HISTORY

Muay Thai started way back in the medieval ages when wars were fought with bows and arrows, swords, and pikes.  And in hand-to-hand combat arms, legs, knees, and elbows were also used as weapons.  This sport which was included in military training was made famous by King Nareusan 1560 A.D.  During one of the many battles between Burma and Siam he was captured.  The Burmese knew of his prowess as the best unarmed fighter in the realm and gave him a chance to fight with their best for his freedom.  Upon his return to Siam he was hailed as a hero and Siamese-style boxing, as it was called then, was soon recognized as a national sport.  Boxing in this style reached its zenith of popularity about two hundred years ago, i.e., in the reign of Prachao Sua (King Tiger), when it was indulged in by all classes of the population.
From those days up until the early part of this century, the fighters, particularly those in provinces, used horsehide strips and later help in lieu of gloves.  Since these practices were obviously dangerous to the fighters' health, regular boxing gloves were introduced about 70 years ago and have been used ever since. 
During the reign of King Rama VI, Thai boxing matches became more widespread.  Matches that used to be held in make-shift rings in any available courtyard became a standard raised ring surrounded by ropes.  The first ring was built in 1921 at Suan Kularp field.  Although standard rings were available, boxers still bound their hands with rope.  Foreign boxers came to take on Thai boxers.  An important free-style match took place between Young Harntalay and Chin Chang from China which attracted a huge crowd of spectators.  The result was that Young Harntalay floored Ching Chang with a beautiful kick. In this period, they also had referees in the ring, and kept time by the clock.  These innovations were probably adopted from abroad.
Rope binding were used until 1929 when boxing gloves took its place.  Earlier at the Lumpini Park Ring, a Filipino boxer gave an international style boxing exhibition with boxing gloves.  Later, gloves were also used in student boxing matches called "Muay Farang", and in professional international boxing between Thai and foreign boxers.  This led the organizers of Thai-Style boxing to see that gloves are less dangerous than rope-binding, and decided that gloves should be adopted in Muay Thai, but fighting with elbows, knees, feet and fists would still be allowed.
To the Thai’s, Muay Thai is regarded as a prestigious national sport.  Thai boys will in one or another way, intentionally or unintentionally, learn how to box Thai style.  Even Thai girls will know enough of the basic principles and to be able to use it for self-defense when necessary.
Muay Thai, called Thai Boxing by foreigners, is the Thai national sport and is now getting more popular in many countries, especially in Japan where a large number of young Japanese are now being trained to fight professionally.  But in Japan this fighting is called "Kick Boxing."  At present "Kick Boxing" is internationally known as a Japanese martial art.  Surely the true name, "Muay Thai" should be retained internationally as the Japanese terms Kendo, Judo, or Karate have been.

Various forms of kickboxing have long been practiced throughout Southeast Asia. As with the most countries in the region, Thai culture is highly influenced by ancient civilizations within Southeast Asia. The origins of Muay Thai is unclear. One theory is that it was with the Tai people before the Tai immigration to Southeast Asia from China. Another is that it was adopted and modified off of Khmer martial arts when Thai culture was influenced by Khmer culture. A third theory is that a little bit of both the first and second theory occurred. Muay Thai evolved from its ancestor Muay Boran ("ancient boxing"), an unarmed combat used by Siamese soldiers in conjunction with Krabi Krabong, the weapon-based style. Eventually Muay Boran was divided to:

There is a phrase about Muay Boran that states, "Punch Korat, Wit Lopburi, Posture Chaiya, Faster Thasao. (หมัดหนักโคราช ฉลาดลพบุรี ท่าดีไชยา ไวกว่าท่าเสา)".

As well as continuing to function as a practical fighting technique for use in actual warfare, Muay Thai became a sport in which the opponents fought in front of spectators who went to watch for entertainment. This kind of muay contests gradually became an integral part of local festivals and celebrations, especially those held at temples. It was even used as entertainment to kings.

Eventually, the previously bare-fisted fighters started wearing lengths of rope wrapped around their hands and forearms. This type of match was called muay kaad chuek (มวยคาดเชือก).

Royal Muay

Muay gradually became a possible means of personal advancement as the nobility increasingly esteemed skillful practitioners of the art and invited selected fighters to come to live in the Royal palace to teach muay to the staff of the royal household, soldiers, princes or the king's personal guards.[citation needed] This "royal muay" was called muay luang (มวยหลวง).

Some time during the Ayutthaya Period, a platoon of royal guards was established, whose duty was to protect king and the country. They were known as Grom Nak Muay (Muay Fighters' Regiment). This royal patronage of muay continued through the reigns of Rama V and VII.

Muay Renaissance

The ascension of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) to the throne in 1868 ushered in a Golden Age not only for muay but for the whole country of Thailand. Muay progressed greatly during the reign of Rama V as a direct result of the king's personal interest in the art. The country was at peace and muay functioned as a means of physical exercise, self-defense, recreation, and personal advancement.[citation needed] Masters of the art such as former fighters or soldiers began teaching muay in training camps where students were provided with food and shelter. Trainees would be treated as one family and it was customary for students to adopt the camp's name as their own surname.

After the occurrence of a death in the ring, King Rama the VII pushed for codified rules for Muay Thai, and they were put into place. These included the rules that the fighters should wear modern gloves and cotton coverlets over the feet and ankles. It was also around this time in the 1920s that the term Muay Thai became commonly used while the older form of the style was referred to as Muay Boran.

Legendary heroes

At the time of the fall of the ancient Siam capital of Ayutthaya in 1763, the invading Burmese troops rounded up a group of Thai residents and took them as prisoners. Among them were a large number of Thai boxers, who were taken by the Burmese to the city of Ungwa.

In 1774, in the Burmese city of Rangoon, the king of the Burmese, Hsinbyushin (known in Thai as "King Mangra"), decided to organize a seven-day, seven-night religious festival in honor of Buddha's relics. The festivities included many forms of entertainment, such as the costume plays called likay, comedies and farces, and sword-fighting matches. At one point, King Hsinbyushin wanted to see how Muay Boran would compare to the Burmese art Lethwei[citation needed]. Nai Khanom Tom was selected to fight against the Burmese champion. The boxing ring was set up in front of the throne and Nai Khanom Tom did a traditional Wai Kru pre-fight dance, to pay his respects to the Burmese king, as well as for all the spectators, dancing around his opponent, which amazed and perplexed all the Burmese people. When the fight began, he charged out, using punches, kicks, elbows, and knees, pummeling his opponent until he collapsed.

The referee however stated that the Burmese opponent was too distracted by the Wai Kru, and the knockout was invalid. The King then asked if Nai Khanom Tom would fight nine other Burmese champions to prove himself. He agreed and fought them all, one after the other with no rest periods in between. His last opponent was a great boxing teacher from Ya Kai City. Nai Khanom Tom mangled him by his kicks and no one else dared to challenge him any further.

King Mangra was so impressed that he remarked, "Every part of the Thai is blessed with venom. Even with his bare hands, he can fell nine or ten opponents. But his Lord was incompetent and lost the country to the enemy. If he would have been any good, there was no way the City of Ayutthaya would ever have fallen."

King Mangra granted Nai Khanom Tom freedom along with either riches or two beautiful Burmese wives. Nai Khanom Tom chose the wives as he said that money was easier to find. He then departed with his wives for Siam. Other variations of this story had him also winning the release of his fellow Thai prisoners. His feat is celebrated every March 17 as "Boxer's Day" or "National Muay Thai Day" in his honor and that of Muay Thai's.

Today, some have wrongly attributed the legend of "Nai Khanom Tom" to King Naresuan, who was once taken by the Burmese. However, Nai Khanom Tom and King Naresuan were almost two centuries apart.

TRADITIONS AND RITUALS
One of the most recognized rituals and ceromonies of muay Thai is the “Wai Kru- Rham muay”.
Even before entering the ring, the fighter will bow or “wai” prior to stepping into the ring. The fighters cornerman will also pull the top of rope of the ring down so, that the fighter climbs over the top of the ropes instead of the “western” style of entering between the ropes. This is to insure that the “good” spirits remain in the ring. By going between the ropes, the “good” fighting spirits will “escape” the ring. Prior to the wai kru, the fighter will “seal” the ring. This insures that the “good” spirits stay in during the fight. Some may say it’s to keep the opponent from leaving the ring before the fight! Kind of a “zip-lock”
During the “wai kru”, and prior to the fight, the fighter wears a mongkol or headband. In ancient times the headband had Buddhist prayers and chants rolled into the device.  This was for good luck. It is removed prior to the fight. To this day, most, if not all mongkol’s have been blessed by a  Buddhist monk. After the “wai kru and Rham muay” the mongkol is removed by the “kru” and a short prayer is said for a good fight.
The fighters also wore a device called a “prajeat” or “prachet” arm band. The device was worn on one or both arms just above the bicep. During ancient times, it was not uncommon that the material for the prajeat was a piece of cloth torn from the skirt or blouse of the fighters wife or mother. This too was braided with buddhist charms and prayers.
 “Wai Kru” translates into “ paying respect to the teacher”.  “Wai” meaning paying respect and “kru” meaning teacher or coach.
The fighter is paying respect not only to his/her trainer or “kru” but, also to all those fighters who have fought in the ring before them. Each gym has a “wai-kru” that is specific to that gym or trainer. Avid fans in Thailand can tell which gym a fighter represents by the wai kru. Rham muay portion is the “fighters” dance. This too, is particular to one’s gym or trainer.