellent but theres not enough entries dude, remember I've got lots of free time to read this when I'm at work.
Steve
Posted by: steve at February 10, 2005 8:30 PM
Not starting up on the Thai boxing circuit Jon?
A wise decision!
This stuff's not like GTA - You don't appear at the exit to the hospital 6 hours later stripped of your weapons and a hundred notes lighter!
Posted by: Craig Douglas at February 12, 2005 6:40 PM